Llamas in Panthertown

Thursday July 14, 2022                                          Most Recent Posts:
Riverbend RV Resort                                   Highlands – Falls and Food 
Lake Toxaway, NC                                           Rocky’s and Panthertown

Remember my trip to Panthertown three days ago (2nd link above) where I took a wrong turn TWICE and where there are no Panthers?   Today I returned to the entrance on the other side of this 6,311 acre sanctuary with  30 miles of trails in the Nantahala National Forest.  Also remember, mapping and trail marking are not terrific here.

Today I’m going not for two falls like Monday but for three.   I’m over half way to Panthertown when I realize that I’ve left the only map I have back in the RV and I’m too far away to be willing to drive back.  I’m hoping for the best.

As you can see from this map on the kiosk board hampered by the sun’s reflection, a hazard of early morning hiking, the trails here have numbers like road signs.  I took this picture of the map and with  repeated referrals to it and the intermittent signs with the numbers on them, I was able to work my way around a loop to all 3 falls WITHOUT any unintended detours.

I began at Salt Gap parking which the arrow points to and from the main trail, 474,  which goes across the entire park from Monday’s Parking area to todays, took 490 to Wilderness falls.  Luckily every time I wasn’t sure what to do, if I kept going, I eventually ran into one of these signs.

The trail to Wilderness falls was wide and fern filled early on and later almost rhododendron blocked.

Some surprises lurked under the ferns along the way.

Ok, now what?

When I reached Wilderness Falls, the debris and the sun made it impossible to get a decent angle or reasonable pictures.  Bring wading boots when you come to Panthertown although they aren’t very great for hiking.

Rhododendron were luscious and everywhere. 

From there I took #490 on along  to Frolictown Falls on Frolictown Creek.  I could find no explanation of the interesting name.  My first view was from the side and I worried that I’d have the same trouble here that I had at Wilderness.

But I was able to get a closer and a better angle though the depth of the pool meant I could not get a straight on shot or one with a decent angle without the tree you see here.  Maybe hip waders would be helpful in Panthertown.

The obstacles are clear here.

Just a tad closer but still that tree.

No tree but a side angle.

I think this short video is better than the pictures.

Now how to find #486 to Granny Burrell Falls.

Someone has kindly set up a rock hop that is only really possible if you have a hiking pole or fantastic balance. As with Frolictown, I have no idea who Granny Burrell was.

The woods are dark and deep

Today, Granny Burrell was a relatively short rock slide with one dangerous looking dip that could do damage to your tail bone.

 

There were 3 or 4 groups of people all trying to decide whether to slide.  Apparently the water was freezing they said but everyone except for me was in swimming suits.

  The rock allows you to slide a short distance before going over the little 3-4’ falls and then potentially sliding another pretty long way down into a large pool.  But today there was not enough of a flow to protect from the bumps or allow the long slide to the pool. 

I was able to get a couple natural shots when all the folks were all behind me or walking up the trail to the top to consider sliding down.  

I hung around waiting to see if anyone would slide but eventually gave up and hiked on.

 

Take a look at this very short video for a good idea of how much water there was.

My loop hike took me back up the main road which was how all these folks had gotten to Granny Burrell  straight from the parking lot.

It was quite a steep climb and I began to wish I’d done the loop in the other direction.  Though coming straight down would have been hard on the knees.  Still, it was a real slog by this point in my hike.  Thankfully there was at least one nice side trail with lovely views on the way for a breather.

Here’s a video of the views from my breather and you can definitely hear me breathing.  The clouds look odd in the video.  Not like in this picture but the view is still sweet.

The Appalachian Mountains are the oldest mountains in the country and no longer tall and rugged like the Rockies.  They have been worn down over time and in some places right down to the rock.

The rock face I walked upon almost looks like it has footprints.

I was finally at the top of the long haul when I was more than surprised to see a llama train coming down.   This is a camp for young people with ADHD or Learning Disabilities where they have their own llama to hike with.   As they came by me, their counselor told them all to tell me their llama’s name.  So cute to hear them say “this is Christy, this is Shelia”.  How I wish I’d gotten a video of it.  What a wonderful experience for these girls.

You just never know what you are going to see when you go out hiking.