The Adventure University Falls
Location LAT 45.59972 N LON 123.39361 W
Date June 6, 2009
Weather 64°, Cloudy, Light rain
Distance 82.1 miles
We have seen several waterfalls in the Cascade range and I was feeling the need to go west, to see what we could see in the Coastal Mountains.
University Falls kept popping up on nearly every search, so University Falls it would be.
Minnie was really hoping that she wouldn't encounter any logs to jump over this time, she is such a prissy little thing.
The hike through the young forest was really beautiful. The Red Alder trees were a nice change from the normal fir trees that line most of the hiking trails.
Wildfires in 1933, 1945 and 1951 destroyed 350,000 acres of forestland taking with it 13.5 billion board feet of lumber with it.
The third of three successive fires destroyed any hope for re-growth.
In 1948 voters passed a 12 million dollar measure to rehabilitate the forest. The Red Alder were one of the 70 million trees that were planted during the next 20 years.
Leaves and petals still held droplets from a recent rain shower.
After rounding a corner on the trail, this was my first glance of University Falls. Of course Minnie and Karen had gotten there before me.
Elliot Creek cascades down 55 ft. over a jagged wall of basalt.
Grabbing a snapshot here and there eats up most of my concentration. I looked up once to see Minnie popping her head around a bush.
I'm pretty sure I heard her say "Yo momma, you about done over there? I'm getting bored."
Just like always, Karen and greyhound du jour had found a comfy place to sit and enjoy the peacefulness of the waterfall while I played behind the camera.
University Falls was quite exquisite, I would recommend it to anyone. Easy roads to get there and an easy hike in and out.
Ready to go, Karen and Minnie pose for the signature picture.
A charred stump, one of many near the falls are evidence of the legendary Tillamook Burn.
Remnants of an old boardwalk has been crushed by falling trees.
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