McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23

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pdxgene
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McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23

Post by pdxgene » March 23rd, 2014, 7:42 pm

A last second change in plans sent Mary Ann and I on the closer trip to Clear Lake not wanting to deal with the drive to Florence on a spring break weekend. We'll save that plan for a future trip. And what a day today was. Rainbows galore at the falls and along the McKenzie and a surprisingly almost deserted Clear Lake -- the loop trail and the water.. Yay! :D
We covered between 8-10 miles or so with negligible elevation gain. A few feet here, a few more there.. It probably adds up to a few hundred at most. We parked at Clear Lake, split off the loop trail to Sahalie and Koosah along the Waterfalls Trail and doubled back from Koosah and back around the rest of Clear Lake. With the high water of spring we could kayak into the Great Spring (though I'm not sure you're actually supposed to do that.. ;) ). It's really the only time of year that it's possible to do that. Anyway, off we go starting at Sahalie Falls where the mist was blowing up making it easier than ever to get right down to the McKenzie while there.
A bit of a double rainbow to begin..
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Sahalie Falls with rainbow and closer up..
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Mist spray rainbow over the McKenzie River
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Sahalie Falls from the bank of the McKenzie River
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More of the rainbow from the mist of the McKenzie near Sahalie Falls
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Sahalie Falls and the full rainbow
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The raging McKenzie River along the Waterfalls Trail
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Mary Ann at the Koosah Falls viewpoint
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A bit of a rainbow at Koosah Falls
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In between the falls the river is still running hard and fast enough to make its own rainbow..
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Reflection of the trees in Clear Lake
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The bright spring sun shining thru the trees along the loop trail around Clear Lake
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The green waters of Clear Lake
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The Clear Lake Resort from the loop trail
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Great Spring, one of the sources of Clear Lake
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Even the spring butterflys were out. This one was kind enough to land and pose for a bit..
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The rippled surface of Clear Lake
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A lone bufflehead on Clear Lake..
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Tall trees and blue sky from the Clear Lake Loop Trail
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Another look at the Clear Lake Trail
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Clear Lake Resort and a hazy Three Sisters from the Clear Lake Loop Trail
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One of the last little stretches of snow/ice/consolidated frozen stuff..
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Then it was time to toughen things up a bit.. :lol:
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Reflections in Clear Lake
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Mt Washington from out on Clear Lake
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Paddling in front of North and Middle Sister, nice view huh? :D
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Mary Ann passing past the rapids and making it back into the Great Spring..
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Finishing up with the silhouette of the kayak in the deep blue waters of Clear Lake
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Just an amazingly nice day and a surprising lack of spring break crowds. Album here http://picasaweb.google.com/pdxgene/ClearLake14
We left Tigard about 830 got all the hiking, kayaking and breaks in and were back by 7p.. Gotta get a full day out of it when it's like this..

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BrianEdwards
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Re: McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23

Post by BrianEdwards » March 23rd, 2014, 8:07 pm

Epic rainbow captures, wow
Clackamas River Waterfall Project - 95 Documented, 18 to go.

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Sean Thomas
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Re: McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23

Post by Sean Thomas » March 24th, 2014, 6:03 am

BrianEdwards wrote:Epic rainbow captures, wow

Was just going to say the same thing :D Gene is truly epic!!!

pdxgene
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Re: McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23

Post by pdxgene » March 24th, 2014, 6:56 am

Hey, thanx guys!
Yesterday was the first time I noticed a clearly defined, but pretty sketchy looking, user path on the far side of Sahalie Falls that leads back behind the falls. Has anyone ever gone back there?

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CuriousGorgeGuide
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Re: McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23

Post by CuriousGorgeGuide » March 24th, 2014, 10:27 am

Yup...behind Sahalie. Kinda cool. I know a guidebook that rec's it. Expect to get thoroughly WET. Go for it Gene!
Thanks for the pix and snow updates. Paddling over the Clear Lake stumps while watching your shadow on the bottom of the lake is so so so fabulous. Yum.
cheers, scott

pdxgene
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Re: McKenzie River/ Sahalie & Koosah Falls/ Clear Lake 3/23

Post by pdxgene » March 24th, 2014, 1:45 pm

CuriousGorgeGuide wrote:Yup...behind Sahalie. Kinda cool. I know a guidebook that rec's it. Expect to get thoroughly WET. Go for it Gene!
Thanks for the pix and snow updates. Paddling over the Clear Lake stumps while watching your shadow on the bottom of the lake is so so so fabulous. Yum.
cheers, scott
Thanx Scott! That guidebook you referred to is how I knew it was over there somewhere, I just hadn't seen it before. Though I'm kinda thinking maybe later in summer rather than spring meltoff for that little adventure might be the better :idea:

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