Windy Falls Trail

As promised we will continue down the windy falls trail starting now at the top of the first main falls. This picture shows JD from LEAF at the top looking down through the slot. This is heavy fast water here so BE CAREFUL. ***If you notice it looks like you can just squeeze around the boulder on the LEFT of the picture and onto the level below. NOT! This is slippery stuff. DO NOT ATTEMPT this... There is a safe way down.
Here is a close up of the Shortcut that in my eyes is a death trap. Go around and it takes you to the same place and its only 5 extra minutes. Besides, the longcut is pretty cool.

If you head straight up the backside of the big boulder on the left (first pic) in 30 feet on the right you will see an OBVIOUS Upward cave with an opening at the top, and a nice tree branch placed perfectly for climbing. Go up this little cave to the level above... You are now standing on top of the BIG boulder in the first pic!!! (video shows JD from LEAF coming up through the cave)


Now from here, if there were no trees you could get a great view of the falls below, but alas the trees and ramble are very thick. Time to go up and around, following a faint trail to the left which brings you back down to the level below. (video shows JD trailblazing down the left side of the Gorge to the level below)

Here is pic from the level below... The next part of descent is pretty hairy. So much so that I didn't get a chance to shoot pics or vids going down.

In fact part of the descent requires a slide... and here's proof

JD coming down the Boulderfield...

WHOA!!! hang on Tommy!

Here is a video from the end of the line.... From here you will need rope and climbing gear to descend and further... Next time... next time :)

Windy Falls Picture Gallery

This is the sign at the top of the first main drop of Windy Falls. From here down to the first pool it is a 40 degree incline that in dry weather is doable, if there is ANY moisture... It becomes a slip and slide. <<>> PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE


This is from the top out in the middle looking down into the first pool...

If it's dry and you don't expect rain ANY TIME SOON you can work your way down to the first bottom "pool" (although it is quite fast moving for a pool...)

You will find yourself here, at the base of the first big drop...

Then work you way up this little lip that you see in the (bottom left)of the third picture...

From here you have to pick your way along the rocks...

Through the cave that looks like a zig-zag split rock...

Then after going up through the cave head back down to the river's edge...

Over one more ledge and you are on top of the big main drop... BE CAREFUL!!!

This is the top... You can go further... but it gets pretty hairy from here... For now just enjoy the scenery ...

To be continued....

Where is Windy Falls?

Have you ever read about the waterfalls of the Horsepasture River and wondered, "how do I get to Windy Falls?" Well if you have then this should help out some. Now I post these directions with some misgivings, for I don't want people to trash this fairly untouched part of the gorge. In any case here goes.

First thing you need to do is head into the Gorges State Park access road off 281 near Saphire North Carolina. Take the new paved road, used to be gravel, about a mile up to the top on the hill to the brand new trailhead for Rainbow Falls...

Walk to the Rainbow falls trail downhill for about 1/6 mile downhill and you will come to a road that goes left. The main (orange blazed) trail will go right, but YOU will turn left and begin working your way back uphill. After a half mile or so you will come to a gate and a big wide dirt road...

Turn right after the big iron gate and walk down hill for short distance until you come to the first very obvious trail on the right ...

You will know you are on the right path because you will see this rock in the middle of the trail after a hundred yards or so...

Walk down this path for about a mile... all ... the ... way ... down ... Until you come to this little campsite at the top of Windy Falls...

Now stay tuned for pictures and hints on how to work your way down the Gorge for some Jawdropping views of the Falls...

LEAF on the Horsepasture River.

Leaf took a week off from the music scene and headed off into the North Carolina Mountains for some adventure and inspiration. We drove 11 hours in the big truck, wishing we had a Nissan leaf http://www.nissanusa.com after our one way gas bill of over 200 bucks... WHOA! I wonder by the way if Nissan plans on unveiling a truck version of their LEAF. Now that would be something I would just have to have! In any case we arrived safe and sound and ready to hit the trails.

We entered Gorges State Park to find out that they had changed the entire layout of the old trails and added miles and miles of new ones. While this excited me, it also made my day a little harder as tourguide of the Horsepasture river. Once down to the river, it soon became obvious that we were downstream of Rainbow Falls and were forced to ascend almost as far as we came down to the river just to get back up to the base of Rainbow Falls. (see slideshow) You see the trail used to just send you down to the top of Rainbow falls, but now it sends you way below the base of the falls and about a half mile downstream. Leaving hikers plenty of work to get there. I must say i like the new setup alot.

Well after we reached Rainbow Falls and took our picture for LEAFJAM.com, we headed back downstream to begin our search for Windy Falls...

Several dead ends and a few safety breaks later LEAF had arrived at the top of Windy Falls. We set up camp after a quick safety check of our gear and in no time we were exploring the upper parts of the falls. It seemed an endless chain of waterfalls and swimming holes lay in front of us as we gazed up the steep Gorge. We jumped and chilled and smoked and soaked up nature until we could take no more. The day began to close and as light faded we made plans to descend into the Gorge as far as we could go the next day. Then we retired to our tents and to our dreams.