June 06, 2007

Falling water

Waterfall

I spent yesterday afternoon hiking along a river that cut through a canyon of mossy rocks. Both the misty rain and the spray from the tumbling whitewater kept me cool as I walked, and the noise from the churning river kept me company. Near the waterfall at the very top of the trail, the wind and spray surrounded me, soaked me, and made the whole world blur.

Normally, hiking in the rain means stripping off wet clothes in a small tent that smells like wet sneakers and trying to dry my stuff over a campfire. It was certainly a different kind of experience to come back to the luxury hotel where my husband's conference was – where a long day of hiking could end with a hot shower, delicious squash soup served in a dining room that looked out over the mountains, a dry comfy bed with a percale sheets, and a warm husband who was eager to hear about my day's adventures.

13 comments:

Inside the Philosophy Factory said...

Amazing photos! We still have our annual park pass from a few summers that let us roam around that park like we owned it.

We camped when we were there and still vividly recall the campgrounds. One is right next to a wonderful rushing river -- if you get a chance, go over there and explore.

We moved into a campground by a large lake. The campground itself was ok, the drunks 10 feet from our tent who spent the whole night discussing their sexual practices around the fire were less than ok.

Not far from your town there are some really fun hot springs in a kind of tacky mountain town... as up-scale as your current town is, the tacky mountain town is tacky.

Have a great time!

Linda said...

Your pictures and descriptions are making me JEALOUS!

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Hel said...

What a wonderful trip. It makes me shiver with longing.

Silver Creek Mom said...

YES DO GO TO THE HOTSPRINGS! I loved that.

What your doing is my type of vacationing. Roughing it in a comfy bed. ;)

TwinsGoddess said...

Spectacular photo.

PPB said...

so gorgeous. I went to where I think you are a couple years ago, and it was great.

Anonymous said...

Yes -- that's the way to do it. Sounds luxurious! Pleasant dreams.

BeachMama said...

Nothing like nature and a hot shower after. Hope you enjoy your entire stay.

Liz Miller said...

That's the kind of vacation I can really get behind.

My checker word is ndlsxx. Needless s3x? Need less s3x?

Sarah Sometimes said...

gorgeous, gorgeous photos! I hope I will someday visit such a place and go hiking in the rain...

Kyla said...

Wow. That photograph is breathtaking.

Ampersand said...

wow, you are providing such wonderful descriptions and photos that I really want to go to these places. Spectacular beauty.

Michael Campbell said...

I hiked in the rain once. It was sexy for about ten minutes, then I got 1) lost, and 2) hypothermic. My skin turned an Easter egg color of pinkish blue and my shrinkage was, um, not sexy, but at least impressive in it's shrinkfulness.

Jo(3), your photography brings me back just to see how wonderfully you render things already beautiful.