I'm getting way behind in trip reports but this little outing was especially interesting so I'll make an effort to put it up. I'd been to this site on the west side of Hardy Ridge only once before and that was in terrible weather with no visibility so was happy to have had a pretty nice day for the return trip on April 13th. The spunky Miss Ardith and I had another great day in the woods!

 

This is a nice short hike but with a challenging loose talus slope to navigate at the end to reach the falls and cliffs.

 

The snow is at record high depths for low elevation levels for so late in the season but the trailhead at the1,600' level was clear when we arrived.

 

We found deep snow starting at the 2,000' level so post holed most of the rest of the way. Here is a view along this ancient logging road at just above the 2,000' level:

 

Another shot of the same area:

Some of this old road is a little hard to navigate!:

We reached the point where we needed to drop down the talus in only 9/10 miles.

 

There are some magnificent rock pillers:

A first view of part of the falls:

Ardith wanted no part of crossing this log bridge - smart gal!

I think she said something like "Hey! - throw me the car keys before you go out there! (So much for confidence!!)

So, anyway, she had to proceed and did her best: (Is that a world-class logjam or what!)

I finally got across and took a pic of Ardith relaxing on the opposite bank:

One last view of the log bridge. My advice: do not even think about crossing this thing!!

One last look back at the area of the falls:

A GPS derived map of the area:

- Don

 

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"If I had known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself" - anon

Cool report, Don - that is really unusual terrain up there. Not "Gorge-like" at all. Very open and rugged!

Kudos to Ardith for putting up with you, by the way. :-)

Tom

How tall is that falls? The geology of the area reminds me of Sycamore Falls in northern Arizona. Interesting to see those formations in the gorge.
Casey

The C-Ws:

How tall is that falls? The geology of the area reminds me of Sycamore Falls in northern Arizona. Interesting to see those formations in the gorge.
Casey

There are three falls close together - about 60 or 70 feet total. Agreed, interesting and un-gorge like as Splintercat said. It appears to be basalt that never made it to the surface.

don

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"If I had known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself" - anon

Splintercat:

Cool report, Don - that is really unusual terrain up there. Not "Gorge-like" at all. Very open and rugged! Kudos to Ardith for putting up with you, by the way. :-) Tom

Thanks Tom,

Yes, it's pretty neat terrain, for sure. So, how about coming along tomorrow for further explorations on the Russ Jolley trail?

don

 

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"If I had known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself" - anon

Those pinnacles are really cool, but that is one really disgusting logjam right there.  Looks like its easier to deal with the mess in Oneonta than that pile of loveliness.  Looks like thats the falls that Plumb refers to as Woodward Falls.

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Bryan Swan
http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com

Those rock formations are just like those found on Angel's Rest.

Sore Feet:

Those pinnacles are really cool, but that is one really disgusting logjam right there.  Looks like its easier to deal with the mess in Oneonta than that pile of loveliness.  Looks like thats the falls that Plumb refers to as Woodward Falls.

Hi Bryan,

Yeah, that jam is definitely disgusting! The good news is that it has rotted to the point that it won't be long until it starts to completely crumble and wash out of there. The creek is unnamed but the logical name could be "East Fork, Woodward Cr." so you are probably correct about Plumb.

dn

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"If I had known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself" - anon