FIRST
I was quite excited to finally get to this 29 ft high charmer on the Little North Fork of the Middle Fork Feather River. It’s my first “new” waterfall of the season and I’m hoping for much more this winter and spring. Come on rain!
Now I knew there was a 30 footer on this river “somewhere” because I read about it from some kayakers but where it was exactly was a complete mystery and how to get there was even harder. It took three tries and much pondering of GE and topo maps until success finally presented itself.
The first time I had a vague idea where it might be but it turned out to be quite wrong. After that I realized where it was so I tried again and indeed I found it but I could not see it. In order to see it, it is necessary to cross the river and at that time the flow was much too high. Now I would try one last time. This time the river was lower but I was a bit worried it was still too high, especially after the recent rain that just happened. That rain would sure be nice for the waterfall but I somehow would need to cross that river. Well here I go.
It is a steep and difficult hike to get down to the falls. Much poison oak. Much steep cliffy terrain. When I finally got down to the river I could see it was flowing quite strong. I didn’t think I’d be able to cross it. Was this all a big wasted effort again? I had to try it. There were three steps I would need to make across the narrow torrent and avoid falling and being swept downstream, and probably over a few more waterfalls before I found myself in Lake Oroville. Well, it turned out to be not as bad as it looked. I was able to hold onto one rock, step out into the middle of the river, reach out and grab onto a rock on the other side, hold onto it for dear life and drag my other foot across through the torrent. Made it. I sure hoped I would be able to get back across though. Once on the other side I easily made my way up closer to the falls for a very sweet view and shot. It’s not a huge one, but sure is a beauty.
I took my shots and then hurried back across the river before it decided to rain any more and thus increase the flow in the river. That would certainly suck. I would probably be stuck down there until next summer. Bear meat and such.
My GPS was having troubles working down in that canyon, thus making it difficult to find my way back home. So I just went up. Up the mountain, back to the main trail which I was able to find with minimal GPS help. I got back to the car and as I was putting my bear spray away somehow the safety lock came off and I sprayed it all over my hands! I strongly suggest you not ever do this. I washed my hands off with the water in my water bottle as best I could, but I could not get it all off, especially under the fingernails. That stuff lingers on forever. And if you just happen to touch any other part of your body such as your face or eyes or any other certain parts, then it stings for a long time. Not that I did any of that, but just trust me, it stings. I can definitely see why the bears do not like it. Well I did make it home all right and got cleaned up, but now I just hope that I don’t get that dreaded poison oak itch.