Schoolhouse Falls - November 19, 2011 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | Schoolhouse Falls |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | North Carolina |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | November 19, 2011 |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
| Trail Conditions: | Fair to Good |
| Trail Traffic: | Heavy |
| Trip Weather: | Partly Cloudy, Cloudy |
| Trip Winds: | Light |
| Trip Precipitation: | None |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 51-60, Low: 21-30 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | We decided to go hiking before lunch today, and took two cars to the trailhead for a hike to Schoolhouse Falls. There was a group of 30+ hikers meeting up for an overnight trip in Panthertown and the parking was at a premium at Cold Mountain Gap. We got a jump on the crowds and hiked the short route down to the valley on a wet and slippery side trail. At least two of us fell in the process, but we continued on to the falls and spoke with a group of Clemson students that camped here the previous evening. They were moving to the other side of the valley to camp tonight and were among a large number of backpackers and dogs that we encountered during the day. I’ve never seen so many backpackers in Panthertown and estimate that they outnumbered the day hikers 10 to 1. Roger, Charlie, and I contemplated a hike toward Devil’s Elbow but opted for the Sandbar Pool to give the ladies some time to rally the kids and head back to the trailhead. They got turned around and almost walked deeper in to the forest, but Katie raised me on the cell phone and I told her to go back to the falls and wait. We reconnected with them, then I spent the next 30 minutes carrying both kids back to the car. One was tired, and the other was not feeling well – so I alternated between them. Needless to say, I was very tired by the time we reached the trailhead. |
Trail Map For This Area
One reply on “Schoolhouse Falls - November 19, 2011 - Member Trip Report”
My sons, ages 9 and 11, do not like to go to day hikes that requires more than 1 1/2 hour of riding to get to the trail. I don’t either. I would prefer to spend more time with them on a hiking trail. The longer the drive, the more snacks they need. They don’t mind the long drive for overnight camping trips.