July 4th Activities

My Albany, Georgia brother and nephews stayed the weekend in Asheville.  On July 4th, I took them to Dupont State Forest, and we hiked to three waterfalls.  The boys had a fabulous time at Hooker Falls, where they got to swing out on a rope.  They did it numerous times!  After Dupont, we were off to Pisgah National Forest.  We saw three more waterfalls, including Sliding Rock, which might have been the hit of the day.  I even finally slid down the rock myself!  Lots of fun, even though I did bloody my toe.  After wrapping up Sliding Rock, we took the Blue Ridge Parkway back.  I pointed out some of the key sights:  John Rock, Looking Glass Rock, Pisgah Mountain, Cold Mountain and The Biltmore.  The stats for the day: 5 miles of hiking and 5 waterfalls. After spending time outdoors, Kade and I met "the gang" for a late dinner at The Lobster Trap, before walking over to a very crowded Pack Square Park to catch the end of the fireworks.

There are a few photos of me with them.  Will add them soon! 

Here's a short video of the downtown fireworks at Pack Square Park.  Earlier in the evening, we walked by the Drum Circle at Pritchard Park - another downtown park.  .

Here's the actor Owen Wilson going down Sliding Rock just a week or so after we did.  - Source

Stone Mountain Trail + a bit more

Hiked up to Stone Mountain in the Dupont State Forest.  Afterwards, we headed to Lake Imaging and Hooker Falls.   At Hooker Falls, I encountered a local celebrity (in my mind!), the creator of the website Romantic Asheville Travel Guide, the go-to source for all things Asheville.  I use the site to plan lots of my hikes! 

 

 

photos above by Mark Schmidt

A few days before the hike, I had watched this TV special.  Up until then, I had not even seen a photo of Mark File of Romantic Asheville.  Then there he was at Hooker Falls!

 

Sam Knob & Skinny Dip Falls

Owen Wilson

This news hit the local press last night:

"Sitting downtown at Mellow Mushroom and just met Owen Wilson and gave him directions to Skinny Dip Falls. "  ~Korah , from Downtown Asheville

My Weekday Hiking meetup had already penciled in Skinny Dip Falls on our calendar.  And it was for today!  Was it just a mere coincidence?  Would we see the famous Hollywood actor?  Wilson and other stars are arriving in Asheville for two months for the filming of a comedy to be released in the Fall of 2015.  Learn more about it here.  I see some extra roles I would be perfect for:  country club yuppie, business executive and the Ken type.  :-)

 

 

the small group I led out today

 

HNB - 65 Years

 

 

 

HNB - 50 Years

Major & Siblings

Parents - John Jolly Espy, Sr. and Emma Penelope Carroll (Espy)

 Children - Major, John Jr. (Bud John) and Sarah Frances (youngest to oldest)

I studied the picture of J.J. Espy, Sr. and family - the one hanging in our upstairs hall.  It is my guess that that particular picture was made in approximately 1915.  I'm basing that on the dates of birth of the children in the picture.  They are dressed in clothes suitable for hot weather - so a guess would be about the summer of 1915.  J.J, Espy's Sr. was born April 1878.  So he would have been about 37.  - cousin Beverly (Espy) Dayries, daughter of John Jr. (Bud John)

Major, John Jr., Sarah Frances

New York City - 1911

 

(l-r) Major, Bud John, Sarah Frances

Sarah, Bud John and Major had another sibling, a sister named Josephine.  Unfortunately, Baby Josephine died during a whooping cough epidemic when she was right around 6 months old.  You can read about Josephine here.

If I can find any more photos of the siblings together, I will post them here.

Bearwallow Mountain Hike

At 4,232 ft. above sea level, Bearwallow Mountain stands as the highest peak in the widely-visible Bearwallow Highlands range.  Straddling the Eastern Continental Divide, it makes up part of the Blue Ridge Escarpment as well as the western rim of the Hickory Nut Gorge.  Crowned with a grassy meadow at its summit, the mountain features a nearly 360 degree view that encompasses some of the southern Appalachians highest peaks including Mt. Mitchell in the Black Mountains and Mt. Pisgah in the Great Balsams range.  Its breathtaking vista also includes a birds-eye view of Hickory Nut Gorge, downtown Hendersonville, and the lowlands of South Carolina.  A historic fire lookout tower occupies the summit, as do grazing cattle who call the mountaintop home.  - source

 

 

This morning I led this group up to the peak of Bearwallow Mountain.  Afterwards, we stopped off at Hickory Nut Gap Farm and Cape Fear Seafood.  I purchased some fresh lump crab meat from Cape Fear, and Kade made a delicious ten-egg crab omelet for dinner!  Yes, we do have leftovers!

 

Several months ago Kade and some of her colleagues went out to Hickory Nut Gap Farm.  These are some images Kade took:

 

Return to Courthouse Falls

Hidden deep in the woods between Courthouse Ridge and Brushy Ridge in western Pisgah National Forest, Courthouse Creek makes a dramatic plunge through a narrow chute into a natural amphitheater of bedrock, cascading 45 feet into a cold crisp pool. Courthouse Falls is one of the best kept secrets in the “Land of Waterfalls.” Beautiful for its solitude as well as its picturesque setting, Courthouse Falls is reachable by trail or by forest road. The Summey Cove Trail is a 5-mile round trip that begins north of Balsam Grove on Scenic Highway 215. It crosses Courthouse Creek several times before its final destination at the falls.  

- Meanderthals

This time I also took a dip.  Enjoy my video!

cold!!!

refreshing!!!

getting dressed

 Here's what daredevils do at Courthouse Falls!  Waterfall jumping!

Major's Daughters

Major w/ Marilyn and Mila