Waynesville, NC - 1st 2 weeks September

We went for a morning hike down in Cataloochee Valley

We reach the Divide, all downhill from here

The road we usually take to get to hikes is still closed from Helene so we hike a trail along the creek past the Horse Camps

The Creek is running pretty well

We hike about 1.5 miles then then back to see if we can find some Elk

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Interest mushrooms

Get back past the Horse camp and I was looking into the woods for Elk.  Saw something black, wrong color for Elk or a tree stump.  It began to move and I first thought a horse, but too far from camp to be alone.

So I zoomed in

He was heading towards the road so I switched to video 

Then we caught either him or another one crossing from other side of creek back 

Never thought we'd see a bear! 

Crossed over the closed bridge to see how the old cantilever barn and house survived Helene and if there were any Elk in the Fields

That's what's left of the road to the left, the barn is in the distance and there is a new trail on the right 

The drainage pipes that were under the road

We follow the trail

They stopped mowing the fields so no Elk, they like new render grass.  But the butterflies are happy 

View from what was original road

Gary takes a break by the Caldwell house creek

The goldfinches were enjoying it too

On the way out we did spot one Female Elk out in an overgrown field but her ribs were showing 

This is the remains of one of the hand hewn log bridges.  The concrete section still attached to the log used to be in the other side of the creek.  The base remains on this side.

Missed getting the shot of Big Foot on the way in

Next we hiked to The Swag. The resort is set on 250 acres on a mountaintop along the Cataloochee Divide.

We take the Ferguson Cabin Trail

The spring house

A good crop of fungus after the recent rains

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Follow the Horse tail to the divide

And the final stretch to the Swag

We stopped at these logs for a break

Then 100 yards up came across this

There was a small cabin below.  Friends who has hiked this trail before had run into a man at a small cabin and had stopped to chat.  He said they were welcome to stop anytime and sit on the porch.

I decided to walk the steep path down to check it out.  Nobody was home.  My dream house!

Got to the top!  

They were setting up for the weekly picnic for guests the next day.

The main lodge

There are several small cottages as well

And a garden

Would have liked to have explored more, but the guys are waiting back down by the little cabin.

The return trip is all downhill.  Halfway down you can just make out the Science Center up on the divide.