DAY 2 AT MOUNTAIN CENTER RETREAT GETAWAY
04-30-2019
Panthertown Hike After enjoying a beautiful sunrise and hardy breakfast, we all departed for Panther Valley for a 7+ mile hike. The weather was perfect with the temperature in the 60's and predicted to rise into the 70's. The skies were clear and the air crisp. We arrived at the trailhead approximately 45 minutes after leaving the retreat center. At the trailhead we met a trailguide who gave us some pointers of what to expect on the trail and what to look for along the way. I believe there were 27 hikers in our party and Jane took over and led the group out onto the trail around 9:30 I believe. The trails in the Panther Creek area are well marked with each trail numbered and trails posted at various sections where each trail intersects another. With a trail map, we were able to make the hike without anyone getting lost. Trail 474 (Panthertown Valley Trail) is the main trail that runs along Pantertown Creek and most of the other trails break off from it, or combine with other trails that eventually connect with 474.. Shortly into the hike, the group broke up into 2, with one group of 22 departing on trail 490 (Wilderness Falls – short moderate descent and ascent) and the smaller group continuing on 747 to meet up at the intersection of 486 and 482. G.I. Jane had us count off military style, and off we went. The falls were running nicely and we continued on to meetup with the smaller group. So far, the hike went along nicely and we began to readjust our traveling attire as the temperature began to rise. We continued on trail 482 to 485 where we began the ascent to the top of Little Green Mountain. At this point the hike started to get a bit more difficult. The temperature continued to rise and toward the top of the climb, we lost the canopy and the heat began to take it's toll. At the top of the mountain we were rewarded with a view of the valley below. The trail ran along the bluff and was mostly over rock. We stopped in one of the wooded areas on the top and had our lunch. After lunch we began the descent to Schoolhouse Falls. Along the way we passed through several wooded areas that the trail guide had earlier alerted us to. The trail was lined with budding rhododendron and wildflowers. At the bottom of the descent, we arrived at Schoolhouse Falls. It was a beautiful falls that we were able to hike behind. The guide had earlier informed us of being able to go behind the falls. Some of us waded across the stream to gain access to the back of the falls, and some of the group found a trail to the rear of the falls where they observed the falls without getting their boots wet. After a short rest to enjoy the falls, we began the exit to the trailhead. We crossed the valley along the creek. This section of the trail was fairly level and easy to hike on. However, when we reached the point where trails 458, 474 and 486 met, the ascent began and it became quite challenging. The temperature had reached the upper 70's and there was little canopy to shade us until we reached the trailhead. After plenty of water stops we reached the trailhead and headed back to the retreat center to enjoy happy hour. It was a great hike that I would rate as a beautiful moderate to strenuous hike due to the altitude and distance.
If you would like to see some photos the hikers took, click here. If you are trying to view the photos through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the Blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com. Google Chrome is the prefered browser.