refresh

You can't change who you are, but you can change what you have in your head, you can refresh what you're thinking about, you can put some fresh air in your brain. 
--Ernesto Bertarelli (b.1965) Swiss businessman and philanthropist.

Signs warning of aggressive bear activity in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County didn't deter us from seeing Sill Branch Falls today. We did see plenty of other hikers -- but fortunately no bears. The signs specifically warned against overnight camping, grilling out and picnicking. However, the area is  still open for day hikers. Camping in the area has been banned since late May and isn't expected to be allowed again until fall.  Click here for more information.

For directions to Sill Branch Falls, click here.

bitter blessings

What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.   --Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish Author.

Above: Sill Branch Falls in the bitter cold. Directions here.

living art

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
--Havelock Ellis (1859-1939) British physician, writer, and social reformer. 

Above: Sill Branch Falls in summer.

enjoy the little things

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
--Robert Brault, author

Our area was deluged with rain on Sunday, with some areas getting as much as 4-5 inches -- one of the more severe flash floods we've had in a long time.  So I was surprised that Sill Branch, and the larger Clarks Creek area of Unicoi County, looked like they hardly saw a drop (which is good for those who live in that community!). But even with it's low flow, Sill Branch was beautiful nonetheless. Here's a photo taken yesterday of my friend Sam admiring the scene.

beyond the senses

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.
--Helen Keller (1880-1968) U.S. author who was blind and deaf. 

Above: One of the best and most beautiful things in our region...Sill Branch Falls in Unicoi County, TN

appreciation

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
--Epicurus (341-270 BC) Greek philosopher. 

I thought after all our recent downpours that I'd find more water out at Sill Branch Falls, but it's pretty thin right now. Still, I'm thankful to live in such a beautiful area where my biggest issue when venturing out is which marvelous creation should I visit today?

Upper Sill Branch Falls

Set out to discover Upper Sill Branch Falls without a map and without much of an idea where we were going. So after much effort and uncertainty, we turned back. As it turned out, we were on the right trail, but didn't go far enough. Ugh. I hate when that happens! To the left is a small cascade we found before turning around, admitting our defeat. The beautiful photo of the actual falls above was taken by Marty Silver (Thanks, Marty!). Follow the link to see some of his photos - posted under the screen name Mole.

Upper Sill Branch Falls is rarely visited - and for good reason. The trail to the falls is in horrendous shape with fallen trees and overgrown brush. What used to be a logging road is almost completely choked and impassable in places.  So this isn't a hike to take the kiddos on.  It's a bushwhack.  But if you are up for a challenge, this hike would probably be best accomplished in the winter months when the vegetation is at a minimum. To the right is a photo of a good section of this "trail."

Others have made it to the falls and lived to tell of it. Hiking Bill has a fabulous description and GPS track of the hike. Wendell Dingus also has a helpful GPS of the trail and photos. RATtreks also has a helpful post with lots of photos. And over on Tennessee Landforms, you'll find GPS waypoints as well as another photo.  Click here for photos of lower Sill Branch Falls (which is much, much easier to visit)

Directions: Take I-26 to the Erwin/Jonesborough exit #37. At the end of the ramp, turn right and take State Route 81/107 west for 6.5 miles, stay on Rt. 107 by turning left and continue for 5 more miles. Turn left on Clark's Creek Road and drive 3.1 miles (the last 1.7 will be gravel) into the Cherokee National Forest to a parking area on the left. A small sign will indicate the trail head for Sill Branch Falls. Take this trail to where it splits (less than a half a mile). The trail to the left (labeled North Sill Branch) will immediately cross the creek and lead you to lower Sill Branch Falls. To get to the Upper Falls, go right at this fork and continue 1/2 mile or so. During this stretch you'll see some awesome rock formations to your right and eventually cross the south branch of Sill Branch and not long after that you'll see a logging road climbing the hill back to your left (check out Wendell Dingus' topo map). This is the 'trail' to the upper falls. You'll immediately encounter fallen trees, take in some beautiful views (thumbnail, right), and eventually question your own sanity for embarking on this adventure. But the photos of the upper falls show a beautiful, stunning and remote waterfall. The trail leads back to North Sill Branch, which you'll follow to the falls. This is a very low-flow stream, so if you're going, I'd recommend going after a period of heavy rain.

