This was our first hike and, like many in the area, it followed a mountain river that has been slowly cutting a gorge into the hillside since the end of the last ice age. Spring was in full bloom and the wild flowers were out in force!
Nathan was snug and content in his new hiking backpack. This option seems to be the most comfortable for long hikes but unfortunately still feels like your carrying 20+ lbs on your back!
There was beautiful stone pathways and staircases throughout the park. All built in the pre-WWII depression era in a campaign to create work and provide jobs... and allow easy access through what would otherwise be nearly impassable terrain
...and there were stairs,
stairs,
and more stairs!
This dining room table's got a rockin' view!
Do you see the snake?
and when it was nap time, a fleece draped over the top of the Nathan's chariot reduced the stimuli to a more sleep conducive level
and then the motion of the hike kept him asleep
Lucifer Falls
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Mia takes a turn in the lead
Lower falls overlook
seen in the bottom left of this pic is an anchor plate where a diving board is attached in the summer. How fun does that look?!?!
Here I am standing on an island of rocks that came down over the falls over the past year. We were told that these "pools" have to be dug out annually with a back-hoe that loads the rocks into dump trucks (which are then used for fill in construction sites all over the city). In the background you can see the dam that creates the pool/diving area below the falls. The openings have channels on the sides that receive long blocks each about 6in tall (seen in another dam) that allow them to closely regulate the amount of water in the pool.
Down stream
two signs you usually don't see together!
(it says "No wading"... several have commented that the pic's are too small to see detail - will try to post larger pic's in the future -ge)
not to worry, no giant spiders in here
...and there were stairs,
stairs,
and more stairs!
This dining room table's got a rockin' view!
Do you see the snake?
and when it was nap time, a fleece draped over the top of the Nathan's chariot reduced the stimuli to a more sleep conducive level
and then the motion of the hike kept him asleep
Lucifer Falls
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Mia takes a turn in the lead
Lower falls overlook
seen in the bottom left of this pic is an anchor plate where a diving board is attached in the summer. How fun does that look?!?!
Here I am standing on an island of rocks that came down over the falls over the past year. We were told that these "pools" have to be dug out annually with a back-hoe that loads the rocks into dump trucks (which are then used for fill in construction sites all over the city). In the background you can see the dam that creates the pool/diving area below the falls. The openings have channels on the sides that receive long blocks each about 6in tall (seen in another dam) that allow them to closely regulate the amount of water in the pool.
Down stream
two signs you usually don't see together!
For several nights we were the only ones camping in the park
