I hiked to Stony Peak/Twin Top using the new trails, I hiked in via Green Hollow Trail, I visited Twin Top and then worked my way over to Stony Peak where I hammock camped for the night. I then hiked out via Bachman Hollow and the road walk back to my vehicle at Green Hollow. Great job on the trails!
I visited after some good rain in the area and it had the best flow that I have seen. It is a short but difficult hike. I did this hike before heading to Bear Run.
Nickle Falls has been on my list for awhile, hard to believe it took me this long to get there. The water crossing at Landrus was about knee high. The waterfall didn't disappoint. This is a hike I'll do again when I have more time to explore and photograph more of the run. .
Sullivan Falls Road was marked with a 'Road Closed' sign about a mile from the parking area. The sign was to the side and I could have drove past and to the parking, but I parked near this spot which added about a mile each way to the hike. The area was absolutely beautiful with fresh snow and being frozen with large ice formations. I visited Sullivan Falls on the way through which was flowing, Pigeon Run and Atticus falls were both mostly frozen over.
This was my first winter visit to Emerald Falls, I followed the red blazes this time which switchbacked to same grade that I eventually get to on my more other route. There are still some downed trees to work your way around or through. The falls had a good amount of ice buildup, but not as much as I expected.
I often hike Dutchman Falls and the Haystacks together, but opted just for the waterfall on this day as I took advantage of good water flow & the overcast sky to also get to nearby Tamarack Falls and Coal Run. I always enjoy visiting this waterfall and this day didn't disappoint.
I made another visit to Tamarack Falls taking advantage of recent rains and snow melt. It was beautiful as always. I decided to loop back to the forest road by cutting through the woods. This route worked in late December, but I suspect it would be more challenging in the summer with full foliage.
I have hiked this several times, but when doing it as a loop, I have typically hiked it CW, this time I did it CCW. There was some ice buildup around the falls, but not much as with some recent rain & snow/snow melt there was a nice flow to the waterfalls.
Winter is the absolute best time to visit Jacoby especially during a deep freeze. The temp when I got out of my vehicle was 1 degree with the days prior staying well below freezing. I knew there would be ice buildup, but not sure how much. The falls area was absolutely beautiful with snow and ice, but there was not enough of a freeze for the ice cave to form. I'm hoping to return later in winter when there has been a longer freeze.
I attempted a short-cut and succeeded, but do not recommend this route. I parked at a pull off road from Cemetery Road and took the old grade from the parking area ascending. It started okay, but soon nature had reclaimed with thorny briars. I pushed through and eventually made it to the top, The views from the rock are outstanding, autumn colors are still hanging on. The return to the vehicle I took a more direct route back cutting down the hillside, it was steep and difficult, but much better than fight through briars.
Some great views that I finally knocked off my list of hikes to-do! The hike is pretty easy in, one of the straightest hikes I have ever taken but the old road is thick with brush in places. The spine was a fun little section, but being this time of year, it is nice and green, but lacking views.
We backpacked into Stony Peak to hammock camp and star gaze during peak Perseids. We had a great sunset, I captured faint Northern Lights, but clouds moved in spoiling the meteor shower. We woke up to a great sunrise and a morning rainbow over the peak. Stony Peak is a special place!