Day Two: Cottonwood Camp to Cascade Lodge

Day Two: Cottonwood Camp to Cascade Lodge

Click on the small pictures to see larger ones.

A creek to keep
me company We got up Saturday morning eager to hit the trail. And what a trail it was! It follows the river through the valley for miles and miles. I had a wonderful time walking along in the dappled sunlight, smelling the fresh dew on the trees and ferns and listening to the birds warning each other about my progress. The river was rushing along faster than me but it kept me great company. The going was easy: flat and smooth. There were just a few scrambles where there had been a big washout in 2003 so the trail was diverted over big piles of rocks. I hoped to see some deer but was disappointed. Nevertheless, the spider webs gently broke across my shoulders, my best pals in the world were behind me somewhere, and the day was set up to be perfect: sunny but not too hot. Joy!

Watch your step
no water underneath,
whew!
Approaching Bridge
Creek
Upstream from the
bridge
Powerful channel
of water, yet so
serene

Bridge Creek was amazing and we spent quite a bit of time there poking around its various falls and pools. Rick spotted a bunch of trout in the lower pool and wants to come back fishing someday. I'd like to come back, too, and stay the night at the base camp in Bridge Creek Campground. Staying there would have broken up the long, long hike we had on the second day into two more manageable hikes. And there's plenty to do in the vicinity of the creek, including other trails to explore. I plan to come back with my mom, sister, and brother-in-law one of these days. Hiking with just a light pack is the way to go!

teeny l'il frogs
thousands of 'em
outta my way!
don't want to
crush 'em
my creek became
a river

At one small creek crossing, I encountered hundreds and hundreds of tiny little frogs. They were the cutest little things! I've seen tiny frogs before when hiking in the woods, but never in this quantity. They were thick like flies on the ground and when I took a step nearer to them, they scattered just like flies. I had to step very very carefully across the creek so as to keep from crushing the little fellas. I wonder where they all will live when they grow up? Downstream, I think.

Coon Lake was
a surprise
gentle breeze
what a lovely day!
...peacefulness is
contagious

As we neared the end of our trail, we came upon Coon Lake. What a nice surprise that was! We emerged from the woods into a meadow and there it was! It looked smaller on our maps but was really pretty in the still, hot, afternoon. I would love to come back around dusk to hear the frogs. As it was, though, we were amused by the dragonflies buzzing here and there, busy catching bugs.

High Bridge
upstream
High Bridge
downstream At the bottom of the trail, the High Bridge trailhead, we were relieved to meet up with Cliff Courtney, one of the owners of the lodge at which we'd be staying that night. Although he was there to meet another couple to shuttle them back to the Lodge, he quickly agreed to take us the 2 or so miles down the hot, dusty, road. We were impressed by his kindness, and the fact that he knew our party's name. The Courtney family seems to really enjoy making sure their guests are happy and all during our stay at the Lodge, we were impressed by their personal attention to us.

Home Sweet Home
Beds!
A serene scene
Happy horses

The cabins in which we stayed were 'tent' cabins, with concrete floors, wooden walls, and a canvas ceiling. Rick and Lin shared one cabin and Liz, Eva, and I shared another. They were nice, with no electricity or plumbing. We spent the afternoon relaxing on the porch (I actually took a nap in a hammock) and watching the horses play in the field in front of us. When the sprinklers came on, oh, boy, did the horses love that! They rolled in the grass, wriggling with their legs in the air, just like dogs. I guess the cool water felt good on their hot, saddlesore, backs. Dinner was very good indeed: prime rib, salad, vegetables, and an all-you-can-eat pie bar with 8-9 different kinds of pie and even chocolate cake! We also got to take showers, whch felt divine after a long day of hiking. We hit the sack early to rest up for day three.

Go to Day Three -->

page maintained by Cheryl


Watch your step	no water underneath, whew!	Approaching Bridge Creek	Upstream from the bridge	Powerful channel of water, yet so serene

Bridge Creek was amazing and we spent quite a bit of time there poking around its various falls and pools. Rick spotted a bunch of trout in the lower pool and wants to come back fishing someday. I'd like to come back, too, and stay the night at the base camp in Bridge Creek Campground. Staying there would have broken up the long, long hike we had on the second day into two more manageable hikes. And there's plenty to do in the vicinity of the creek, including other trails to explore. I plan to come back with my mom, sister, and brother-in-law one of these days. Hiking with just a light pack is the way to go!

teeny l'il frogs	thousands of 'em	outta my way!	don't want to crush 'em	my creek became a river

At one small creek crossing, I encountered hundreds and hundreds of tiny little frogs. They were the cutest little things! I've seen tiny frogs before when hiking in the woods, but never in this quantity. They were thick like flies on the ground and when I took a step nearer to them, they scattered just like flies. I had to step very very carefully across the creek so as to keep from crushing the little fellas. I wonder where they all will live when they grow up? Downstream, I think.

Coon Lake was a surprise	gentle breeze	what a lovely day!	...peacefulness is contagious

As we neared the end of our trail, we came upon Coon Lake. What a nice surprise that was! We emerged from the woods into a meadow and there it was! It looked smaller on our maps but was really pretty in the still, hot, afternoon. I would love to come back around dusk to hear the frogs. As it was, though, we were amused by the dragonflies buzzing here and there, busy catching bugs.


Home Sweet Home	Beds!	A serene scene	Happy horses

The cabins in which we stayed were 'tent' cabins, with concrete floors, wooden walls, and a canvas ceiling. Rick and Lin shared one cabin and Liz, Eva, and I shared another. They were nice, with no electricity or plumbing. We spent the afternoon relaxing on the porch (I actually took a nap in a hammock) and watching the horses play in the field in front of us. When the sprinklers came on, oh, boy, did the horses love that! They rolled in the grass, wriggling with their legs in the air, just like dogs. I guess the cool water felt good on their hot, saddlesore, backs. Dinner was very good indeed: prime rib, salad, vegetables, and an all-you-can-eat pie bar with 8-9 different kinds of pie and even chocolate cake! We also got to take showers, whch felt divine after a long day of hiking. We hit the sack early to rest up for day three.