Our group included Tammy, Dave, Calley, Mike, Tom, and hike
leader Betsy. These six intrepid hikers braved high humidity and nine creek
crossings to make their way to an impressively high waterfall on Emery Creek.
Some also ventured to the top of the waterfall to discover a whole string of
waterfalls further upstream. Then we all kept going up the main trail to a
couple more waterfalls! Even though the side trail went only to the top of the
bigger waterfall, it was worth the extra distance—especially when a most
curious thing happened when a one of us sat on the lip of the high falls. He
heard voices right below him! Very careful inspection led to the discovery of a
ledge about six feet below the lip, occupied by a couple of chattering people.
How they got there is a mystery.
Everyone survived all the creek crossings. Some crossed
these creeks a lot faster than others as they didn’t care about getting their
shoes/boots wet. Some tried to jump from rock to rock; some of these also got
their shoes/boots wet. For the first and by far the deepest crossing, most of
us changed into our water shoes and set out across the relatively calm and
apparently shallow water. The ones who took longer to get into their water
shoes had the advantage of seeing which routes were least deep. Some got their
shorts wetter than others. On the way back, a couple of people explored new
routes across. The one who went to the rocky stretch above the whitewater
hopped successfully from rock to rock. The one who crossed directly below the
whitewater slid up to her neck into the water while trying to scramble up a
pointy—and very slick—rock. Hey, it felt good! It was a hot day! And the smart
phone in her pocket shook off the dunking well.
Next time, let’s everyone remember that the best way to the
first creek crossing is to bear left after going up the steps. Do NOT go up any
further.
No pictures of this hike.
No comments:
Post a Comment