More Then Meets The Eye

Sometimes there is more than meets the eye.

Hey everyone! Greetings from the PCT in Northern California. I find myself sitting at Burney Falls right now......an incredible state park! I've slowed my pace quite a bit on my return to the trail to enjoy and take it in more. This is one spot I haven't slowed down.......I've completely stopped.

This is a place I can't walk by, even if it's slowly. It's hard to put into words the sight of these falls. They are, by far, the most phenomenal falls I've ever laid eyes on. If you ever travel to northern California, stop here.

I'm not sure if you can tell by this picture, but about half the flow of the waterfall is coming directly from the rocks.....from underground, like a massive spring.

The main part of the falls comes from a creek, but the really amazing part is if you hike this creek upstream, in about 3/4 of a mile the creek bed is completely bone dry. As you walk back towards the falls, the dry creek bed slowly shows a little dampness, then tiny little pools, then small flow, then the creek. These falls are fed from underground water. As you walk upstream in the hot, dry, parched land, you would never know the massive flow of water that's running just underneath your steps...... then it unleashes to the world in an unbelievable fashion. You don't just hear the roar, you feel it.

The color of the water is spectacular. I haven't altered the colors in this picture. I've never seen that color of blue in water. It's also ice cold and tasty! It's a magical place. It's no wonder the native cultures find this a spiritual place. There is something special in the surroundings here.

I spent much of the morning just sitting and taking in the water. I'm glad I leaned how to slow down......and now stop. Sometimes you just have to put the backpack down and sit still for a little while.

I've decided to spend the whole day here. I had a resupply box sent here (thanks Paul!) so my bear barrel is completely restocked. Early tomorrow morning I'll set out back on the trail. Next destination will be Dunsmuir. It's just over 80 miles and I have a weeks worth of food I'll be carrying.

Like I said in my last post, I will be calling this the end of this season on the PCT. I'll be leaving in great spirits and look forward to some upcoming events. I'll get into that later though.

As for now, I'm going to go buy an ice cream cone and sit by the falls again. I would bet it's a good 10 to 15 degrees cooler at the base of the falls. It's hot up above.

It's a spectacular way to end this journey for the year. It's almost like nature's fireworks. It's fitting. From a dry hot partched land to a phenomenal falls. It fitting. It's a great ending. It's a great beginning.

I leave you with a picture I took getting out of my tent the other morning.

Take care everyone!