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<\/a>Buckeye Falls<\/p><\/div>\n
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Situated within the reclusive Sampson Wilderness, Buckeye Falls is the most impressive, yet desolate, waterfall I have personally witnessed, and consider her (I always refer to waterfalls in a \u2018feminine\u2019 manner\u2026) stunning and \u2018untamable\u2019.\u00a0 I have never heard who was the first person to \u2018discover\u2019 the immense cliff with falling water, or why \u2018she\u2019 is so inappropriately named, but I imagine Native Americans were most likely the first people to scout the deep hollow long before recorded history in North America.\u00a0 I cannot help but wonder what name these first Appalachians had for the cliffs.\u00a0 Perhaps they were regarded as \u2018sacred\u2019, which is what I like to think.<\/p>\n
Fed by two springs near the top of Rich Mountain, that soon combine into one small stream, the colossal size of the sheer rock facing fairly dwarfs the size of the water source as it eventually ends up at the base of the falls.\u00a0 The enormous size of the rock-cliff at the base obstructs the view of the upper levels of the falls, so that the only complete view must be taken at a distance from one of the two immediate ridges that fork their way around the narrow, yet steep-sided mountain valley.\u00a0 I have, however, seen fairly good photos of the upper levels of the falls taken from a vantage point on Chigger Ridge (on Rich Mountain), but the ridges that wrap around the Buckeye hollow, like two talons on an giant eagles claw, apparently obscures the enormous rock wall which are the lower levels of the intriguing waterfall.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Buckeye Falls<\/p><\/div>\n
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I have read that a good amount of the water actually becomes a vapor during the long, free-falling phases of the streams journey (there are several ledges where the water freefalls, between 50 and 75 feet at a time, that allow this water to vaporize into the air) and ends up at the base of the falls as a heavy mist instead of flowing water.<\/p>\n
Caution should always be the first priority when visiting these dangerous falls.\u00a0 I do not recommend anyone to try to climb the cliff, because it is far too dangerous.\u00a0 That would be a really bad place to break a leg!\u00a0 Without ropes and heavy-duty climbing equipment, there are only two feasible routes, and that would be the ridge climb on either side of the falls, starting back at Clarks Creek, and not the falls themselves. Of course, you should expect these routes to be overgrown and very steep.\u00a0 During the winter season, beware of large chunks of ice falling from the cliff facing, which can also be hazardous.\u00a0 In the summer, of course, pay attention for snakes, bears and other wildlife.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Buckeye Falls<\/p><\/div>\n
Anyway, I first visited the falls during a \u2018Rat Patrol Hiking Club\u2019 adventure hike way back in 1987<\/a>, and have had several more interesting adventures there since then, but none recently.\u00a0 Actually it has been 16 years since the last time I had seen the amazing waterfall, so I decided that I would hike out to Buckeye Falls\u2014a 3 \u00bd mile trek\u2014and climb the left ridge in an effort to get a view of the falls from there.<\/p>\n Buckeye Falls<\/p><\/div>\n It was raining<\/a> steadily almost all day, and the creek crossings<\/a> were difficult to navigate as the creek is running fairly big right now, thanks to the recent melting snow and rain. I somehow managed to fall into Clarks Creek about a quarter mile before I reached the entrance to the Buckeye Hollow, so I was quite wet by the time I had climbed the ridge.\u00a0 The ridgeline<\/a> was very steep, by-the-way, but I did eventually get a nice view of the ice-covered cliff-walls.\u00a0 As soon as I got there, however, a cloud moved down from the mist-enshrouded mountain tops and somewhat hid the upper levels of the waterfall in the dense fog.\u00a0 I also noticed that sound had a way of playing tricks with my ears on that side-ridge, where I thought I heard voices more than once, which is completely unexplainable.<\/p>\n The climb down the steep ridgeline was almost as brutal as the ascent, perhaps more-so, since it is easier to bruise a big toe while descending.\u00a0 By the time I returned to the Clarks Creek, my toes, and feet in general, were getting quite sore and my quadriceps and all the other \u2018Gittyup and Go\u2019,\u2019Whoa Nellie\u2019 and even the \u2018Granny Gear\u2019 –leg muscles were either smokin\u2019 hot or leaking oil–maybe both.\u00a0 Anyway, it was kind of cold and my balance was a bit off kilter on the 3 \u00bd\u00a0 mile return hike, so I mostly just splashed my way across the creek-fords fairly quickly, knowing there was a dry pair of shoes waiting for me back at the trail-head.<\/p>\n In retrospect, after the cloud oozed down the mountainside and lingered in front of the upper levels of the waterfalls, it seemed to me like \u2018Buckeye\u2019, a totally inappropriate name for a waterfall so wild and untamable, is actually a shy, reclusive waterfall, still existing in relative solitude in among the ancient mountains of the Unaka Range.\u00a0 Even so, despite the cold and rain, I enjoyed my time viewing the somber waterfall, and considered the adventure a success.<\/p>\n There are only a couple other hikes to mention; a afternoon trek up Cliff Ridge<\/a> on the Appalachian Trail, with nice views of the Nolichucky River<\/a>, and an interesting snow-hike on Buffalo Mountain<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n