After examining some old maps of this area, I'd been wanting to explore for old home sites in the Maney Cove, Andy Gap, and Will Creek areas of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area. Exploration 1: On my first expedition, I bit off more than I could chew.   Between a late start, distance, terrain, and rhododendron hells, I should have split this into two or three treks.   Two of my eight potential sites were a good distance from the others (and at the highest elevation); unfortunately, I visited them first and found nothing at either location.   By the time I got to the next location, I was already half worn out, having to go up another mountain and halfway down the other side (then back again on the return). I finally had to turn around when I could tell I'd be running out of time and daylight.

Some big rocks along the way

Homesite TO23 - The first of two collapsed chimney sites near Andy Gap. This one isn't as recognizable as a chimney to the casual observer as the other one will be...

Same collapsed chimney, with what is likely a stacked stone foundation support at lower left.

Homesite TO24 - The second collapsed chimney was more recognizable.

Same chimney from a different angle...

I'm not sure what this large skull is from. The front section is missing so I can't tell what it had for canines (if any) or incisors. Seems similar to a deer but not quite right; and it was big!

Top view of the large skull...

This may not be anything, but these rocks along an old trail didn't look natural to me.

Unusual fungus at the base of a tree.   It was pretty much dried out. Possibly the slime mold Reticularia lycoperdon, the False Puffball.

Exploration 2, several days later: Early topo maps showed an old home site in this area.   I had been up here 3-4 years before, visiting the waterfalls on Will Creek, but had turned off the old road bed about 100 yards before this location. There's no easy way to get here; it involves a long climb via overgrown logging trails and bushwhack.

Along the way, a series of cascades on Maney Branch... This area is a lot steeper than the photo reflects.

One of the small falls on Maney Branch.

Homesite TO25 High up on the ridge, at a flat area, I came across a pair of stone chimneys. This is the southern-most chimney, which I called Chimney 1.

From Chimney 1, the 2nd chimney is about 25-30 feet to the north. Both chimneys face the same direction; I have seen this same two-chimney configuration at several locations.   I don't know if it was one large house or two smaller individual homes.   Maybe a dog-trot style cabin, but dog-trots typically had chimneys at the two gable ends, facing each other.

Since the area is not truly level, the house site was built on a terraced rise. It's hard to show perspective in this two dimensional photo, but the ferns here are growing on the sloped step of the terrace. A number of rocks with flat faces are arranged on the surface of the terrace, probably foundation stones for the old house.

This side view shows the smaller rocks used to level and chink the larger chimney stones...

From the rear of Chimney 1, looking toward Chimney 2

Chimney 1 from rear

Chimney 1 front

View from Chimney 2 back toward Chimney 1

Chimney 2 front

Chimney 2 from the right side. Showing some of the many rocks that have collapsed from the chimney stack over the decades...

Chimney 2 from the rear

Chimney 2 left side

A small branch flowed near the chimneys, but this nice spring was just below the house site. In addition to the house terrace, several other terraces for farming were visible, as well as a number of stone piles.

View south from near the chimneys

A pretty water slide on a tributary, as I made my way back down the mountain.

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