Another Waterfall Friday

October 24th.  In less than a week, my right foot would go under the knife.  It happened to be my Friday off, and I was chomping at the bit for a woodsy ramble.  Of course the weather forecast wasn't very promising.  Rain predicted to start after 11 am.....ugh.

Fall colors are here!

But it was my last chance to hike for several months - a final opportunity to catch some fall colors.  I just couldn't stay home.  Rain be damned!

Usual trailhead signage

After pondering destination choices, I decided to visit a couple favorite trails on Mt. Hood's east side.  Located in the mountain's rainshadow, I hoped this would guarantee a little drier weather.  Not only offering spectacular scenery and fall colors, these treks also boasted a pair of lovely cascades.  Yessiree, it was gonna be another waterfall Friday!

A few larch trees

I've found that when planning to hike the more popular trails, it pays to get up early.  I rose at my normal weekday time, and instead of heading to work, pointed my car towards Mt. Hood.  I arrived at Tamanawas Falls trailhead just a little after 8, second car in the lot.

Scenic bridge crossing Cold Spring Creek

I was delighted to have the trail to myself.  From the parking area, I immediately crossed the East Fork of Hood River over a sturdy log bridge.  For the next half mile, I meandered along its banks, taking in the green fir forest, accented with an occasional burst of yellow deciduous leaves.

Leaf-lined trail

At the first junction, I left the East Fork behind, climbing up a small ridge, with views looking over a cluster of golden larch trees.  Shortly thereafter, I came upon a smaller log footbridge crossing Cold Spring Creek.

Fallen leaves make cool patterns

Besides the destination waterfall, this bridge was one of the most scenic spots of the trail.  Cold Spring Creek gurgled merrily, framed by tall firs and mossy boulders.

Tamanawas Falls

From here on out, the trail paralleled the banks of Cold Spring Creek.  The walk here was a pure delight.  Golden leaves lined my path.  Frothy rapids churned below.  Huge mossy trees towered high above.  Gorgeous!

A closer look at the falls

Besides the amazing natural beauty and waterfall at the end, this trail is also popular due to it's short length.  From Cold Spring Creek, just over a mile of trekking will bring you to the base of 100-foot-high Tamanawas Falls.

Gigantic mushrooms

The approach to the falls is dramatic.  After crossing a huge rockslide at the base of some high basalt cliffs, the canyon narrowed.  Rounding a forested corner, the trees suddenly thinned out, and there before me, framed by the canyon's end, Tamanawas Falls suddenly came into view.

Hangin' out with the falls

A truly stunning location.  The falls spilled over the top of an ancient lava flow, creating a white curtain of water.  The high basalt cliffs and adjacent green forest framed this cascade nicely.  Although disappointed by a lack of fall colors, it still made a perfect photo subject.

Color is everywhere!

I hiked down slippery rocks, getting as close to the fall's base as I dared.  Recent rainfall had the cascade roaring, and the spray forced me to keep my distance.  Still, I set up my tripod and captured tons of shots, wiping water droplets off my lens in between takes.

Gold-lined trail

After a lengthy photo session, I retreated into a stand of trees for a quick snack.  While enjoying my cliff bar, I spotted a cluster of huge mushrooms - each as large as a salad plate.  Besides the obvious waterfall, another photo subject!

Wonderful, mossy Cold Spring Creek

Although the base area here often gets crowded with hikers, I had the place to myself the entire time.  It was nice to be able to take all the photos I wanted and not have to wait for people to move out of the way.  I also enjoyed the silence.  Some people don't understand why I like to hike by myself.  Although I do enjoy sharing the experience with friends, there are times I crave the solitude of nature.  Today was one of those days.  Spending quiet time in a spectacular area does wonders for the attitude.

Red leaf standout

Darkening clouds in the sky finally convinced me it was time to head back.  One of the great things about an out-and-back trek on such a fine trail was getting to see it all a second time.  Although I stopped to photograph a few of the sights I'd missed, the return trip was much quicker.

Nice creek views along the trail

I didn't see a soul until I was almost back to my car.  By then, half a dozen vehicles had crowded in, and I spotted three parties heading towards the first bridge.  Being an early bird has it's rewards!  I was glad I'd gotten my butt out of bed at o-dark-thirty.

Not only did I miss all the people, the rain held off the entire time.  Although prepared to get wet, I was happy to be loading a dry backpack and coat into my car at hike's end.

Bridge selfie

But now it was barely noon - way too early to head home.  Although the sky was threatening to pour, there was one more trail on today's agenda.  After a quick lunch break, I drove further up the road to check out Umbrella Falls.  Crossing my fingers, I hoped my luck would hold out long enough to beat the rain a second time.

Join me for my next post and see what happens!


