Pacific Northwest Gardening: Apropos of Nothing v.17, 1 by Rarejem

Rarejem wrote:
Pony, That whole area is incredible and stunningly beautiful. There is a small campsite along the creek above, but the trail to the waterfall is more of a climb down a cliff than a trail. It is unmarked, and definitely not for the faint of heart or someone who doesn't like heights, but the pools and the falls below are amazing. If you are brave and it is warm out, you can climb up the little waterfall and there is another rock "beach" at the bottom of the large fall, and another VERY deep swimming hole. We didn't climb up this time as it wasn't hot enough to enjoy the time in the icy spray on the way.

Phoenix and I walked the seven mile round trip up to a higher camp that morning and enjoyed seeing more of the rugged mountains and the wildflowers that were just starting to bloom. Indian Paintbrush was just getting it's color, and there were tons of other beauties as well. My camera battery crapped out after the first mile, so I only got pics of the begining of our hike and none of the flowers. :{ When we got close to the top, there were little patches of a flower I had never seen in bloom before blooming.... linnaea borealis . It is a tiny little groundcover, but the patches of it scented the air magnificently. I want want want some for my shade garden!

This is the uphill side of our morning hike. I wish pictures could really show perspective... this rock wall towered over us and it was amazing to see the old growth trees growing on the face of such a sheer cliff. We were walking in the early morning mist and it was almost like we were walking in a different world....