Little Dutch
Ugh, I hate poison oak. I didn’t see any on my hike up to Dutch Creek, but I must have tramped through it at one point. Now I have the itch! I didn’t even wash myself with Technu when I got home because I didn’t think I was in any. Stupid Leon.
This is Lower Dutch Creek Falls, about 20 ft. high. It is a nice little spot along the way to the main waterfalls on Dutch Creek. It was in very pretty double form this day, so I couldn’t resist going down there to photograph it.
Apparently this little guy liked it as well. I was worried that I had partially stepped on him because he looks squished with his back arched up like this. I did not see him. He was not moving at all, and I could see he was breathing hard (well, I’ve never seen a newt breathe hard before, so I’m just guessing). These newts are impossible. They always like to hang out on the trails because they blend in more with the dirt and brown leaves. They are difficult to see. But they don’t get out of the way when you are about to step on them. You would think they would say something like, “oh there is a huge monster about to squish me to kingdom come. I should get out of here, move, jump up and down, scream, do something!”. But no oh no. They just sit there, still as a doorknob. Of course I know why they sit so still, to hide from predators. But geez, come on guys. Anyway, I think this guy was okay cuz after I had photographed the waterfall and came back up, he was gone.
