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canyonwalkerTwo Sundays ago we hiked the Miller Creek Trail above Bass Lake in the Sierra National Forest. This is my second blog out of at least 3, maybe 4, from this hike. In part 1 I described how we scrambled over slickrock past numerous small cascades. As we continued up the creek the sides of the canyon got steeper, leading to an apron falls about 50 feet high.
This might be the actual Angel Falls. It's definitely a big falls. Unless the whole stretch up to this point is all Angel Falls. I'll take it either way. It's one beautiful cascade after another with numerous little swimming holes and sunny rocks in between.
The trail on this side of the canyon continued to be rough, though we continued not to care. A) we had the equipment and skills to hike it if we wanted, and B) we didn't want to. We simply went cross-country over the bare granite. Including up the dry face of the falls in the photo above.
We sat and relaxed for a while atop Angel Falls. The second photo (above) shows the top bit of the falls. Above that the creek is flat for a ways... though still flowing swiftly. While sitting here we also pondered a choice: whether to continue on or turn back.
Miller Creek trail. Arrow shows top of Angel Falls where we paused to consider crossing despite the bridge being out. (Map adapted from AllTrails.com)The Miller Creek trail is what I call an upside-down lollipop. It's a lollipop because the route contains both a loop and a stem (see map at right/above). Usually "lollipop" routes start out with the stem and have the loop at the far end. This trail starts with a loop and has the stem at the far end; that's why I call it upside-down.
We started the trail by hiking the west (left) side of the loop from the trailhead. Our reference website cautioned that the bridge was out where this branch of the loop crossed the creek to join the rest of the trail. Indeed it was out. It wasn't just broken, it was completely gone. Like, ripped out from the foundation gone. And the water above the falls was flowing swiftly. Not impassably swift, but quick enough that (a) we'd definitely get wet up to our knees, and (b) we might slip and fall in and get wet all over.
We considered just calling it a day here, doubling back the way we came in, and hiking Lewis Creek for the afternoon. Of course, we've been to Lewis Creek before— a few times. The call of the unknown beckoned! If nothing else I wanted to hike the other side of the loop back to the trailhead. But once we've crossed the water, why not go all the way up to Devil's Slide?
We took the plunge— literally, almost— into the swiftly flow creek and waded across to the other side. After minutes to decide it was all over in seconds. We were on the other side of the creek and ready to continue exploring.
Stay turned for more!
This might be the actual Angel Falls. It's definitely a big falls. Unless the whole stretch up to this point is all Angel Falls. I'll take it either way. It's one beautiful cascade after another with numerous little swimming holes and sunny rocks in between.
The trail on this side of the canyon continued to be rough, though we continued not to care. A) we had the equipment and skills to hike it if we wanted, and B) we didn't want to. We simply went cross-country over the bare granite. Including up the dry face of the falls in the photo above.
We sat and relaxed for a while atop Angel Falls. The second photo (above) shows the top bit of the falls. Above that the creek is flat for a ways... though still flowing swiftly. While sitting here we also pondered a choice: whether to continue on or turn back.
Miller Creek trail. Arrow shows top of Angel Falls where we paused to consider crossing despite the bridge being out. (Map adapted from AllTrails.com)
We started the trail by hiking the west (left) side of the loop from the trailhead. Our reference website cautioned that the bridge was out where this branch of the loop crossed the creek to join the rest of the trail. Indeed it was out. It wasn't just broken, it was completely gone. Like, ripped out from the foundation gone. And the water above the falls was flowing swiftly. Not impassably swift, but quick enough that (a) we'd definitely get wet up to our knees, and (b) we might slip and fall in and get wet all over.
We considered just calling it a day here, doubling back the way we came in, and hiking Lewis Creek for the afternoon. Of course, we've been to Lewis Creek before— a few times. The call of the unknown beckoned! If nothing else I wanted to hike the other side of the loop back to the trailhead. But once we've crossed the water, why not go all the way up to Devil's Slide?
We took the plunge— literally, almost— into the swiftly flow creek and waded across to the other side. After minutes to decide it was all over in seconds. We were on the other side of the creek and ready to continue exploring.
Stay turned for more!
