I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost (1874–1963) American poet--
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| Lower Gentry Falls |
This beautiful, two-tiered waterfall is found in a remote area of the northeast tip of Tennessee. I have known of this waterfall for years, but didn't get around to visiting it until yesterday. Part of my reluctance in visiting was the discussion on other websites saying how difficult and challenging this hike is. To be sure, it's no walk in the park. It's 2.5 miles with 15 creek crossings (each way), swarms of bugs, and stinging nettles lining the trail. But the good news is that it's fairly level -- in fact, you hardly notice the incline on the way to the falls. And if you're prepared for the bugs and the creek -- it's really not bad at all. In fact, it becomes a beautiful adventure. :)
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| Peter crossing Gentry Creek |
Now I say 15 creek crossings, but to be honest, at some point I stopped counting. Other websites say 15, so I'll go with that. There's evidence here and there that bridges once existed at some of the crossings, but they're long gone. The trail is well maintained and you can see ample evidence of the efforts made to make the creek crossings easier by placing large rocks and boulders as stepping stones. But for me carting a heavy backpack, a tripod and holding the leash of an overly anxious and excited dog, it was easier just to walk straight through the creek. The cool water soothing the sting from the nettles.
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| Upper Gentry Falls |
The waterfall is magnificent. The two-tiers make it unique, and gives visitors lots to explore. A steep trail to the left leads up to the upper falls, where there is a surprising amount of room between the falls. Everything, of course, is very slippery. So use common sense and stay far away from the edge of the falls. Read my
Warnings, Safety Tip and Disclaimers. The last thing I want is for someone to get hurt visiting the beautiful places I describe here!
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| The view downstream of Gentry Falls |
I found the upper falls to be more photogenic than the lower waterfall, even though the lower one is a bit taller than the upper falls. I'd say the upper one is 25 feet tall and the lower one 35 feet high. A nice view of both falls is found on top of a large boulder that you pass on your initial descent to the falls.
Another interesting discovery was of old railroad ties lying in the woods on the approach to the waterfall. Hard to believe that a railroad once extended into this remote area! One
website, which describes a little of the history of the area, says Gentry Falls was named for Joseph Gentry who owned 800 acres and on which his son established an iron works around 1800. The railroad obviously came later and was likely used for timber.
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| One of the many creek crossings |
Directions:
Click here for map. From Mountain City, TN, take Rt. 91 north toward Damascus, VA for 7 miles. At Laurel Bloomery, TN, turn right onto Gentry Creek Road (across from the A to Z Market). Drive 0.7 miles, then turn right to stay on Gentry Creek Road. Drive 2.4 miles to a cul-de-sac at the end of the road. The last 1.3 miles is gravel ... and rough and narrow ... with lots of deep potholes.
I highly recommend a high clearance vehicle for this trek. Soon after it turns to gravel, the road forks, keep right. (If you go left you immediately reach another cul-de-sac and trail head, but that one will take you to Rogers Ridge Horse Trail). Once at the end of the Gentry Creek Road, you'll see a trail marker for Gentry Falls (Trail #51). Follow the blue blazed trail for 2 1/2 miles to the double falls. It took about an hour and 15 minutes to get there and exactly an hour on our way back.
Here, alone atop Iron Mountain, lies Uncle Nick Grindstaff, born December 26, 1851 and died July 22, 1923. For forty years he lived alone on this ridge between Stoney Creek and Doe Valley, on the border of Carter and Johnson Counties. It's not exactly known what led him to become a hermit. The story of his life seems shrouded in mystery. Orphaned as a small child, he was raised by relatives and had the reputation of being a smart, hard working, "model" young man. When he became an adult, he inherited the family farm and made a go of it for a few years but eventually sold it and headed out west to Missouri. It's not exactly clear what led him there or what really happened. Some say he married and his young bride soon died. Others say his love married another. Still another account said he was beaten and robbed and stripped of everything he had. Whatever befell him, Nick never recovered. He moved back to east Tennessee and for the next forty years lived as a hermit on Iron Mountain. Twice a year he would come down to the local general store for meal, bacon and other supplies... and to get a haircut. His only companions on the mountain were his dog "Panter", a cow he used as a pack animal, and his pet rattlesnake (!).
In July 1923, a friend, Baxter McEwen, stopped by his shack to check in on him and found him dead. Legend has it that Panter was so protective he wouldn't let anyone remove the body. Eventually, Nick was given a Christian burial with family and friends in
attendance. At some point, Panter was also buried there. Though he isolated himself, he must have been loved -- for two years later, they returned to construct and dedicate the
chimney-shaped monument you see above. It was the shopkeeper who penned Nick's sad epitaph:
But the legend and mystery did not stop with his death. It's said that years later, Appalachian Trail hikers who camped near the grave reported hearing the mournful, haunting howls of a dog in the night.
Some may try and tell us that this is the end of an era. But what they overlook is that in America, every day is a new beginning, and every sunset is merely the latest milestone on a voyage that never ends. For this is the land that has never become, but is always in the act of becoming. Emerson was right: America is the land of tomorrow.
The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.
Carve a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment.
Click here and here for more info and directions to the "world's shortest tunnel" found in Johnson County, TN, eight miles from Shady Valley, TN and five miles south of Damascus, VA. Click the thumbnail to the right to see a map posted at Backbone Rock of the available trails and campsites.
The Shady Valley Country Store is home of the "Strip-ed Snake." The sign above explains it well: 1 Valley, 3 Mountains, 489 Curves. Regardless of the direction you travel, you're gonna experience some very curvy roads. Within the 12 miles radius of the store are 489 curves. This makes Shady Valley popular with motorcyclists. Today when we passed through there was a group from Rolling Thunder and also a group of Mazda Miata enthusiasts. 
