Sat, May 9 2009 - Beech Creek Trail and Big Scaly Mountain (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Geri Dominguez Participants: Phil 'Foz' Parkerson, Andy Altman, Lauren E, Geri Dominguez, Sean T, John, Pete C., cliff j, brenda, Gordon D, gheetl, Jaime, Sharath, Gary Babiarz

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Another fantastic hike!  We started out at the trailhead at the end of the road, traversing the Beech Creek Trail clockwise.  We climbed and climbed the never-ending uphill and reached the side trail to Chimney Rock.  We went up a little bit here, and a small group actually explored near the top on a 60 degree slick and muddy incline where a coiled up snake was spotted.  The rest of us waited in a sea of umbrella plants and wildflowers, where we explored and took pictures.

When the group came back down from the crazy Chimney Rock bushwack, we continued on and reached the side trail for Big Scaly Mountain.  We climbed through this dense and lush forest until we reached the top with normally spectacular views.  Fortunately for everyone, the trip leader was there to relay to them what the view normally looks like without the dense fog. ;-)  The misty mountain top was still quite enjoyable and the wind was blowing through the trees and fog warning us of the upcoming rain.  We stopped for lunch under a dense canopy of trees and that was a good thing, because as we were enjoying our sandwiches, korean food, indian food and dulce de leche, it started to pour.  We put on our rain jackets and ponchos, quickly finished up lunch and headed back down the mountain in the cold rain.  It was incredible how much the temperature dropped. 

We continued on the Beech Creek Trail singing any song we could think of that mentioned sun or sunny skies or sunshine on my shoulder. And it worked!!  By the time we reached High Falls, the rain stopped and the sun came out...clear skies!!  It was warm again, so we took off our rain gear and climbed the waterfall, some more adventurous than others attempting to cross in a very dangerous way where water was falling across the top.  After not finding a secure place to step, they came back down, to everyone's relief. :)  We also found a vine that we could swing on a bit over the water but it was attached on the other side so we couldn't swing out too far.  Still fun though.

From here we continued past a water crossing, where most people decided to just cross in their boots since they were wet anyways.  I think almost all of us had water shoes with us, and guess how many people actually used them on the water crossings...none. :)  Stubborn group, I must say.  Anyhow, we went to Bull Cove Falls next, which was even more desolate than the previous one.  This was smaller but really pretty as well.  We spotted LOTS of different wildflowers along this hike - wake robin, large-flowered trillium, vasey's trillium, crested dwarf iris, foamflower, wood betony, halberd-leaved violet, wild geranium, flame azaleas, a couple of robin's plantain.

When we finished, we drove back out through Tate City and went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Clayton, and were back at the carpool around 9 pm.