Jeffrey Stoner
Fine Art Photography
Rocky Fork
I was reminded of the power of nature when I arrived at Rocky Fork yesterday. I had been at Rocky Fork on May 5th and there were three locations I planned to re-shoot during this hike. What I didn’t know was that on May 14th Rocky Fork was deluged with between 6 ½ and 8 inches of rain. The ground was already saturated which resulted in mud and rock slides, entire trees being washed away, and heavy erosion of the old logging road. A cascade I was planning to shoot was now buried under at least 30 feet of rock, another had a tree jutting over the top and the third spot was where an old tree trunk had been balanced between two large boulders. I doubt that a first time visitor would notice these changes since the area is still just as beautiful, but having been there three weeks ago I was amazed at the changes.
Rocky Fork is a wonderful place to hike. It’s a 10,000-acre tract of land located in N.E. Tennessee near the border with North Carolina. It’s approximately 30 miles south of Johnson City, TN and 30 miles north of Asheville, NC. In December 2008, the US Forest Service and The Conservation Fund acquired the remaining portions of this tract that were privately owned thus preserving this area from development. This property had been the largest unprotected tract in the Southern Appalachian Mountains and included 1.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail that were also unprotected. With this purchase plans are underway to relocate approximately 5 miles of the Trail.The beauty of Rocky Fork can be experienced even before reaching the trailhead as you drive past numerous cascades and small waterfalls. If your car windows are open you will hear a constant roar as water tumbles down Rocky Fork Creek.
For the first mile the trail follows an old logging road along the right side of the creek. The combination of the sound of roaring water and birds singing, and the sight of waterfalls and blooming wildflowers is captivating. After the first mile the trail splits and connects with numerous dirt roads and trails. One trail takes you past an unmarked open field where in January 1789 a fight occurred between forces led by John Sevier and Cherokee Indian Chief Young Tassel near the junction of Rocky Fork and Flint Creeks. If you look closely while walking along the trails you can see evidence of retention ponds and sluices built when lumber companies worked the area. I even met someone on the trail yesterday who had seen the remains of an ancient still.
I just began hiking in Rocky Fork this spring and am looking forward to exploring here throughout the summer, fall and winter.
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