Hikingno

GLENCOE ON THE HAW RIVER

In 1880, the sons of textile magnet Edwin Holt constructed a mill on the banks of the Haw River where for 74 years flannel, plaid and other cottons were made.

In 1954, the mill closed and the workers abandoned their company owned homes in search of work elsewhere. The village of Glencoe stood unoccupied until 1979 when Preservation NC acquired the 95 acres and repurposed the village.

Now a restored village of period correct mill houses and a textile museum occupies the site. Alamance County has constructed a park on the 95 acres adjacent to the Haw River.

Alamance County is working hard to connect their trails along the Haw River with the Mountain to Sea Trail. The trails we hiked today are a part of that effort. The Great Bend Park on the outskirts of Glencoe is an example of such efforts. It features Seller's Falls, a scenic waterfall stretching the width of the Haw River.

The dam is located a short walk of less than a half mile from the parking lot. The location is the paddling port for folks who want to kayak and canoe upstream. It is a majestic fall flowing steadily over the rock dam constructed decades ago to serve the Glencoe Mill.

Photos were abundantly taken from many angles each as spectacular as the next. It is a place where you can have picnic. Several trails leave this area. A study of the trail map is recommended.

Near the dam is a scenic mill race. It would be nice to have a better understanding of the purpose of these precisely engineered structures.

I assume the mill race was used to power the electric turbines at the Glencoe Mill.

The Great Bend Park at Seller's Falls is about halfway along an 8-mile river side trail leading from the Indian Valley Golf Course to the Stoney Creek Marina. After leaving the waterfall, we opted to hop on the trail from the Glencoe Paddle Access near NC 62 bridge. We chose not to out and back from Great Bend parking lot since the trail leaves the river to tour the Glencoe restored Hamlet.

The trail begins at a picnic area near a memorial rock.

A trail station provides, maps and even bug spray!

Another great picnic area right near the NC 62 bridge over the Haw River. Not so sure about the meaning of this ominous piece of graffiti but at least someone over sprayed a halo.

The trail is a flat trail along the Haw River, much of it on the banks of an old canal. It is very well maintained with new bridges, stairs and blazing.

A couple of downed trees proved to be obstacles easily overcome. Our destination was the old Carolina Mill about a mile from the NC 62 bridge.

There are many spur trails to the riverside where many scenic views can be enjoyed. This section of the river is shallow and very rocky. I am not sure how 'paddlers' would make it very far down this section from Glencoe.

Just past the Carolina Mill building are some pretty impressive rapids that seem to extend across the width of the river. There were some places where a canoe may be able to navigate but only when the river is up as it was today.

The trail ends in the lawn of the old Carolina Mills Building. The building has been closed for some time and its windows are boarded over and the edifice is now a canvas for graffiti artists and vandals.

(Notice the make shift ladder beneath the open window...not sure I would care to use that "ladder" even if I had the nerve to venture in the empty factory)...We were initially confused. There was no trail markers. But as we walked to the front of the building I spied the trail marker along the road near the driveway of the factory.

The trail continued along the river side passing the rapids and emerging on the road about a quarter mile from the mill site. There the trail leaves the riverside and crossed a wooded hill to the Stoney Creek Marina. The marina was probably less than a half mile away but, not understanding where the trail was going, we decided to turn around and return to some riverside vistas on the way back to Glencoe.

We discovered some new trails hidden in rural Alamance County, not far from I-85 some 50 miles from both the Piedmont Triad and the Research Triangle. Between the two locations we hiked about 3.25 miles. Trail access is an 8. Small trail head parking lots are not as easy to find without GPS...but all are well maintained. The trails are well maintained and marked -9; the scenery is an 8+; the effort to view tends to be about right an easy trail and moderately spectacular views Overall it is a solid 9 trail and props to the County of Alamance for its vision and efforts. The restoration and repurposing of the Glencoe Village is a great example of historic preservation.

We will return as there are many other interesting places along the Haw River to discover...a great Sunday afternoon adventure!

FALL CREEK FALLS

Mayo River State Park is scattered along the Mayo River in Rockingham County, North Carolina near the border with Virginia. We hiked a small section of the park originating the Deshazo Mill Road access. The trek is only about 3.0 miles but contains some of the most scenic creek and river scenery imaginable.

Fall Creek Falls is the feature attraction on the hike and is located no more than a quarter mile from the trailhead parking lot. If you are coming to see the falls, you can do this without breaking a sweat.

The falls are about twenty feet tall and are formed as water from Fall Creek encounters a large granite rock. From the water marks on the rock face, these falls have a much wider cascade during raining seasons and forms a nice pool at the base of the falls.

The trail is a well marked path along the banks of Fall Creek as it meanders to the Mayo River. I called it "Ginger Creek" as the leaves of the late fall cast a ginger sheen along the trail.

The trail meanders along the banks of Fall Creek for about a three quarters of a mile. There we emerged from the ginger forest as the trail intersects with what I believe to be the Mayo River Trail. We took a right at the intersection and proceeded upstream along the banks of the Mayo River. The river scenery was stunning!

The Mayo River is named for Major William Mayo who was an assistant to Colonel William Byrd who first surveyed the boundary between North Carolina and Virginia. His journal contains some of the earliest accounts of the settlements in this area. The river forms in Patrick County, Virginia and contains two forks which eventually join above Stoneville North Carolina in Rockingham County. It eventually merges with the Dan River near Mayodan.

As we proceeded north on the trail following the river upstream, we encountered a fork in the river. The main stream followed along the trail to the north west, but to the west was fork which was shrouded with late fall color. I suspect these are the two forks of the Mayo.

