Babala the GPS (Tom Tom) system successfully navigated us right to the trailhead of Crystal Falls. Even though I did not have confidence she would bring us to the right place.
Empty trash can.. with no bottom in it....... lying on the ground here at the trailhead
Along with this discarded utility stand.
5 old tires, a battery, mechanical parts and Little Julius Caesar on his bicycle. He kick up da kick down stan'. He kick down the kick up stan' He kick it up agin' the do' jamb. Can you tell we're back in the Cumberland Plateau?
Partial views of a blue sky day over the Cumberland Plateau from the top portion of the Crystal Falls hike.
The steep climb on 60* or better slopes out of this hole. I actually took this shot on my climb back out. I was depressed because at the time I thought I had twice this to do. Once at the road....... it was only 3/10th mile on level ground back to the jeep.
Sunstar from looking back out of the gorge where the falls is located.
90 ft high Crystal Falls. First time we'd ever seen it with ice and snow.
Close up of the icy ledge at the base.
A scramble down the gorge below the waterfall today proved there is not a 2nd drop to Crystal Falls. I had believed there was, but I was wrong. We had less water today and boulder field was a little easier to negotiate.
View from Buzzard Point
Brink of the 110 ft high Falling Water Falls. Like Crystal Falls, we were disappointed and very surprised at how little water was coming over after all the rain and snow we've had.
View through the trees out across the gulf
Another small, scenic waterfall we found while exploring. Below this is a monumental drop!
This is a tall waterfall, but all we can see from here is the brink.
Lots of downed trees, lose rocks, and steep terrain
An interesting stack of rocks on the path
Kenny asked me to snap a shot of all the icicles up on the cliffs above us.
Grinning and gleaming down at us from above. Looking beautiful but like some vicious teeth of an animal. An accurate characterization of the terrain. Pretty, but killer!
Finally down at the bottom. A sluice runs along this area.
Sluiceway
Many rapids and cascades
First pretty cascade
Close up of first cascade
Looks like steps
Huge log has fallen over the creek. Anyone feel like using it for a bridge?
Uppermost cascade we found.
Serene pool and 2nd cascade. Our favorite.
not a huge waterfall, but one of the most pretty scenes we'd run into in awhile.
Pool below the uppermost cascade
Kenny stands by the huge ice columns
Closer view of Upper cascade
icy tread to get to the falls. treachery!
Sheer cliffs on the opposite side of the gorge
Cliffs across from the falls
Looking down the gulf toward Fallingwater Canyon.. We are now in Picketts Gulf
I am standing in part of the rock house on the cliff. Looking down the gulf
1/2 a pine tree. The other half was above here and you could see where flood waters had twisted it in two. The top 1/2 was caught fast on another tree. The part down here was wrenched off by the water.
Rock house
plunge pool and icicles
Plunge pool below falls
4th cascade was about 30 ft high.
4th cascade
Side of the 4th cascade--see that square boulder?
