Sun, May 8 2011 - Smith Creek Trail to Anna Ruby Falls (View Original Event Details)
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A warm, breezy Sunday morning set the scene for our day in north Georgia. After a quick stop at Betty's in Helen to refuel, our group gathered at the Smith Creek Trail head to begin our journey to Anna Ruby Falls. We had heard that portions of the trail might be closed, but the rangers assured us that while there were "a few downed trees" in the area the trail itself was "open".
Shortly after pausing to photograph a Northern Water Snake sunning itself at the edge of the trail, we rounded a few corners and encountered the first of the "few downed trees". This collection of trees came equipped with hikers heading in the opposite direction telling horror stories of rock scrambles and yet more downed trees that made the trail impassable. Folding ourselves into new and exciting pretzel shapes, we emerged on the other side of this first collection of downed trees and continued on our way.
Mother Nature and the forest provided numerous obstacles (uprooted trees, five or six trees piled atop each other, places where the trail suddenly dipped three feet) to clamber up, down, around, across, under, over, and through creating a memorable hike to and from the falls. We never did find the horror story impassable section and rock scramble, but we AOCers are a tougher breed.
- Chris H
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