Latourell Falls

Yesterday Manny and Ela returned from the tradeshow in Seattle, but since they were tired from the trip, we planned on meeting up today instead and heading to the waterfalls surrounding the Portland area. They met us at our noisy campground, and we headed off to Latourell Falls, which is one that none of us had yet visited. We parked, got all our stuff, and saw that there were two paths we could take to either the base or the head (?) of the falls. We chose the former. Zorah and Brian went ahead a bit, and climbed up a trail which wound above the path.

As we walked down the path we could see this huge stream of water crashing down in front of this cavern that looked sort of like a gigantic fossilized hornet's nest.

I hadn't thought about it coming here, but of course at the base of the waterfall it was cold, windy, and damp. The water pounding on the rocks sent off this constant cold mist, which would have been nice in 90 degree weather. In 70 degree weather, in the shade, it was unpleasant. Zorah didn't seem to mind it too much, however, dressed as she was in appropriate hiking attire.

We decided next to walk up to the top of the falls, hoping it would be warmer. After about a half an hour of hiking, we still hadn't seen the top of the falls, but we knew that the path was a loop, and that if we kept going we must run into it somewhere. Brian picked up a walking stick along the way. With huge moss-covered trees, ferns as big as banana leaves, and clovers as big as the palm of my hand, those woods felt like a prehistoric rainforest.

We ended up walking separately some of the way because Celia got hungry. Eventually, though, we met up and walked the rest of the way down the trail.


It was indeed a loop, though we had to cross the road to complete it. We ended up back at the base of the falls, a welcome sight not only because it meant the end of our three-hour hike. I mean, look!




We took one more picture climbing up the path, then headed to Vista House, which we had passed on the way to the falls. I think at that point we were all tired and hungry (with the exception, perhaps, of Celia), though also invigorated by the hike. At least, I was.

If you asked me what I wanted to do with my time, I would probably say read and eat a snack, play a video game, or dick around on my computer. But if you asked me what I have enjoyed dong most on this trip, it would be walking through the woods and gardens of this land. Curious.