Momentous Adventures-Foothills Trail (Part 2

Day 4 and the wilderness is definitely sinking in for me at this point. Cruise on down to the next spring where you can scoop up some water. Keep on dropping down to your next big river, Horsepasture shortly down the way. It’s important to note here that the Foothills TR is called that because it follows the edge of the mountains where they drop off into the Piedmont. At this point the creeks have become rivers and rivers more legendary and regal for you to cross on big bridges that let you,appreciate their grandeur.  Climb above Horsepasture and up and over that drainage fairy quickly making time to yet another Bear Creek. Here you enter the pristine Gorges State Park making your way down to lush Cobb Creek. Once down to the Toxaway River you can look forward to open views of this widening waterway. These types of remote setting stir my imagination quite frankly. An unbelievably beautiful setting and not another soul in eye or earshot. Cross over Toxaway on a sturdy suspension bridge where you check out this River digging into the rugged valley and then suddenly becoming still and calm, truly something you need to see for yourself to grasp. Follow the shoreline for a short distance to a nice camp and a privy. All things are cruisey until hitting Heartbreak Ridge This strange detour that the Foothills makes here takes you up the steepest stairs that I have ever seen! Almost too steep to get your whole foot onto the stair below. But relax, it’s a short climb to the top before dropping down between Toxaway and Bear Creek Camp, your camp for the night. Set up in a semi private spot near the River and take a dip in Bear before cooking dinner and seeing an amazing sunset over this pristine landscape. Life is a truly amazing journey sometimes.

After a very restful night start your day with a nice breakfast and some tea. Scoop up your stuff and proceed down the Toxaway before climbing away from the River to join up with Jackie’s Branch and then Laurel Fork Creek that you follow up going by many nice camps. Before leaving Laurel you get to Virginia Hawkins Falls and it’s outrageous camp under it. For real, the scenery will blow your mind. If you continue along the Creek when the Foothills starts climbing out you will get to Bella and Evil Ducky Falls, a most interesting sounding endeavor. Continue on for a bit passing some places to crash and some Sid streams. Come down to a Hwy and start a steeper grade on your way to  Chimneytop Camp which was our home for the night. Located in a poetic flat spot with steep countryside around you. Enjoy this last camp while you reflect about how good this Trail is and when you hope to be back for round two.

Take off heading uphill ultimately headed to Sassafras Mtn, which is the highest in South Carolina. On the summit there are views in all directions with signs that show you lay of the land. Once you are up on the roof of SC, the trail cruises over to Hickory Mountain before dropping Emory Creek with nice camping options for you. Around here is where you enter a more “alpine” setting with big granitic cliffs and have burnt forests that give it a more West Coast feel. For the last bit of the trail down to Table Rock State Park the views of the surrounding mountains and piedmont are much more revealing. Water is cascading down rock slabs while sunlight illuminates grassy islands of flowers that inspire you to move forward. The views out to rocky Table Rock are particularly nice from this vantage point and when you start dropping down to the terminus, it feels sad that you didn’t get closer to it, but I guess all good things must end. When you get to an intersection in the State Park that has colored trails leading back to the location of your car, take this random path back to your rig. Remember when you pay for parking in the SP, you are technically entitled to take a shower at the campground if you wish. Either way, get in your car and throw on some good music as you cruise to some good eats and ponder your next hike of the Foothills, maybe 9 days with 3 resupplies to see all of those great off trail waterfalls?