I hadn't been up Eagle Creek since the spring. It was a weekday. It was supposed to be raining. But the radar looked good. WTH? The gear was scattered after being on a month-long roadtrip, so between simply getting myself in gear, as well getting all that back together, it took awhile to hit the road. What was in the pack was all summer stuff. It seems winter hit while I was away. Ah well...
Got to the trailhead about 11:30; about 7 hours before sunset. Only plan is to go as far as feels good. It's not raining. (Okay, drizzle-misting, but it is winter, right?
) So there's only 26 cars at the TH! A lot for many trails, yeah, but Eagle Creek? Things are looking better all the time. Long story short, I had a blast! So glad I wasn't trudging around stores, real or online, looking for stuff to keep me dry when I had the option to get soaked on one of the most beautiful woodland trails in the county! And got the chance to do so in virtual solitude. I think I ran into fewer than 10 other groups/folks the entire way. Passing 7.5 Mile Camp, I looked at my watch for the first time. It was almost 4:00. Seemed time to do a U-Turn.
You've all seen Eagle Creek many times, no doubt, so I'll just post a few of my favorite shots and/or ones that show the current state of things. As an ongoing theme, the day was so dark that handheld shots were tough. Click any photo for a full screen-sized enlargement.
Metlako Falls. Big-leaf maples still turning yellow. No real reds yet. Colors still pre-peak. (1/5 sec.)
Clouds were a constant presence in the valley. Always changing. Glimpsed blue holes maybe twice.
Hard not to think of that other TR, and the icy cliffs, as all but a few were very wet.
Highbridge Falls. It's not the Midwest (where I just got back from), but it'll do.
Loowit Falls. And clouds to the valley floor.
The weather gave a reason to look up, instead of only gazing down at the creek.
Skoonichuck Falls. Easy to miss, unless you drop down into the campsite below Tenas Camp.
The one and only Vine maple daring enough to wear red this early in the season!
Reflections on a
Yeah, well, Minnesota and Wisconsin don't have Big-Leaf Maple, either.
"The Potholes" are just fascinating to me for some reason. Totally different view of columnar basalt.
Favorite Shot of the Day. Click to zoom, and see the raindrop bomb exploding on surface. (1/20 sec.)
And then there's the wildlife. Anyone missed these guys the last few months?
Yep, it's raining in here, too. Gonna pull out a flash light next time! Why?
Very cool moss wall along the Vertigo Mile.
Twister Falls. 'Nuf said.
A spot of dryness! Flash on all the folks you read about, huddling in wetness, spending the night lost.
Top of Sevenmile Falls. Little brown leaves trying their best to look red.
Darkness descending. Rain relentless. Decided I could make it sans headlamp...
16-odd miles later, a new avatar! That look like a guy in need of raingear?
So, again, a huge thanks to all the loons out there (you know who you are!) that inspired this day out in the rain!
