Yellow Branch Falls – Oconee County, SC - 6/4/20 – 3.3 Miles
Like many people around the globe, by June 2020 Jim and I had canceled several trips. Forget flying, forget hotels, forget eating in a restaurant. But Airbnb seemed to be responding to COVID-19 concerns, with deep cleaning protocols and days in between guests. We decided to venture into the new world of ‘Rona traveling. Where shall we go? What shall we do when we get there?
I am always driven by the second question, and the answer is always “something outdoors.” Spring had been lovely but summer heat was upon us, which meant waterfalls. The mountain area of upstate South Carolina has a lot of ‘em, and I found a very sweet cottage on Airbnb. We packed up groceries and adult beverages and set off for Mountain Rest, SC.
Our long drive from Charlotte took us near Sassafrass Mountain, the 3,553-foot high point of South Carolina. I had passed that way once before during a thru-hike of the Foothills Trail, when the summit was dreary and desolate at the end of a wet spring day. Now there is a paved road and a viewing tower for sweeping 360-degree vistas. Bonus points: You can straddle the NC/SC state line.
Today’s hike was close to our cottage: Yellow Branch Falls in Sumter National Forest. The trailhead starts from the Yellow Branch Picnic Area, which was packed with cars when we arrived mid-afternoon. This high traffic area had the most folks we had seen on a trail since the start of the pandemic. Advised protocol to wear masks was not high on the list. Other than one group of four who wore bandannas to cover their noses and mouths when they passed us, no one else seemed concerned. Jim and I didn’t wear masks continually, just slipped them on and stepped off the trail when people approached.
We moved at a brisk pace because of pent-up energy from the long car trip and the delight of being on a trail. BUT we didn’t miss this handsome fellow going about his business.
Pipsissewa
Within a hundred yards of the falls, the trail makes a turn and begins a steep descent. We came upon an elderly couple sitting on a big log. The man seemed in distress with labored breathing. His wife said they had been to the falls and the steep uphill return was hard, but he was just catching his breath. It was quite hot and we offered to walk with them, but they waved us away with a smile and we continued to the falls.
Two people were leaving as we arrived and it was just Jim and me. I am always amazed when we find ourselves alone at the destination after encountering so many other hikers along the way. A recent fallen tree lay across the bottom of the falls, making “perfect” photos more difficult, but that’s Nature – take it as it is. We scrambled a little ways up a side trail to get closer, but as often happens on side trails, the footing became precarious and we returned to the base.
On the return hike we caught up with the elderly couple; they had started walking again. I had soaked my bandanna in the water at the falls and now offered it to the man, but he said no, his wife was carrying a towel for him. We struck up a conversation and so walked with them for a while to assess (both were very slow, the wife as much as the husband). They are originally from Germany, now living in South Carolina near their daughter and grandchildren. After a while, they waved us on again, and we left them behind. They seemed confident in their ability to finish the hike.
It was late afternoon, and at the parking lot we realized we were the last people on the trail. We were sure that our new acquaintances would continue stopping to rest. Would it get dark before they reached their car? We were concerned, but it felt inappropriate to treat them as though they were incapable of looking after themselves. What to do?
We waited in the parking lot for 30 minutes, then another couple arrived to hike to the falls. We explained the situation, our concern, and asked them to be on the lookout, and Jim and I went on to the cottage.
“But I love to be outdoors. I prefer being outdoors to, you know, being inside.” ~Keith Carradine
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