I could make this into 2 posts, one about cliffs and one about falls but they sort of go together. So i may not have anything to say tomorrow b/c this will be long. We started out at the point above the gorge on our little getaway, just the 2 of us.
It was a little bit hazy on this fine day ...
so I concentrated on the beautiful renovation done to the inside
it's pretty cool.
Then we meandered up the historic highway talking about what we would do next. We stopped at LeTourell falls, twin of Multnomah.
came by Shepherd's dell and Wahkeena (we coulda stopped at wahkeena, but we skipped da) - we had more to see
like Bridal Veil
and of course, everyone's favorite, Multnomah.
About then I remembered this notable hike I had read about. so we got a good night's sleep and put it on the list for our second day. 7 miles one way? Well, lets just see how far we get, no definite plans on this trip.
It started out quite nice, just a little bit steep and very inviting
Then soon there were actually handrails alongside the trail. I dare you to walk this and not hold on.
We soon found the first falls, it's on the map above, another Indian legend named falls which I can't remember - that's why I took a picture of the sign.
We cross a little side creek flowing into the Eagle
and then come to this falls, often pictured on Oregon postcards. As soon as I remember it I'll tell ya.
It's definitely a postcard spot, uh, Punchbowl - that's it.
We hiked on and then we could see it from way up high (think handrails again)
I am not kidding about those handrails - these cliffs are not to be messed with. So glad I didn't have any children to hang onto, only a husband.
Looking down - you have to insert your own sudden intake of breath and queasy feeling down below the diaphragm b/c that just how it was
I was pretty sure I had seen a photo of this place where people were actually walking thru the base of this very steep canyon - so we had to find it of course. You can see the edge of the bridge we're standing on, understatedly named "High Bridge".
We found a trail down to the bottom but I just couldn't get the view or the photo that I saw somewhere. And believe me when I tell you that I tried - it was just around that corner through neck deep water - I'm sure of it.
So we moved on to explore some other amazing falls and water-formed chutes.
This place needed about 5 photos all stitched together to get the whole impact.
There was this chute
that dumped into another basin where the tall skinny waterfall above joined into it. You're just going to have to trust me that it was amazing
We decided that 14 round trip miles was too much for our tired bones so we turned back from this half way point and chalked up Tunnel Falls for the next trip. There were still many amazing sights on the way out.
like this one
and like the ferns, oh the ferns - I will have to cover them another time ....
our feet were complaining but it was still cool, pleasant and breath-taking as the sky clouded over
all in all, a perfect day for hiking up the Eagle
You just have to hold on to your man
so he doesn't slip away (can anybody put a tune with that for me?)
To finish out the discussion of waterfalls, we saw this one the next day - at which point I had remembered how to make the water look silky. Looking upstream ...
and downstream - most of these places just don't fit in one lens - so you have to use your imagination. And so after thoroughly covering the waterfall topic, next we'll move on to lavendar fields, wineries and huckleberries - stay tuned.
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