P.S.  To my faithful readers, I have comment word verification turned off in my blog settings, but that pesky box keeps showing up anyway.  According to one of my blogging buddies (thanks Stewart M!) you can ignore the word verification and your comment will still post.  I love reading all your comments, so please don't let that darned thing stop you from saying hello!  :)

Sharing with:  Outdoor Wednesday and Wednesday Around the World.

It's Holiday Cookie Time!

You know me - I love all cookies.  I don't discriminate between taste, shape, type, or season.  But if pressed to choose, I'll admit Christmas brings out the very best of cookie-land.

Spritz butter cookies!

During the holidays, my kids and I make many varieties of goodies.  But year after year, the ones that always end up first on the list are these scrumptious spritz butter cookies.

Cody mixing the dough

Growing up, my mom had a vintage cookie press.  It popped out cool-shaped treats.  Mom had a amazing butter cookie recipe that she would whip up during the holidays.  The cookie press would create stars, wreaths, Christmas trees, pinwheels, and even camels!  Before entering the oven, my siblings and I would cover each one with liberal amounts of colored sugar.  In my family, it just wasn't Christmas without a big plate of "spritz cookies."

Little camels, ready for the oven

When my kids came along, I continued the tradition.  I acquired the exact same cookie press as my mom (an amazing garage sale find!).  Using her recipe, I'd set the kids down for a fun afternoon of baking.  While I mixed the dough, and squirted cookies onto the pan, they were in charge of decorating.

Squirting out trees

When my kids became teenagers, our roles reversed.  My son Cody, who loves to bake, took over the job of chief cookie maker.  I was happily demoted to sprinkle-shaker.

Making cookies is a family project

This past weekend, both kids were home for Thanksgiving.  Getting in the spirit of the season, Cody dug out my cookie press.  Joined by my daughter Denise and I, the three of us enjoyed a fun afternoon of baking.

I even found a way to help, while keeping that foot elevated

Still sidelined by slowly-healing bunion surgery, I found a way to help decorate while keeping the foot elevated.

Adding the sprinkles

Volunteering to bring cookies for a party later that week, Cody whipped up three batches.  He kept one white, colored one green, and another red.  Denise and I adorned his creations with red and green colored sugar.  So festive!

"No more pictures mom!"

Being laid up for the past month, I was eager to use my camera again.  My poor kids became unwilling subjects.  They put up with me for awhile.  Then I got "the look" from my daughter.

The cookies are done!

My new camera goes up to 6400 ISO.  All of these photos were shot at ISO 6400 without using a flash.  Although some images were a bit grainy, but I think most of them turned out quite nice.

Mmmm.....nothing better than freshly baked cookies

Our house quickly filled with the mouth-watering aroma of cookies baking.  Once a batch was pulled from the oven, my kids and I eagerly sampled the goods.  (Hey - gotta do quality control!)  Is there anything better than a warm cookie straight from the oven?

Although my kids are now back at their jobs and school, I look forward to having us all together again at Christmas.  Hmmmm.......think I can get them to make some more cookies?

Sharing with:  Our World Tuesday

Circling Coldwater Lake

What makes me happy?  Long time blog followers will know the answer right away.  A day on one of my favorite hiking trails, accompanied by good friends, always brings a smile to my face.

Fall color reflections

Such was the case in mid-October.  Trying to fit in all my favorite hikes that month, I wasn't about to miss a trip around Coldwater Lake.  Visiting first in 2012 and again last year, hiking Coldwater Lake has become an annual fall tradition.

This unique lake, located directly north of Mt. St. Helens, was formed during the 1980 eruption when the mountain's north side slumped into the Toutle River.  Rock and sediment from the blast dammed the river, creating this beautiful, four-mile-long body of water.

Blue skies to begin our hike

I recruited hiking buddies John and Steve to join me for my yearly circumnavigation.  Neither had ever done this hike before.  There's not many trails they haven't set foot on, so I was pleased to show them around for a change.

We started from the boat dock parking lot at the lake's west end.  After a mile of road walking (unlike last year I decided to get the boring part out of the way first) my companions and I arrived at the South Coldwater trailhead.

Tiny toad

From here we climbed steeply for a mile or so before topping out on the ridge directly south of the lake.  Although most of our ascent had been in dense woods, once upon the ridgetop, we emerged onto a barren, windy plain.  When St. Helens blew, this ridge took a direct hit, stripping away the trees and obliterating all vegetation.

 

Logging equipment destroyed by the blast

Vegetation wasn't the only casualty.  A logging company had been harvesting trees here, and when the mountain blew, their equipment was buried in ash.  Since that fateful day in May 1980, these vehicles have remained frozen in time, slowly rusting away.

John is fascinated

One of the many highlights on this trail, John and Steve were fascinated by the destruction wrought upon these large pieces of machinery.  The force of the blast was enough to twist metal.  Ash and sediment totally covered the lower portions.  Can you spot the top of a tire in the above photograph?

