Fall Creek Falls Trip Report

“KnifeGirl and Big Al and myself all met up at the check in station around 11am on Friday and found a campsite suitable to our tastes. We then laided down the gear and headed back to the check-in station to post our campsite for any other visitors that were going to be showing up later in the day. After that we headed out to the trail and hiked into the cliffs over at CooperHead Rock. After setting up the anchors and lines KnifeGirl and Big Al rappelled over the side. I backed off because all I had on was the flip flops. So I hiked on down the trail to the base of the cliffs. After climbing for several hours we hiked back to the top a clean up all of the gear and headed on out to the campsite. Once arriving at the campsite we noticed that our campsite had another tent there. Gemini had came while we were out climbing. She was starved to death after driving all day, so she headed out to get supper. We all met up at the class room around 7pm for futher instructions from the climbing instructors. While we were in class our campsite was being raided by raccoons and skunks, they got away with a whole loaf of bread, a tube of chips a bag of chips, and two packs of ramen noodles. After class ended around 10pm we headed back to camp and built up a fire and chatted awhile and then we all took our sleep aids and crashed for the night. Early the next morning we all headed out to the Inn for the buffet breakfest bar. We all put the feed bags on and chowed down. After this we went back and joined the group and hiked back out to the cliffs and began a day long adventure of rock climbing and rappelling. KnifeGirl and Gemini did several 5/4 climbs and also did several 60ft. rappels. Gemini also met sister TTer Flamegirl at the cliffs and she had her daughters also with her. Midday KnifeGirl and I decided to hike down to the base of the big water fall and go swimming, water was cold and refreshing, Big Al and I spent the day climbing with a great group of people Saturday, around 4pm we called it a day and went back to the camp to set up the fire for the little chickens for supper. Will the chickens were slowly cooking Big Al set up a rib eye steak to cook and we snacked on that untill the hens got cooked. Those chickens took forever to cook. But they finally got ate bye the 4 of us. KnifeGirl had to try and catch a raccoon so her and Gemini decided the best way to catch one was to feed them some of the chickens. Which really did bring them in real close to us. I think Gemini got some close ups of the coons. We all chatted untill 10pm and then hit the hay again till 6am and had some egg and hambuger for breakfest. After that we broke camp and met up with the group for another hike out to Buzzard Roost for another day of climbing. We all had a great time Friday and Saturday and Sunday climbing and eating and meeting people. I think we hooked Gemini on the climbing, not to sure about the eating lots of foods though. KnifeGirl and I are looking forward to our next adventure with others as well. Great trip with great people.”

“Wow, where was this place and do they do that every weekend?”

“Fall Creek Falls State Park is in the middle of Tennessee near Savage Gulf. And the climbing school is held twice yearly. But climbing can be done anytime anybody likes. There are about 30 miles of groomed trails. This area also has several big water falls and unlimited backcountry hiking and climbing choices that are off trail and worth the effort to explore.”

“And if I'm not mistaken, there is also CAR CAMPING!”

“hey waterdog, glad you posted the TR. It sure was a fun weekend.
Hey... I'll prolly upload the pics to my server and let you grab them from there. hope that's okay. (not sure about sending them to you via email...it's a pretty large file)

Was great meeting you, Big Al and kife girl. Hope we can do this again in september.

and oh...yes, I am hooked. Looked at climbing gear all day long today. LOL”

“Sounds like everyone had a fun time. I hated to have to miss this outing.”

“BITPUSHER....I even bought me a car camping tent. LOL

this is fun once in a while... I still have to get into the "car camping zone"...not quit there yet. I still pack like I would backpack. only difference now is the tent.”