A Waterfall on an unnamed stream.
Today's adventure took Robert and I too Rush Creek on the Black Warrior Side of Bankhead. We Parked the car off of Mt Olive Road(FS Road 245). There is a small parking area just after you cross over Rush Creek bridge. The day started out on the cold side(35 degrees),but we quickly warmed up as we started the hiking, bushwhacking, and climbing. After spending a few moments gearing up and deciding which way we wanted to go. we crossed the bridge and headed upstream on the left hand bank. The walking was easy through here as you are walking on an old road bed. It wasn't long before we came upon the first major feeder stream on this side.
Turning up the stream we could see right away the walking wasn't going to be easy anymore. The Canyon walls are high with quite a few rock shelters in them. Unlike Quillan or Parker Canyons the hardwoods rein supreme with a few hemlocks and touch of Mountain Laural thrown in. As we worked our way up, the walking changed from bushwhacking our way through vines, low tree branches, and thorns to climbing up, over and around, massive boulders. My knees and ankles are never going to forgive me. All the while, the stream twists and turns so there is a fair amount of puddle jumping added in. It wasn't too long and we came to the junction were the stream splits. At this point we are on the wrong side of the stream to go to the right so we went left. The first waterfall of the day was just around the corner.( pictured above). Needing a break we stopped at this waterfall had a snack gathered our strength for the huge boulders that lay ahead. Along the way we scared seven or eight hogs. That is the closest we have ever seen hogs.
Robert and I spent another hour or so exploring the area before we decided to work our way back down to the split. The second stream was much like the first only there were signs that other people had been there. Some of the trees around a waterfall were marked with survey tape. I guess we spent another hour or so exploring and photographing the area. We saw some interesting small falls in creek as the water flowed under, over, and around the boulders, but they were just imposable to shoot.
Noting that sun was starting to slip behind the canyon wall. With sore knees and ankles, I made a quick check of the map and GPS to see how far from the road we were. Luck was with us we were about a mile from the road. Knowing what was behind us and what was in front of us looked relatively flat. We made the choice to bushwhack on out to the road. Other than on two tiny waterfalls, we had no problems on the way up and out. The road walk back to the car was about 0.05 miles which was much better than working our way back down the boulder fields.
In Sumery:
About 5 miles hiked
5 to 10 small waterfalls seen
1 possable still sight seen
scared 7 or 8 hogs
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