On Sunday, we packed up camp and headed for Little River Canyon! Last year, we found a place that very few people seem to know about going down into the Canyon! Either that, or it is too hard a way down, which it is! But we like the hard way and also the road less travelled! Considering all the people that were at the other end of the Canyon, we have never seen anyone else on the ‘Trail” we use! We have tried this trip 3 times before and we were determined to finish it this time! The first time we tried we just went to the first 2 falls; there are 4 total! The second time was with high water and we made it a long way down, but came to a cliff that went halfway across the creek and there was no way around it with the water so high, so we turned back, defeated! The third time was in a flood stage and we could not even see the trail at the beginning because it was under a massive amount of raging water! This time the water was VERY low and we were sure we could go all the way to the bottom of the Canyon! We parked and loaded up and then headed down the trail! The first half mile or so is wooded with a grown over trail, but we found it and made it into the creek and decided the best wat down was to stay on the rocks, which kept getting bigger and bigger as we went! We reached the top of the first falls and is was beautiful still, but there was very little water! We had to then sidetrack and go up and over a wooded hill! We took a break at the first falls and enjoyed the enormous cavern formed at the base! Even on our first trip, the water had been too high to really walk around this area! The area is amazing, but after a few minutes exploring, we moved out again! We reached the top of the second falls and again had to go up and over through the woods! Here, there is an amazing pool cut off from the rest of the river and it was full, clear and VERY cold! I couldn’t resist the temptation to go for a swim! When I went in the water, I could barely breathe!! I nearly jumped right back out of the water!! I then went under the falls which were small, but beautiful and the water was still cold, but standing under it was amazingly refreshing! I couldn’t manage to get Phyllis to go for a swim, especially after I let out a blood curdling, feminine scream the first time I hit the water! Well, maybe next time! We moved on again further down the canyon! These aren’t ordinary rocks, these are boulders which have fallen from the top of the Canyon! Up, over, around and under we made it past the third falls, which we were able to climb down, then the 4th falls, which we skirted! I went up near a cave in the wall and finally got to see a major snake! I am 90% sure it was a very big water moccasin based on the diamond head shape, the color and size! I didn’t get that close and it was in the rocks, but it raised its head and I got a good picture! We backed off and went around the cavern and started down again! When we reached the cliff we had made it to on our second trip, we made it around it and down through more rocks! We were finally in new territory! We climbed even bigger boulders and down bigger slabs of rock, then they started getting smaller! I kept telling Phyllis I was sure the bottom of the canyon was just around the next bend! She is used to that, so she just ignored me and kept going over the rocks! Finally, I looked up and saw a wide open, sunlit area and I knew we were there! Phyllis was right behind me and were ecstatic! We made it to Little River! We walked a little down the river until we found a big rock near a large, deep pool! As we sat there exhausted, we were amazed that we had made it! I decided to go for another swim and cool off! This time the water was wonderful! Not too cold, but with the sun, it was just right! We were all alone and I don’t think many people have seen this pool! As we looked up, we were amazed that we could see one of the overlooks and there were people waving down to us! We could see them clearly! It was amazing! Now, I normally practice leave no trace hiking, but this was a temptation Phyllis couldn’t resist! We had an old bright pink t-shirt in my pack that I used as a towel! We spread it out on the rock where we had been sitting so hopefully we could see it from that overhang ourselves to see exactly where we were in relation to the top of the Canyon! After a good swim and a little rest, we started the trek back up! Going in is always exciting, coming out is business! One foot in front of the other and up and over a massive number of rocks! In some ways, it was easier to find a path going up, but in others it was much harder on the arms and knees climbing over the rocks! It took 2 hours of hard climbing, but we made it back to the top! For both of us, this was one of our best accomplishments yet and one of our favorite hikes! Although we are paying a little price today with some pain in the knees and shoulders, I think we would both do it again! Just not for a little while! We also will be checking back regularly to see if our shirt gets washed away or if someone else picks it up! We were amazed that we could see it from the overhang as clear as day! Hard to believe how far we went, but a great feeling of accomplishment!
2016-06-11