@chiefjason -
I skimmed the video you posted and will try to watch it all later. I got a cold shiver when you posted the panning shot of Hunt Fish Falls... 🥶 I fell in there in the early 90s. I can't recall the month, but my buddy (who still laughs about it to this day) says he thinks it was October(?) but I know it was cool (we only hiked from October to March).
We had just came down the primary trail from the parking area, and I walked over to overlook the pool and said "I'm going to get a closer look". I was wearing khaki pants and a pair of worn-out Hi-Tec Magnums (old duty boots) that I knew were slick, but DANG they were as comfortable as bedroom slippers! I took about two steps and I heard my buddy say "Just don't get TOO close a look!" and that's when both feet slipped and I hit on my butt. I began sliding down and it seemed to take several seconds before I hit. Just before I hit the water-all I could think was the cold shock and was praying "God just don't let me pass out!" I hit and came up once but was deep enough that my my feet didn't catch any ground and went back under. I'm not a good swimmer at all (but am a former SCUBA diver-let that sink in...lol) but I gave it a couple of hard strokes and this time came up on a sand bar and was able to stand. My buddy was already trying hard to get downstream of me and I yelled that I was good and to stop (didn't need TWO casualties.) I made my way to the bank and climbed the hill back up to the trail. The water was so cold that I was already getting stiff fingers and felt the cold "stinging" me. He asked if we needed to head back to the truck and I thought about it...not gonna lie I was ready to call it, BUT I recalled having a pair of Tevas and a spare pair of pants in my day pack (which miraculously was still dry inside-I hadn't went under long enough for water to enter it!) I told him I thought I would be okay.
When we looked in both directions and saw no one coming, I began stripping off completely nekkid right there on the trail and changed into the spare clothes I'd packed, and we went on with the hike (to the large clearing just below the falls) and and made a "day" camp.
To this day, I still recall that cold water and the burning/stinging feeling and getting stiff before I could get the wet clothes off-and this was in October! Not December, January, February, etc. I have a healthy respect for how quick one can end up in the water AND how hypothermia can work on you.
@cubrock - Glad you posted about Winkler. I've got a couple of his knives and I love that "Western NC DNA" they possess. I was only in the retail store for the first time a couple weeks ago however. Nice place and the guy and gal that were there (Bruce and wife Heather) when I was there were really personable.