In Search of the Hidden Waterfalls

I tried a new local trail twice while staying with our daughter-in-law, once by myself, and once with my grandson.  I was intrigued with a notation on Google Maps for the "Hidden Waterfalls", and was sure that this trail headed that direction.  Warning - another picture heavy post.

It's actually a heavily disturbed forest, but the trees grow fast and grow big.  I caught the morning mist in the sun through the trees here.

It's not all Hemlock and Cedar though; this is a big Bigleaf Maple.

And lots of those Sword Ferns, and the smaller Licorice Ferns that grow right out of the moss on tree branches.

It's a rainforest alright, moss on the branches, and big old stumps nursing new young trees.

A couple of days after my walk alone, I went down the same trail with my grandson, still hoping we could get to see those waterfalls.

In places the trail was flooded with large puddles.  And what does a seven-year-old do with a large puddle?

Of course, see how close you can get the water to the top of your boots!

We got down to the stream quickly, to this collapsed log bridge once used by mountain bikers.  It's a beautiful little stream, flowing through the steep-sided valley.

But look at these two pictures!  If I couldn't quite jump across the first time, we certainly weren't going to this time!  The water had risen about 4" after overnight rain.

We had to give up our quest and head back up hill.  My eagle-eyed grandson did spot this interesting slug on the ground.

These aren't even huge trees, but I like to think that this is one kid who is going to appreciate the natural world in his future.

Meanwhile, back home on the ranch, it appears to be winter now.  This was whiter a few hours later, gone again today, but forecast to return tomorrow.  Four months of snow coming up.