Several weeks ago a young friend and I went in search of waterfalls near which he might propose to his girlfriend. I decided to delay this entry in order to ensure that I didn't give away anything. These falls are ones I have been to many times over the years, big, amazing, easy or relatively easy approaches, but having potential for crowds if you don't plan the right time to be there. The first one is Elk River Falls. You come in the short, level approach to the top of the falls.
As with many falls, upstream is placid and unrevealing of the cataract soon to be encountered.
The falls is good sized, 50 feet high with moderate to high flow and a 1/2 acre plunge pool that varies in depth from 3 1/2 feet to 10+ feet depth. It is an excellent swimming hole that the locals know and frequent, so avoid the weekend or hot weekday afternoons.
Downstream has massive boulders and evidence of periodic high flow.
These pools are fun to play in, too, with some shallower spots for younger and timid waders.
The next falls, Linville Falls, is fascinating more for the deep gorge it plunges into and its unique shape than its height (35' on the lower, visible part). The approaches for viewing are short to medium length, but none could be classified as easy. The first view of me at the overlook that looks down upon the scene is probably the easiest and definitely the shortest.
We went on to the bottom of the gorge. It is quite strenuous and rocky. The uniqueness of the falls comes from the fact that it comes down on either side of a massive boulder, rejoins, and spills through the crevice in the cliff. This route was formed by a massive flood in the 1920's (1928 is my memory) where the water coming over the high cascade caused the rock cliff to collapse, forming the present unique notch.
A fellow traveler was gracious enough to capture our image. This large, deep pool would be awesome for swimming, but that is prohibited on this National Park administered land.
The next picture shows me sitting on a board that someone left, as we speculated, for the very purpose of portraits. What is most amazing about the cliff behind me is that the overlook where I was photographed is 200 feet directly above where I sit.
It is a little difficult outside of church to get this young fellow to take off that hat. He certainly didn't want to for a picture. His future wife may have something to say about that.
I have come more and more to enjoy a simple, quiet, non-glamorous walk or sit in the woods. Waterfalls are not that, but the white noise of a falls, the white foam and movement, the cliffs, the life around water, and the people drawn to them have their own kind of excitement and peacefulness.
How can one fail to see the beauty of God's creativity and providential care of all He has made when you stand near a roaring waterfall? It is hard to get enough of it, and I am thankful that I can take them in now and then.
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