Last walk on the cliff trail?

We have camped* on this river for more than 50 years - all but one at this campground.

This is a magic place.

Paths run along thee river, giving access to the bank and to a cliff (and the top part of the camping area). As children we would race to see who could get "home" first - one taking the cliff path and the other the main road.

The paths are mildly dangerous - rocky, root-crossed, poison ivy-covered, narrow. But careful children (and adults) still use the shortcut, climb the cliff, and fish from the path.

On our recent visit we were all at the swimming area when a ranger came up asking about a missing girl. The twelve-year-old had gotten separated from her parents. She did not swim well. A kayaker was covering the river. The ranger scoured the swimming area. My sister and I asked the girl's name and description and headed to the paths. We do not move as quickly now, but we called "Victoria" as we reached the small climb (or "boosting place) where the "high" trail/the cliff trail begins. My dare devil sister can climb anything, but had an injury that prevented her from taking this climb. I climb down the cliff trail these days, not up. I told her I could not do it.

Then she said, "Turn around. Put your heel in the "toe-hold" and try it that way." And she gave me a boost - as she has for most of our lives (Put your foot here. Take my hand. You can do it. It's OK. You are going to be alright.). And it worked. I was on the high trail. I climbed to the cliff and then returned down to the lower trail. My sister met me where the paths intersect with "They have found her. She's fine."

We learned that this campground is for sale. It changed our visit. Each activity reminded us that next year may be very different. This may be the last time we swim here, tube here, jump off the cliff** or hike the river trails. Here's one of my last hikes along the river trails - for this visit.*** We all hope there will be more years on the river.

Looking down on the cliff from the upper camping area.

Rugged old mountain laurel tree provides a hand-hold.

Boulders atop the cliff. I saw rock squirrels for the first time here a few years ago.

The tree along the front of the cliff holds ragged ropes - the remains of attempts at creating swings.

Looking upstream towards the main swimming area.

Looking downstream towards more shallows and rapids.

Trash left on the cliff.

The high trail.

We have always joked about this rock outcropping as "the nose." It photographs better looking back down the path.

View to the river from the high path.

Continuing down the upper path.

I usually keep my eyes on the path, but took this photo up from the upper trail.

Almost time to climb down from the upper trail.

It looks like this trail may once have continued on. I seem to remember an old trail here. I know I remember my sister trying this and terrifying me.

The paths below head a couple of directions.

This is the step/climb up. There is a wedge "toe hold."

The path back towards the bottom of the cliff.

Even here the paths diverge. One hugs the cliff face. The other edges the water.

What appears to be a new rock-fall.

Close-up of the shattered limestone.

The rock fell from here. This limestone is rotten...

Almost to the foot of the cliff.

Part of the river path with cypress roots winding.

Trash at the foot of the cliff.

Spring along the side face of the cliff. This is where people "climb up." I have only done so once (with the help of MC).

More cypress knees and boulders in the water.

Boulders in the water below the cliff.

Warning signs at the cliff.

The face of the cliff.

It appears as if this tree holds the cliff in place.

One can see where boulders broke from the cliff and a fracture on the left that may indicate future changes.

More underwater boulders.

Time to move upstream.

This large boulder stands between paths.

Old cypress trunk holds more trash.

River path heading upstream - rapids in the distance.

It can be a rocky path.

There are small boulders to step over or around.

This is a "take out" spot. One can float to this rock at the edge of the river and climb out.

These rocks allow a relatively easy step out of the river, but the river plants make it a creepy climb this year.

Looking downstream again - just thought this view was pretty.

Continuing upstream towards rapids.

It was a lovely sunrise.

Last year we watched turtles in this part of the river.

This dragonfly posed for me.

Watch where you are walking!

It looks like the path is ending, but there is a tree-fall ahead.

Continuing up the trail - the sunlight on the vine-edged tree to the right was brilliant.

This buckeye dropped seeds each time I walked the trail.

Nice view looking downstream - back down the path.

Approaching a tree-fall.

Insects are making progress.

Another part of the tree-fall.

Inner tube caught on a limb up some 15 feet

These were once some pretty wild rapids.

Almost to the lower campground and swimming area.

These trees are amazing.

The start of the rapids with cypress roots.

Looking down the river to the cliff.

Telephoto view down the rapids.

 

Tree shading the rapids.

Time to continue the walk.

Turning back for a photo.

More storm damage.

This huge cypress lost more limbs, but continues.

A view from the other side.

The path continues to another monster cypress.

Stump and trees along the river.

The river has been channeled a bit here.

It seems almost impossible that this tree survives, but it does. Many take photos standing in its scar.

One of two trees where we take photos at the swimming area.

This tree is stunning.

The other tree where we take photos. This is the current rope-swing tree.

The stump at the swimming area. People sit here or jump off - and into the river. This tree originally grew over 100 feet across the river.

Inner tube abandoned on the rocky bank across the swimming area.

 

Looking down the mild rapids at the swimming area.

  

The water barely ripples here.

The "stump" tree originally grew to the right of the ladder. It was the original rope-swing tree in the swimming hole. I seem to remember a young man named Jack who kept me from getting hurt when I was a kid and slipped during my "take-off." There was once a huge rock (yeah, we called it the big rock) in this area. We played "king of the rock" an such. Some years it was a challenge to swim out to the rock. Some years we could wade. Then the river flooded and moved the big rock downstream. We saw it for a while, but aren't sure where it is anymore.

Steps up from the swimming area.

Main road back to the upper camping area.

* We stayed in screen shelters or our family's trailer for many years. In later years we stayed in "kitchenettes" or cabins.

**You should not jump from the cliff. The water is usually too shallow and there are boulders in the water below. That being said, sometimes the water is high and there is enough depth that we have jumped - but not in some years.

***This was actually the second to the last walk. I headed back before the heat of the day and picked up the trash I found. It seems only right to give something back to the river.