Sun, Aug 26 2007 - Horsepasture Wild and Scenic River (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Bruce Participants: Sasse, Paula Schubert, Caroline, Christopher Bolton, John Weatherman, Rob Byrne, Kevin Thomas, karen leslie, Yuling, Woody, maarten smolders, Jack Litten, Kristi, Brannon Chapman

The pre-trip weather forecast morning of the event unfortunately proved to be correct ahead of time-a 60 percent chance of afternoon showers and t-showers the afternoon starting at around 3pm-they started earlier at around 2pm when we had reached the furthest point we would go-Stairstep Falls. It had started raining lightly just before arriving there, then steadily-we were protected by canopy of rhodies and trees--then so heavily there was no protection--as 2 of more adventurous/crazy/judgementatily challenged of the group (no names mentioned here-you know who you are) began to swim in cool waters at Stairstep Falls as t-showere moved in-one reported a tingle in water as thunder struck closeby. Thank the Good Lord no-one was hurt in this soaked rolling thunderclaps portion of the hike!

Earlier that same morning-day and up to that point we had a decent sunny day up to Turtleback Falls-where a wedding dressed young woman (doing a'trash the dress contest' was getting dressing in wedding garb to trash the dress while be photographed doing the same-no joke-it really was going on). We gave up on viewing that as she was taking her sweet ass time getting over the falls; as we stopped at the top of Rainbow Falls as the clouds and rolling thunder through the gorge and valley began. As it was getting cool and windy, I decided not to swim at the bottom of Rainbow; holding out hope the sun would come out later at Stairstep--NOT to BE this day.

Many of us were witness to a not often seen event noone including myself and fifteen years of hiking experience had ever seen-the annual council and meeting of Mountain gnats!-2007 in the swirling pool above the top of Rainbow Falls. The large gathering of hundred of swirling dardevil gnats were gathered and hanging above the rapids there. Several of us lucky people got to witness the convention-never seen by hiking people before.

Shortly after viewing Rainbow from the bottom, and several people shortcutting to the top on a non-sanctioned trail-counter to good hiking etiquette and my advice not to; (I'll have to put stronger launguage in next pre-hike description about how this erodes the soil around any scenic attraction)--we all viewed the beautiful waterfall from the top; before the world got wet as described in the beginning of the archive.

We all got soaked properly; and many had no dry clothes upon returning-most of us that read the pre-trip e-mail did-word to yo motha'-those that paid no heed to pre-trip e-mail--dry clothes on a chance of rain on event are important to comfort on the way home--nothing worse than wet clothes on a long drive home (again-you all know who you are)--love you all but read the pre-hike e-mails about weather and bring dry clothes--I've been guilty of same myself before.

The rain mercifully let up on the way out, enough for the same two judgementally challenged individuals, to have a good time getting wetter, (might as well-we were all soaked already) going over Turtleback Falls a couple of times; before we all squished in our wet shoes out of the magnificent valley of the Horsepasture; and all said goodbyes and were back to the ATL and dry clothes and wet and cold beers-several of us talked about before leaving.