Hells Hollow & Slippery Rock Gorge (western PA, 12/7/14)
Dec 8, 2014 17:19:15 GMT -5
Post by GaliWalker on Dec 8, 2014 17:19:15 GMT -5
Dec 7, 2014: Hells Hollow and Slippery Rock Gorge
The past two days had featured wall to wall rain. And by wall to wall, I mean round the clock, pedal to the metal precipitation. As I went to sleep on Saturday night it was still raining, but I held fast to the forecast of a sunny Sunday.
Early on Sunday morning, with sunrise about 2hrs away I got up to a clear starry night and swaddled myself up in somewhat warmer clothing. Coffee fizzing through my system, I arrived at an empty parking lot for Hells Hollow Falls, upon which I proceeded to fizz the short 0.5mi to the waterfall, fairly licking my chops in anticipation of some well flowing waterworks. All that recent rain has to have some benefit!
The flume, upstream of Hells Hollow Falls
As anticipated the waterfall was roaring. The last few steps led me down a wooden staircase to the base of the waterfall and its splash pool. The lower 1.5ft of the staircase was under water, but I was able to gingerly work my way to a couple of shooting locations: one was a handy ledge beside the stream, while another was a convenient rock in the middle of said stream.
After my photo session, I decided to stretch my legs a bit. I took the trail down through the Hells Hollow Gorge to Slippery Rock Gorge, and then on to Walnut Flats, which is one of my favorite spots in the gorge. This was about 4mi in. I made Walnut Flats my turn-around spot.
The past two days had featured wall to wall rain. And by wall to wall, I mean round the clock, pedal to the metal precipitation. As I went to sleep on Saturday night it was still raining, but I held fast to the forecast of a sunny Sunday.
Early on Sunday morning, with sunrise about 2hrs away I got up to a clear starry night and swaddled myself up in somewhat warmer clothing. Coffee fizzing through my system, I arrived at an empty parking lot for Hells Hollow Falls, upon which I proceeded to fizz the short 0.5mi to the waterfall, fairly licking my chops in anticipation of some well flowing waterworks. All that recent rain has to have some benefit!
The flume, upstream of Hells Hollow Falls
As anticipated the waterfall was roaring. The last few steps led me down a wooden staircase to the base of the waterfall and its splash pool. The lower 1.5ft of the staircase was under water, but I was able to gingerly work my way to a couple of shooting locations: one was a handy ledge beside the stream, while another was a convenient rock in the middle of said stream.
After my photo session, I decided to stretch my legs a bit. I took the trail down through the Hells Hollow Gorge to Slippery Rock Gorge, and then on to Walnut Flats, which is one of my favorite spots in the gorge. This was about 4mi in. I made Walnut Flats my turn-around spot.