Click on 'comments' below for additional, helpful info provided by readers...

cathedral

A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944) French Pilot and Author

Sill Branch Panorama

Snow and adolescence are the only problems that disappear if you ignore them long enough.
--Earl Wilson (1907-1987) Journalist 

A panoramic view of Sill Branch Falls. I did this fairly quickly yesterday, wish I would have used the wide angle lens to capture more of the context of this beautiful waterfall.  Click photo to enlarge.

November

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds -
November! 
--Thomas Hood (1799-1845) British humorist and poet

After an absolutely beautiful sunny and warm Thanksgiving day, today was all November: falling temps, gray skies and misty rain. Even so, it was a great day to take "Blue" for his first hike. We went out to one of my favorite destinations, Sill Branch Falls.  Blue did great!

sights and sounds of spring

Nature is man's teacher. She unfolds her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart; an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence.
--Alfred Billings Street (1811-1881) American author

Above: Sill Branch Falls - click here for directions.

a human need

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

This is one of my favorite falls in our region...not for its power, but for its grace and serenity. This was the scene yesterday afternoon when I visited the falls with some friends. However, last night at dusk a student from Milligan fell and was injured here. Thankfully, the initial diagnosis is very encouraging, but she still has fractures, so please say a prayer for Abi that she will recover quickly.

Click here for directions. If you visit this, or any other waterfall in our region, please be careful!

abundance

For true love is inexhaustible; the more you give, the more you have. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow.
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944) French Pilot and Author

Click here for directions to Sill Branch Falls in the beautiful Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County, TN. I still say this is one of the best kept secrets in northeast Tennessee. I love this place! The time to go is now when the water is abundant -- during dry spells, this waterfall is reduced to a trickle. I saw many former students at Milligan College's graduation yesterday from all over the US -- many commented on how they miss beautiful east Tennessee and their amazement at just how green everything is. In this shot, I left the shutter open 13 seconds which tends to saturate and deepen the colors.

Details: Nikon D90, 18-200mm lens at 18mm, f/20 for 13 sec. ISO 160.

Sill Branch Falls

If you've never visited the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi and Washington Counties, you should put it on your list. Because one of my favorite falls in our entire region, Sill Branch Fall, is located there.  I love the setting -- surrounded by rock cliffs and steep hills on each side -- it's nestled deep into the woods. Very remote and tranquil. Nearby is Pine Ridge Falls. Both are easy hikes (around 1/2 mile to each). If you decide to go, I recommend going right after we've had some decent rains. During dry spells these falls are often reduced to just a trickle. Check out Bill Fuller's photos taken two days prior to these (click  here) and you'll see how even a couple days of no rain changes this waterfall. To the right is another view of the falls which gives you an idea of its height. By the way... if you look on up the hill to the right of the falls (not pictured here), it looks like a cave. But let me save you the trouble of climbing this insanely steep section...it's not! :)

Directions: Take I-26 to the Erwin/Jonesborough exit #37. At the end of the ramp, turn right and take State Route 81/107 west for 6.5 miles, stay on Rt. 107 by turning left and continue for 5 more miles. Turn left on Clark's Creek Road and drive 3.1 miles (the last 1.7 will be gravel) into the Cherokee National Forest to a small parking area on the left. A small brown marker indicates the trail head for Sill Branch Falls -- the first part of the hike has an easy incline, when the trail forks, stick to the left and you'll immediately cross a small stream. Continue on up this steep section of trail and you'll soon arrive at the falls.

