Leon Turnbull Photography

I had a good route mapped out on my GPS to the big waterfall. It looked do-able on Google Earth. Indeed it seemed there was no other way to get up the canyon above Edith Lake. From below, however, the route looked like a NO GO. It seemed very steep and cliffy. Isn’t that a little waterfall I see dropping over a cliff? (yes it was). I was not very confident that I would make it up to the big waterfall. But I had to try it, didn’t I?

It was 2.5 miles from my camp with 800 ft. elevation gain, and I allowed 2.5 hours to get up there before the sun would get on it at 7:30AM (yes I started before sunrise). That should be plenty of time. The route was a GO. It was a tough steep climb but it was not cliffy and there was an easy away around that little waterfall. Again though, it would have been deadly if there was snow on the granite rock or if it was wet.

After that big initial climb above the lake the terrain levels out. You can see the big waterfall ahead of you. It looks absolutely majestic but it is still a long way away and it takes a long time to get there. I saw bear scat and deer tracks. How on Earth do these animals get into this remote canyon? Do they go down the incredibly steep granite rock as I had to? I have no idea. The walls in this canyon are incredible and imposing, clearly formed from the ice age some 4000 years ago, as can be seen by the glacial striations on the rock.

I arrived at the waterfall at 7AM with 30 minutes to spare. Oh Glory!

Kendrick Creek Falls is absolutely magnificent! It drops 370 ft. in total, falling off the cliff and continuing into a very large cascade. This one has been on my bucket list for quite a few years now and I have finally made it. The effort to get here was gargantuan but I did it and I was so happy. The wind and spray from the waterfall was very substantial. The upper side of the falls was like a rain storm and impossible to photograph from that side (but very refreshing getting soaked in the spray). The lower side of the falls was a little bit better and I was able to get some shots.

I ate my breakfast and stayed for over an hour, enjoying the view. Then I made my way back down to camp, taking my sweet time. I was very tired (not just from this hike but from all the hiking I did in the last couple days). I rested for about 5 hours in the shade at camp, napping a bit. In the evening I would have one more hike to do and then a huge hike the next day out of the canyon.

2 Comments