Not far from the forks is a small rapid which is formed as the river flows over a large granite rock formation that spans with the width of the north fork of the Mayo.

Climbing out on the rocks, I got some of the best pictures of the day, both upstream and downstream.

Just north of the rapid is a tree and on the tree is a notice that the trail is now crossing into the state of Virgina. The markings changed from a blue "hiking" emblem to a painted white mark. The trail proceeds for another quarter mile until we were stopped by a "No Trespassing" sign.

Backtracking up the trail, the views just kept coming. This part of the Mayo in the late fall evening seems to change as the sun began to set to the west.
Always amazed at the mirror like reflection that still water provides nature's scenery. Fall Creek on the hike out provide one of those special scenes.
Reflections on the slow moving Mayo River where also easy to find, especially as the sun emerged from the clouds.

While this trail is relatively short...about 3 miles total...it is jam packed with scenery. A ginger forest empties into ancient river, what more can you ask for in a Sunday afternoon hike? Located near the Virginia line, the access is off Smith Road on NC 220. Deshazo Mill Road is a remote partially paved road and you will need your GPS for the first trip there. Small gravel parking lot marks the trailhead. Access is rated 8.

The scenery is a solid 9. Anytime you have a waterfall, a creek through the forest and an ancient river, you have plenty to see.

The trail is a narrow forest, creek and river bank trail, but is well marked and well worn. We encountered two other groups on the trail on a Sunday afternoon, so the trail is well used. Rate that a 9.

This is a great family trail. It is 45 minutes north of Greensboro. It is a very easy, scenic trail. A great place for a riverside picnic, and I imagine a nice wading pool beneath the falls on a hot summer day. This is a solid 9 hike. Sure glad we visited!

AN AUTUMN HIKE TO GRASSY BALD

Round Bald and Roan Mountain

The Roan Highlands on the border of the North Carolina and Tennessee have always been a favorite place for the Fat Bald White Guy and his Faithful Hiking Companion to visit. This was our third trip...this time in Autumn.

The Roan Balds are a series of treeless summits extending northeastward from the base of Roan Mountain at Carver's Gap into North Carolina. The grassy high mountain tops are some of the highest peaks in the Appalachian Mountains. The hike from Carver's Gap to Grassy Bald provides a continuous panoramic view unequaled in any trail I have hiked.

The Appalachian Trail crosses these balds and provides a well marked and well maintained path to the summits. The picture above is from the descent of Round Bald to Carver's Gap looking southwest into Tennessee.

The Carver's Gap parking lot is a very social place. In the fall and in June, the Balds receive many visitors to enjoy the colors that nature displays. The hike to Round Bald is one that almost anyone can make easily. Going further on the trail to Jane Bald and Grassy Bald are a bit more difficult but are worth the effort.

The day we visited, the leaves were at peak color about 5000 feet and thus provided a ginger ring beneath the summit of the balds but leaves at lower elevations had not yet began to turn.

From the western slopes of the balds, views of both Tennessee and North Carolina can be enjoyed the view above is looking into North Carolina, with Elk Knob in the distance. The picture below is looking westward into Tennessee over the hamlet of Roan Mountain.

The summit of Round Bald is only about a mile from the Carver Gap trailhead...to get to Jane Bald you must commit to another mile but the views are worth the effort.

The summit is well marked with views southwest into Tennessee and northwestwardly into North Carolina. There you can see Grandfather Mountain in silhouette above the distant Roan Balds. Don't forsake the nice rock trail bench to rest your dogs!

From the trail bench a view back up the trail will remind you why you are so out of breath. Though the elevation from Carver's Gap to Jane Bald is but 500 feet, you have to factor in a climb to Round Bald followed by a descent into Engine Gap, then a climb up to Jane Bald.

Once a top Jane Bald, the trek up to Grassy Bald does not look either steep nor far. In truth it is a mile climb to the top of the 6183 foot peak. But in truth, you cannot experience the majesty of the Roan Highlands unless you summit Grassy Bald.

Grassy Bald provides a mile wide grassy summit from which incredible vistas emerge every time you turn your head to look at a distant peak. From one vantage point you can see three of the tallest mountains in the Applachians. To the northeast is 5945' Grandfather Mountain and the distinctive Sugar Top condominiums.

To the south is the 6245' Roan Mountain.

But to the southeast is the Grande Dame of the Appalachians, the 6683' Mt. Mitchell and the Black Mountain range.

Between the Grandfather and Mt. Mitchell vistas are the distinctive peaks of the Linville Gorge.

When asked of the perfect hike, I immediately respond..."Carver Gap to Grassy Bald"! There is no hike that provides this many stunning views of the majesty of the Appalachian Mountains. Three miles up and three miles back including five ascents! Your legs will burn, your chest will thump but your soul will be renewed!

On the southeastern slope of Grassy Bald is a rock formation that provides the best trail bench imaginable. From that perch, you can look at the majesty of Mt Mitchell and feel very small.

"And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in admiration...These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise, but stand reverent, silent so that man's weak praises should be given God's attention." (Donald Miller)

Make this a bucket list hike. Once you go, you will find that these mountains have their own souls which they will open to you. They will speak to you in ways unimaginable. Standing among them, you be still and know that there is a God who weaved a masterpiece of this world, a glorious tapestry of majesty and color.

Nuff said....Amen!

"We are in the mountains now and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making ever nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us"- John Muir

"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity."- John Muir

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms, their energy will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn"- John Muir

"How glorious the sun gives greetings to the mountains in the morning" - John Muir

"Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue" - John Muir