Once again I have managed not to plummet to my doom, not that I didn't have plenty of opportunity. The hiking trails I've been on lately often skirt the edge of steep ledges with no rails or protection; I need to keep my wits about me, watch my footing, and rely on my trusty hiking pole. This day trip outside of Portland was to Eagle Creek, and the trail started out innocently, and beautifully, enough.
I saw a variety of small fern new to me, above, which sprouted on a single stem then split into individual fronds. The stems were a dark blue, and the fronds a pale, silvery green. If anyone knows the name of this treasure, please let me know. We seemed to have timed our trip perfectly, as the weather has been outstanding, and the wildflowers are at their peak. Below is a shot of the larkspur that was plentiful in the sunnier sports on the trail.
The trail was rife with waterfalls, some of them large, and some of them little sprinklers that dripped and sparkled on us as we walked under them. Below you can see the cable handrail that helped us negotiate a very slippery spot under a small fall:
Below is a shot of Melatku falls glimpsed through the trees:
And here I am carefully not falling into the creek as I forded it about halfway up the trail:
Here's a shot of the Lower Punch Bowl falls. Some one near and dear to me heroically waded into very cold water to get this picture:
A view from one of the high spots on the trail:
Once again I have managed not to plummet to my doom, not that I didn't have plenty of opportunity. The hiking trails I've been on lately often skirt the edge of steep ledges with no rails or protection; I need to keep my wits about me, watch my footing, and rely on my trusty hiking pole. This day trip outside of Portland was to Eagle Creek, and the trail started out innocently, and beautifully, enough.
I saw a variety of small fern new to me, above, which sprouted on a single stem then split into individual fronds. The stems were a dark blue, and the fronds a pale, silvery green. If anyone knows the name of this treasure, please let me know. We seemed to have timed our trip perfectly, as the weather has been outstanding, and the wildflowers are at their peak. Below is a shot of the larkspur that was plentiful in the sunnier sports on the trail.
The trail was rife with waterfalls, some of them large, and some of them little sprinklers that dripped and sparkled on us as we walked under them. Below you can see the cable handrail that helped us negotiate a very slippery spot under a small fall:
Below is a shot of Melatku falls glimpsed through the trees:
And here I am carefully not falling into the creek as I forded it about halfway up the trail:
Here's a shot of the Lower Punch Bowl falls. Some one near and dear to me heroically waded into very cold water to get this picture:
A view from one of the high spots on the trail:
6 comments:
Gorgeous cold water picture! It looks like your Portland trip will feed you inspiration for a good long while.
Wow, now you really have been to the wilds of Orygun!!
Your mystery fern looks a lot like the Maidenhair Fern we have on the East coast. I don't know if it is the same or a variation. You can find more info here: http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/ferns/adiantumpeda.html
Yes, that's it, it's a Maidenhair Fern. Thanks very much for the ID.
Your trip looks fabulous!
This is absolutely gorgeous! If you ever get a chance, visit Sahallie Falls, near Eugene, Oregon. It is similar to this and very lush and beautiful.
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