We are camping close to the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. We will hike to a historic cabin built in 1890. The Caudill Cabin survived a devastating flood in 1916 that destroyed much of the Basin Cove community.
Can't say I have ever noticed a Paw Paw tree or maybe I didn't know what I was looking at. I will be on the look out. I would like to try the fruit when ripe. Thanks!
The no camping is brand new. It has been trashed multiple times by people coming out there and partying or dumping trash. Right before they put up the barriers and no camping signs there was a mountain of trash bags piled up at one of the first camp sites on the left. I don't think the no camping is going to be permanent, though. From my understanding they are keeping it closed to allow for nature to heal and recover in the area. But then again, I could see this being permanent due to alot of poachers using this spot for bear hunting. The story of Alice Caudill is a tragic one, she was indeed killed in the flood along with two others, her husband Famon was working in Virginia at the time of the flood and didn't even know what had happened until he came home. Her body was found miles away and she had already been buried by the time Famon made it home. The Caudills were the only ones to have their home left standing, though they hiked up to the Brinegars cabin to stay with them while the basin still had high water. Much of that area, including Mortimer, NC, was wiped out in the Great Flood. Next time you go, I encourage you to get off trail a bit and you'll find many more lost home sites within the basin. The church ruins are just to the left of Alice's grave site. The old mill is left of the foot bridge where the creek forks. And you'll find many more home site remains off trail on both the left and right. A recent one I rediscovered still had the old wash buckets near the chimney. It's one of my favorite hikes to do. Hopefully in another month or so I'll be exploring another area in the basin that may have another former home site nearby.
Wow, so much history in this area. I will explore around a bit more next time. Too bad a few knuckle heads have to ruin things for everyone at the parking area. Thanks for the info!