Rusting dozer

A very sobering reminder of the power this volcanic eruption wrought.

Wide open views

Continuing past the ruined logging camp, I followed John and Steve across the wide-open ridge.  Views were grand - we could see rumpled Minnie Peak to the east, and directly below Coldwater Lake sparkled in the intermittent sunshine.

Coldwater Lake far below

A unseasonably warm autumn had delayed the fall leaf show, and I was a bit disappointed by the lack of color.  There were spots of orange, and some red here and there, but nothing like last year's stellar display.

This ridge was cleared by the1980 eruption

Our trail followed the top of Coldwater Lake's south ridge.  My friends and I passed by ghostly gray trunks of long-dead trees lying across the slopes.  These trees, flattened by St. Helens mighty blast were stark reminders of the destruction that day.

Cute 'shrooms

But my buddies also spotted happy things.  Like these cute little mushrooms sprouting up from the forest floor.

Upended dozer

The South Coldwater Trail traversed the ridge length until it met up with two other trails at "Tractor Junction," this intersection so named from the discovery of another piece of upended logging equipment (it appeared to be a bulldozer) destroyed in the 1980 eruption.

Heading towards Minnie Peak

From Tractor Junction, the guys and I followed a 2-mile connector that would take us to the Lakes Trail.  This trail started out fairly mellow, meandering through a field of colored huckleberry bushes.

Last of the foxgloves

And past the last of the summer flowers.  I was quite surprised to discover these foxgloves still blooming in mid-October.

Close up view of Minnie Peak

But once past the clearing, our trail dived into thick woods, and rocketed steeply down the ridge.  Losing all that elevation we'd gained, this connector would take us to the path that followed the lake's north shore.

Fall colors hidden in the gullies

Every once and awhile the trees would part just enough to give us teasing glimpses of Minnie Peak's scenic slopes.  Minnie Peak and the adjacent hills were decked out in some of the best fall colors I'd seen so far.  With downed trees looking like tiny toothpicks, and brightly-hued bushes tucked into it's gullies, Minnie Peak made a great photo subject.

At the lake's east end

From last year's hike, I knew we were getting close to our next junction once we crossed the bridge over lovely Coldwater Creek.  Almost down to lake level, my friends decided some rocks overlooking the creek would make a great lunch spot.  And it did!

Lunch break

After ingesting the hiker lunch essentials - PB & J, apple slices, hot tea, and....cookies (but of course!), I felt ready to tackle the long trek back along Coldwater Lake's northern shore.

Looking back towards Minnie Peak

As we packed up and walked away from our stellar lunch spot, I bid Minne Peak and her fabulous surrounding hills a fond goodbye.

John shares his hat with the sign

And here was our final trail junction!  From this point, only five miles back to the car.

Technicolor leaves

The vegetation on the lake's north side was a mix of tall grasses and scrubby deciduous trees.  The trees weren't the biggest, but they were nicely dressed in bright fall colors.

Steve looks for elk

My friends and I passed by the lake's swampy eastern side, spotting a huge beaver lodge.  Then, the waters became clearer, and the bank more firm.  The farther we traveled, the wider and deeper Coldwater Lake became.

Crossing the gravel delta

John, Steve and I navigated through an rocky alluvial fan, the remnants of an old landslide.  Two years ago I'd spotted a herd of elk here, but today our wildlife sightings consisted of only a few birds.

Minnie Peak fills the sky

The north side trail is a pretty one, hugging the lakeshore and giving visitors killer views at each turn.  Since the lake doesn't allow motorized boats, the only watercraft we spotted were a few kayakers.  Hmmm......maybe next year I should explore by boat?

Mt. St. Helens makes a brief appearance

By the time we'd reached the lake's halfway point, I was tired and ready to be done.  Unfortunate, because the last portion of this trail is spectacular.  But in our eagerness to be finished, my companions and I rushed through the final miles, only stopping to photograph the truly jaw-dropping scenes.  The best one occurred just a half mile from the parking lot.  Mt. St. Helens, hidden behind clouds all day, finally decided to show a bit of herself.  A photo-worthy moment if there ever was one.

Looking back at where we'd traveled

Then, the boat dock and parking lot came into view.  A sight for sore eyes (and feet!)  The late afternoon light illuminated Coldwater Lake's surface, turning it a brilliant shade of blue.  I walked out on the dock for one final photo op, and caught a couple of fisherman in kayaks, enjoying this fine day.

Although the fall colors were lacking, the outstanding scenery, nice weather, and great companions more than made up for it.  Besides, any day on the trail is a good one.  Time spent hiking always makes me happy.

Stats:  12 miles, 2000 feet elevation gain.


Sharing with:  52 Photos Project  and Our World Tuesday and Weekend Reflections.