This winter has been a delight for the snow-lover in me. Hundreds of inches have fallen on Mt. Hood - creating magical forest scenes and a winter wonderland to discover. I've embraced dreary rainy days in Portland knowing that rain in the city means snow in the mountains - at least for now.
The Tamanawas Falls hike is one for all seasons. I've seen it in the fall and late summer but never winter. I was eager to see it dressed in snow and ice.
We threw our snow shoes and chains in the car and I packed my tripod hoping to test it out for the first time. We drove through pouring rain and low-hanging clouds in the Gorge. Thankfully the front passed and we encountered dry weather by the time we reached the trailhead.
We opted to take the less-traveled route to the falls from the Polallie Trailhead. For the first time, we broke trail with our snow shoes. I was surprised there were no tracks - it looked like six or so inches had fallen within the last few days, creating a beautiful forest scene. After hiking within view of Highway 30 (the downside of this route) we reached the junction and soon came upon Cold Spring Creek. Solitude no longer! We encountered scores of hikers returning from the falls.
Footbridge over Cold Spring Creek.
Despite the crowds we enjoyed the peaceful silence of the forest blanketed in snow. I stopped a number of times to capture creek scenes. Since I am just starting to learn how to use a camera (seriously - stop using auto mode!) I am constantly playing around with settings to figure out how they all work together. Thankfully, my wife is patient and supportive of my photography journey.
It is easy to lose myself while capturing nature scenes - but not in the way I want to lose myself. Rather than feeling the true essence of the place I become consumed by the camera. Lately, I've tried to focus on taking a step back to really soak up the moment and be in the here and now - to breathe in the smells of the forest and fill my lungs with crisp mountain air. To take in as many details of the moment so I can remember the true nature of the place - rather than remembering a beautiful scene through the camera view finder. This is no way to be truly present.
We hiked another mile or so through the dense forest and always within sight of the creek before reaching a snowy rock field. Soon, we could hear the falls in the distance.
We arrived at the falls and enjoyed its grandeur with about a dozen other hikers. It was a spectacular sight - the partially frozen falls tumbled over a 150 foot cliff. Blue icicles formed a dramatic backdrop as the falls plunged into the creek below.
Obligatory selfie before returning home.
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”
Distance: 4.25 miles / Elevation gain: 900 feet