Weekend Gem-Laurel Branch Arch Hunt
There is a Big South Fork saying that says “One adventure leads to another” ain’t that the truth my friends. This week me and my honey went to Sawmill TH for another arch hunt. After looking at the mesmerizing BSF Landforms Site for the area this week, I was optimistic about the prospects of a great trip brewing. This part of the Park is littered with great arches along some select cliff lines especially. The core of the Wilderness Area on the Tennessee side seems to have the highest concentration of complex landforms. Check out the site, it will blow your mind! Back on the trail, we are at Sawmill TH and make a right along the gravel road for a few hundred feet before making a left onto the Slave Falls Loop. You will travel a short distance until you get to a split with the Loop and a trail heading to Laurel Branch, take that right to Laurel. The way meanders past Indian Rockhouse, a big ass rock shelter and then begins dropping down to Laurel and Ben’s Creek. Take a second to notice the Ben’s Archette perched over your right shoulder. When you drop to a crossing of Ben’s, cross over the Creek and and head around the steep ridge that begins over your right shoulder. On the other side you will notice a scrambling route up the 12ft ridge to Ben’s Archette, which is a really cool gravity arch. Continue up a bit until you hit a rocky bluff, keep left for a few hundred feet until you find Ben’s Arch. It’s real low to the ground so you need to crouch down a bit to see it. On the way back, take some time to check out all the little arches hidden about the cliff side. Once back on the trail you begin a series of creek crossings. There is also some nice camps here too! Pick one and set your self up for a great night out. We camped past Rockhouse Branch coming off the hillside to your right. We tried to find Cracked Foot Arch up Rockhouse and ran out of daylight to get back to camp safely before dark. I tried going up the steep slope keeping the Creek on my left. But the stream kept dropping down steeper and steeper terrain that we could not traverse. So I went up and contoured the cliff until we were across some small gullies from the Arch and that is when we ran out of time. I want to go back and go up Rockhouse to the left and see if we find it easier that way. I would say to expect 3 hours round trip.Get back to camp and have a sip of whiskey dammit! This arch hunting is tough stuff.
Ben’s Arch
Sketchy log latter on the other side o’ ridge
Wow!
Get your grub and tea on in the morning before heading downstream a couple of miles. Cross the Creek a few more times before you get to a horse blocking fence that signifies an intersection. Take the clear, unmarked horse path to the right. After the trail crests up in about a mile you get on the ridge proper, nice views surround you in winter or fall here. When you get to a pair of metal poles, take a look over your left shoulder and down to Oby’s Double Arch. You quickly realize as you look down through the arches that you are in a special place. Go around the corner and drop down in front of the Arch to take in the goodness of this rad spot. Soak in the day all you like before retracing your steps back to camp. Big South Fork never disappoints ever. Enjoy the light as night creeps in and you can return again to the warm goodness of your hammock cocoon and tunes, ahhh perfect together!
Under Oby’s Double Arch
It’s grits time! Get yourself connected with the morning before packing out of this nice corner of the Cumberland Plateau. Retrace your steps back to the trailhead while reflecting about the kid like joy that comes from these arch hunt. Embracing this sentiment at my age and juncture of life that I’m at is healthy for me. No big miles but plenty of tough off trail action. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it leaves you hungry for the next hunt. Take a moment or two at Indian Rockhouse to take a deep breath and reflect on the glorious life that you have dedicated to understanding the mountains. Get back to the TH and change into civilian clothes to rejoin the masses, well with a reward beer mixed into the mix.
Reward beer? Yes please!