Atop Bassi Falls, Hurrying Back Down
Jun. 18th, 2023 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerOne of the fun parts of visiting Bassi Falls (previous blog with more pictures) is scrambling up the granite ridge to the top of the falls. Some people think to climb up the prominent rock face to its right. That's just barely possible in low flow years. In a super high flow year like this, nobody was even trying. It's obvious folly.
Around to the left, though, away from the water's spray and behind a stand of trees, the dirt rises halfway up to meet the granite slickrock of the ridge. You'll find spots in the rocks like this....
The first several linear meters of the route are obvious; you just go up that ramp. But then you've got to choose whether to climb a steeper section that's narrow with an abrupt falloff, or an even steeper route to the left that has better handholds. Then there are other steep sections above them. Many of these look scary at first, but someone who's either moderately skilled in rock-scrambling or bold and foolish can traverse them.
Once near the top the routes get easier and plenty of different views open up. I made a beeline for the main view, a perch near the top of the falls. Here's a short video I recorded:
This is very different from what the top part of the falls looked like two years ago.
Moments after I recorded this video I got some bad news. Hawk, who'd been at the bottom of the rock-scramble area looking for another route up— we agreed it was okay for us to split up as we improbably had enough cell reception out here to call and text— had texted me that she pulled a muscle. She tried to shake it off but it only got worse. She was starting back toward the car and needed help. I let her know I was coming and scrambled back down the ridge, cutting short all the other exploring I intended to do at the top.
Around to the left, though, away from the water's spray and behind a stand of trees, the dirt rises halfway up to meet the granite slickrock of the ridge. You'll find spots in the rocks like this....
The first several linear meters of the route are obvious; you just go up that ramp. But then you've got to choose whether to climb a steeper section that's narrow with an abrupt falloff, or an even steeper route to the left that has better handholds. Then there are other steep sections above them. Many of these look scary at first, but someone who's either moderately skilled in rock-scrambling or bold and foolish can traverse them.
Once near the top the routes get easier and plenty of different views open up. I made a beeline for the main view, a perch near the top of the falls. Here's a short video I recorded:
This is very different from what the top part of the falls looked like two years ago.
Moments after I recorded this video I got some bad news. Hawk, who'd been at the bottom of the rock-scramble area looking for another route up— we agreed it was okay for us to split up as we improbably had enough cell reception out here to call and text— had texted me that she pulled a muscle. She tried to shake it off but it only got worse. She was starting back toward the car and needed help. I let her know I was coming and scrambled back down the ridge, cutting short all the other exploring I intended to do at the top.
