Karen and I got the green light to use our good friend’s cabin near Lake Lure for the weekend. We set out early Friday morning and planned a Sunday afternoon return to Charlotte. This would allow us to avoid most of the Memorial Day Weekend madness.
My hiking guides indicated that only two parking spaces were available at the Melrose Falls trailhead located 3.2 miles from Saluda, NC. We were the first early-morning hikers to arrive.
A warning sign was posted at the trailhead that stated in big, bold letters, “NOTICE. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. This trail is not actively maintained and contains natural hazards that may be dangerous, which could lead to injury or loss of life.” It was a good thing the recent heavy rains didn’t make the two creeks across the trail rise enough to thwart our rock hopping transits.
The path snaked through a lush lichen and moss encrusted forest with curlicue vines and gnarly tree roots.
Massive, greenery-cloaked granite formations added to the fairy tale feel of this hike.
We turned left at a fork in the trail for Melrose Falls. The path to the best views of the falls was extremely steep, wet and covered with loose dirt and rocks.
Karen stayed at the upper viewing area. I ventured partway down the perilous slope, before deciding the last bit was not worth the slight improvement in vantage point.
We explored the right fork of the trail on the way back. It led to an abandoned portion of railroad track known as the “Saluda Grade.” This is the steepest standard-gauge mainline railway grade in the United States. After I almost stepped on a sunning rattlesnake between the ties, we scampered out of there.
Post hike we drove through Lake Lure so Karen could pick through the shops in Chimney Rock before the crowds arrived. Social distancing in line for the Lake Lure Beach was already an adventure and the big crowds hadn’t arrived yet.
We chose Wildcat Rock Hiking Trail for Saturday Morning’s trek. The trailhead is a short drive up the road from Bat Cave, NC and an easy drive from our borrowed cabin. The trail presented us with four creek crossings. Fortunately, this one had a bridge.
Wildcat Rock is a lookout point. Any hike with an overlook as a destination is going to be mostly uphill. Karen was happy to rest at this cool spot by this creek halfway to the top.
Our midpoint break was at the base of Little Bearwallow Falls. A creek with no name slides 100 feet over a colossal granite bald into a boulder field at the base of the cascade where Karen sits in the previous picture above.
In winter, this weeping rock formation becomes the John Myers Rock & Ice Climbing Area. The second half of the trail from here becomes muscle-testing steep, rockier and narrower.
Kudos to the men and women who cut steps into solid rock and arranged rocks into precipitous stairways for us to climb.
The view from high atop Wildcat Rock is nice. It’s supposed to be exceptional at sunset, but I can’t imagine picking my way back down two miles of tricky rock steps after dark. I did not notice the tiny UFO until I put this picture into my story.
After wearing ourselves out hiking each morning, we retreated to the solitude of “J.R.’s Cabin.” With no TV or internet access enabled, we enjoyed long talks over nice dinners with wine, played dominoes and read. Once again, the mountains tested our mettle and soothed our souls.