Some photos from the trip, starting with kids celebrating the spray at Elowah Falls:
...and speaking of kids, the "pee tree" trail seems to get more pronounced every year... and the poison oak that surrounds it more lush! Oh, the stories that must follow from the unfortunate visitors to this private spot...!
The only truly annoying kid I encountered in the horde was this obnoxious teen who was bellowing to his family, on the switchbacks below -- I took secret delight to see him knee-deep in poison oak in his NBA shorts... and he'd been standing there for awhile (couldn't resist a covert photo):
Meanwhile, the upper falls was down to late summer water levels -- a comparison to a nearly identical date from a more typical year:
Among the many wildflowers, the familiar Stonecrop:
Howell's Daisy (I believe):
Western Columbine:
Columbia Gorge Daisy (love this one!):
Sort of an artsy view (not my strong suit, trying to practice this sort of thing more) of a Maidenhair Fern:
...and finally, a very wispy Elowah Falls:
Always a lovely hike! Kudos to all you moms, dads, grandpas and grandmas out there with your little ones on Sunday! I do love to see that! But please learn to ID that poison oak for this "mom I gotta go!!" moments..!
Tom
