George bushwhacking in the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. December 2, 2008.
As most of you know, Betsy and I ‘collect’ waterfalls. We’ve visited 287 different waterfalls and cascades since 2001. (Our first ‘big’ date was to Fall Creek Falls State Park where we saw five waterfalls.)
Most of the waterfalls we’ve visited have been reached by maintained hiking trails or by roadside overlooks. But we are aware of many more waterfalls that require bushwhacking — something like ‘leave the trail when it makes a sharp left and head straight down the hill’. We’ve been reluctant to follow such directions.
But most of the waterfalls listed online or in the books we own now have GPS coordinates. And since we think so highly of the GPS receiver we have for the car, we decided to get a hiking GPS unit to help us find those elusive waterfalls.
While we were in Arkansas last week we identified three waterfalls that involved some bushwhacking and set out to visit them. We knew we wouldn’t find much water, but if we found the waterfalls we could go back at a time when there was more water.
The first thing we did at each site was mark the location of the car so we could find our way back. We then followed the GPS and found the waterfall in all three instances. Perhaps we’ll be able to add to our collection!
Tags: Arkansas, Technology, Waterfalls
Senior Moments 
December 9, 2008 at 10:25 am |
Now that looks like fun! And you’re lucky to live in an area where there are a lot of waterfalls.
December 9, 2008 at 10:31 am |
Waterfalls – what a great thing to collect!! It gives you a good destination for a nice walk too.
December 9, 2008 at 12:04 pm |
Carla, we live in eastern Tennessee which has many gorgeous waterfalls and visit northwestern Arkansas which has almost as many.
Happyone, we plan most of our winter/spring trips around waterfall destinations since that’s when they have the most water going over them. The hike is a tremendous added benefit!
December 9, 2008 at 5:04 pm |
We’ve been to Alaska 3 times…
I’ve had a GPS for a long time. They really do come in handy. Do you have a favorite web site where you get the waterfalls coordinates? I go to POI Factory to download points for the GPS for the car but have never searched a lot for places that lists waterfalls, etc. POI Factory lists some but I’ll bet there are a lot better places.
December 10, 2008 at 7:32 am |
George: That is a neat endevor to try. Good fo you two.
December 10, 2008 at 7:13 pm |
FG, thanks for the good wishes. We’re looking forward to finding our way to more waterfalls in the years ahead.
December 13, 2008 at 12:41 pm |
You and Betsy will have to come to the Finger Lakes region of New York state where my daughter just moved. There are 100 waterfalls, lakes, parks. It is just beautiful…