Purpose

Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.
--Dolly Parton (b. 1946) country music singer/songwriter

Above: Sill Branch Falls in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County, TN. For more information check out Bill Fuller's excellent website and the description of his recent visit to Clark's Creek. Bill is an avid hiker who does a great job of pointing the way to this area's special beauty.

Looking back: new favorites

Wow. There've been lots of discoveries in 2007 and thousands of miles logged in search of the best this region has to offer with my friend Lee of "From these Hills" fame. In this post, I've tried to pick my favorite 2007 discoveries from Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. Like I said yesterday, picking favorites is always tough -- but there is one fairly objective way to decide -- that is, which places do you find yourself going back to again and again. [click the links below for additional photos, information, and directions]

1. Northeast TN: Sill Branch Falls. Once we get some more rain, you can bet I'll be heading back to Sill Branch in the Clark's Creek area of Unicoi County. It's convenient to Erwin, Jonesborough and Greeneville -- and a fairly short and easy hike. Above is a shot from last spring. (BTW, the final tally on the rain deficit for 2007: 18.94 inches)

2. Western NC: Bass Lake. For those from the Blowing Rock area of NC, you're probably rolling your eyes at me. Bass Lake doesn't seem like a tough one to discover -- but you'd be surprised. I had been to Blowing Rock dozens and dozens of times and driven right past all the horse trailers along the road, and never thought to venture in. I've asked some friends who are always going to Blowing Rock and Boone for shopping, if they'd ever been or heard of Bass Lake... nope. So, I'm glad I'm not the only one! Bass Lake has become a regular stop on our tours of western North Carolina -- it's always a beautiful walk at the end of the day. Here's a shot from October.

3. Southwest Virginia: Virginia Creeper Trail. Again, this is one of the best known destinations in our region of Appalachia. But for all the talk of the Creeper Trail, I'm embarrassed to say that in over 12 years of living here, I never checked it out until this fall. It's an amazing treasure -- and needs to be at the top of everyone's list for '08.

I appreciate all the kind comments and the supportive emails I've received this past year -- they really mean a lot. I have to say my favorite ones are from those who say, 'I read your blog and followed your directions and ventured out!' That's really what this is all about for me -- pointing the way and encouraging everyone who lives or visits this region to get out and explore. This has been a great year of discovery for me -- I feel very fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country -- and I can't wait to see what's around the bend in 2008!

Happy New Year!

Sill Branch Falls

Inspired by yesterday's hike to Pine Ridge Falls, we re-visted Sill Branch Falls today to see what it would look like after the recent rains (click link for directions). We weren't disappointed! If you live in or are visiting the Johnson City, Unicoi, Jonesborough or Greeneville areas, this should be near the top of your list of places to visit -- especially if we've had some rain. I've seen pictures of this particular waterfall in dryer months and it isn't very impressive. But today it was putting on quite a show. (Check out the waterfall at "high flow!")

Sill Branch Falls

My bet is that most people who have done any hiking in the area of Northeast Tennessee have been to Laurel Falls (see yesterday's post). It's usually the first place visitors are taken. I know this was true for me when I moved here a dozen years ago. What has been surprising to me is that there are so many other amazing places in this region that just aren't well known or visited -- there are lots of waterfalls which are even more accessible and just as spectacular as Laurel Falls, but few people know of them. Here's one, for example: Sill Branch Falls. What was neat today was the ice that had formed all around the falls and on the ledges. It's listed as a 40' falls, but that estimate is on the low side. I'd say it's much closer to 60 feet. The picture really doesn't do it justice either. I can't wait till spring to see this with more water coming over it.

Directions: Take I-26 to the Erwin/Jonesborough exit #37. At the end of the ramp, turn right and take State Route 81/107 west for 6.5 miles, stay on Rt. 107 by turning left and continue for 5 more miles. Turn left on Clark's Creek Road and drive 3.1 miles (the last 1.7 will be gravel) into the Cherokee National Forest to a parking area on the left. A small sign will indicate the trailhead for Sill Branch Falls, it's only 1/2 mile hike to the falls (when the trail forks, stick to the left).