Dutch Creek Falls (Private) | Impromptu Frozen Adventure

So I recently visited an incredibly 'cool' place following a recent North Carolina mass freeze. This frozen monster is on private property and I, having not known that until I showed up, ventured near it at what ended up being perfect timing.

I was visiting the Boone area for a couple of days primarily to train for the upcoming boardercross season (I race snowboards). One morning as I laid in my Airbnb cabin with time to kill and knowledge of the steady subfreezing climate's recent affect to falling water, I mapped out some local waterfalls to explore. 

While en route to waterfall tour stop one of three, for some unknown reason, I decided to scratch #1 and head straight to #2 - Dutch Creek Falls. Upon arriving at what Google Maps told me was my destination, I was instantly dumbfounded and felt a sense of being lost, as I was in the middle of a typical rural, mountainous neighborhood. After driving past the map marker a few times I decided to pull over into a grassy, driveway-looking patch. 

As I stepped out of my vehicle a lady was just leaving her driveway, about fifty feet from where I was standing. She asked if I was lost and if she could help me; explained the falls were privately owned and there was no trespassing unfortunately. After persistent questions and prodding for more information, she continued to show me pictures of the frozen formation from the day prior. Circumstances quickly turned in my favor as she took my name and made a few phone calls; granted permission to use her grass to leave my car and pointed me in the right direction. 

The hike down, alongside the crystallized and seasonally-falling water, was 4x what I expected and really brought focus, balance, and scrambling into play.

Dutch Creek Falls, upon first glimpse, made me stop still and literally 😲 for minutes. Like nothing of nature I had ever experienced. I explored, studied, and photographed for every bit of an hour. It was chilled solid yet still alive and pulsing; a faint heartbeat of rushing water pushing its way down the inner walls; a soothing noise surrounded by frosty morning silence. My photos give very little justice to the size and wonder of the formation. I've done a bit of research after the fact and have come across estimates that range from 50-85 feet in height. My best guess is that it's somewhere right in the middle of those two numbers.

A solo experience I’ll never forget - one that was decided on a last minute, blind whim and one that not many folks, since it was purchased in the 1970’s, have been able to lay eyes on, let alone see nearly motionless.

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