Sunday, August 31, 2008

End of summer long run...

Here are some pics from the last long run of the summer:

Wahclella Falls


Great place for a Sabbath afternoon hike with Pathfinders and friends!

A gray/green day, late in the afternoon. The first pic is waiting for everyone to get to the trailhead parking lot, then starting off. A wide, easy trail -- and beautiful!
There were some fall flowers out there, too:

The trail went past a dammed-up area, with some sort of pumping mechanism -- I'm guessing it's for flood control in the spring?

Next, on the left, was a beautiful waterfall on the side of the rocks, and the rocks looked almost (too steep, and only almost) smooth enough to slide on! The views along the trail were fantastic! Lots of green details, and lots of canyon wall details:The trail went up a hill, with more wonderful cliff views, and we could hear the waterfall as we ot closer. What a beautiful fall! Lots of pictures here, and the kids maybe enjoyed the view, but liked playing around the rocks and the water. We spent quite a lot of time around the fall area.

The way back was a loop trail to another bridge, to meet up with the starting trail. Lots of playing on the rocks and around the water on the way back...
Back at the first waterfall, a water ouzel was climbing up -- not fluttering, just walking. Apparently eating or drinking bugs in the moss and algae that was just under the waterfall. Little by little, the little bird walked up that waterfall! We watched it till it was out of sight at the very top!
Back at the vehicles, we drove under the freeway for supper at Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery area.
A quick trip to see the fish (and play in the drinking fountain), and that was the day!