This was our day's big adventure. We arrived at the Lake Rabun recreation area campground and parked near the Angel Falls trailhead. The smaller Panther Falls are, according to the sign at the trailhead, about a half-mile up the trail on the way to Angel Falls. According to the guide we used, it's more like two-thirds of a mile. At any rate, this was the easier portion of the climb, and really it wasn't bad at all. It would seem that whatever agency is in charge of this trail is planning to put some interpretive signage in, as we saw several blank signs/markers along the way. We also found a very cool stone bench on the side of the trail, but I could only wrangle one child into it as the others were far too busy being trail-blazers.
Panther Falls was a nice little stop and a pretty little fall. This is not an exceptional photo but it's what I have.
We enjoyed it for a bit then prepared for the last "600 yards" of very steep climb up to Angel Falls. It was very steep at first, even with a couple of switchbacks, and seemed much farther than 600 yards altogether. But climb we did, and climb and climb, and were eventually rewarded at the top with the much taller Angel Falls.
I have only the one photo of Angel Falls, for no sooner did I stop and begin to catch my breath on the observation deck, than the cry of "yellow jackets! Run!" caused a stir among ourselves. One of our travelling companions accidently stumbled into a yellow-jacket nest and an angry swarm took after him and the kids. When our youngest did not immediately return to the safety of the observation platform I began to worry, and went down after him. He came up the trail in tears and in pain, but proudly proclaiming that he did not get stung. Apparently in his rush to get away he tripped on a rock, and cut up and bruised his arm pretty good, but no stings.
It was a much less eventful and much more relaxing trip walking the mile back down to the picnic area for lunch afterward.
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