I decided that Saturday was my day for Compton’s Twin Falls. My start was bit late, parking at the the signs on Cave Mountain Road that generally mark an approach to these falls about 8:15. Following Tims Ernst’ directions I dropped right down onto Amber Falls and began to make my way on the left side of Whittaker Creek. I never really figured out the bench and so spent most of my time close to the creek bank. This was a tough slog and if this is a “medium bushwhack” I want no part of a tough one. LOTS of ups and downs due to fallen trees and no room on the bank.
Finally made it to the spot above the falls and checked that out for a moment and wondered how the hell I was going to get down to the falls.
Arrival just above Compton's Twin Falls
Looking Down from the top of Compton's Twin Falls
Looked easier to the left and about 75 yard below the falls found a good way down. By this time it is 10:30 or so.
Neil Compton's Twin Falls
For about an hour I shot images and then it was time to book. Thinking that I would be smart this time I got up way high on my way out and started back along the course of the creek. I got the drainage that I thought would lead to Amber Falls and then I got too smart for my own good. I decided to just head up the hill on my right. That should take me right to the road. Unbeknownst to me I started bearing slightly right up this hill and found myself topped out and another hill in front of me instead of the road. Here is where I should have just dropped right back down to the last drainage and follow it up to the truck. Instead I kept trying to get my way out from there. Suddenly I found a logging road. Followed it for about 10 minutes in each direction with no clues that I was closer to getting out. By this time it is 2 pm or so. Having read every horror story about getting lost I was determined to sit on that logging road until somebody found me. I took out my stuff and prepared a little sleeping site. On a whim I took out my cell phone(never a signal up here) and texted my wife Susan back in Jonesboro -often the texts go through. I told her to call Tim and see if he could help me out of here. Oh, did I mention that he lives just a few miles from this wilderness site.
About 4 pm my phone RANG! Susan was calling and she had Tim on the other phone. Tim told me to follow the road uphill and I would be out. Since I was on a flat area that did not work for me. Tim said he would drive to where my truck was and honk at 4:30. Susan and I stayed on the phone and at 4:30 I head the honking..sounds about 1/4 mile away. While I am packing up my stuff here comes Tim on the road. So he gets me back out and he and Pam drive me to my truck. Tim tells me he had a worse day that I did in the outdoors with some equipment problems. In fact he dropped a lens into thye water during a shoot of his own. Value of said lens-$1800!!
Thanks to Tim and Pam for making my afternoon much better than I thought it was going to be. Lucky the text worked, lucky they were home,and even luckier that the PHONE worked up on that mountain!
Images? They look pretty good. You readers can decide.
Looking upstream to Compton's Twin Falls
Debriefing:
* Did I have a compass and or a GPS? Yes but could I use them–not so much. My older GPS did not even show Cave Mountain Road.. It does not have any topo. After the fact Tim remarked that he could have just asked me my co-ords and he could have talked Susan and me out.
* Was I prepped for an overnighter? Shelter -I was good and had a great lighter so would have had fire. But only one granola bar and no water (cause I thought this would be an easy 4 hour journey.
* Until my finding where I am skills are much better stick with what I know even if it is hard.
* Thanks for AT&T getting a text through and even finding a spot where my phone would work.
* This was the most sustained physical activity I have had in a long time. I started getting inner thigh muscle cramps that were very uncomfortable and when I got home in the bath tub they came back with the most pain I have ever had in my life! Screaming pain! GatorAde, calcium, and lots of hard massage!
* New GPS with topo and roads is on the short list with lots of PRACTICE!
