Lassen Again

24th and 25th July 2009

The nostalgic trip down the memory lane was the waterfalls Paradise-Columbia River Gorge which made me go for some more waterfalls ! Visited Lassen Volcanic National Park for third time ! Just to shoot the Kings Creek Falls. The plan was to cover Mill Creek Falls too, but some how every time that doesn't happen :( Recently I have gone all alone for most of the trips. I thought of finding people to go with me this time. So, I called for a meetup and was joined by three other photographers, but not hikers !

We started from Bay Area at 2:00PM expecting to arrive at National Park by sunset. But, Friday traffic added three more hours to the five hour drive and so we were ready to hit the sleeping bags ! The sky was clear and the stars were numerous ... the sky looked like a black veil studded with diamonds. The darkness smelled cold. Next day, plan was to start by 5:00AM for sunrise and some reflections and the group was ready by 4:50AM !?! And we witnessed a gorgeous sunrise. It was worth all the planning, parting with that early morning delicious deep sleep ... and for all that effort we appreciated the miracle of that sunrise.

The dawn was dark with a tinge of red in it ... with seconds it changed to dark orange and then shades of red and bright orange ... with the light that sun brought with him the landscape opened up ... the mountain with a little snow patch on it ... the road we drove on to reach this spot ... the green of the trees ... the rocks and then ... it was morning ... I took few pictures ... but for me witnessing that scene was enough ... I could hear other photographers clicking and talking about HDR ... exposures ... polarizer and so on ... but for me , the spectacle of the sunrise that mattered !

We headed to Lake Helen as planned ... for the reflection of Lassen Peak on the silvery morning waters of the lake. But, the ripples in the water were already active ... So what ? it still makes beautiful picture ! Early morning lakeside was a great feeling. I have done this so many times but still every time it feels so refreshing. Early morning in the absence of the crowd this place looks so surreal and so out of the world.

After having a brief breakfast we headed to the kings creek falls. The trail was as steep as a rocky ladder ... the small clouds of dust raised as the group walked kicking the ground. Kings Creek, even in late July was flowing full, fast, twisting and wild. The cascades had full power and roar. Going down the steep rocky steps was a bit of challenge as we had to carry few expensive and heavy stuff on our back and also with our hands. The thing about American creeks is that they carry melted snow over the granite rocky beds and so the water is always white and the pools are blue. In India, or any nation with high rainfall, the streams and rivers carry a lot of mud with the heavy flow and hence the water is brown. They have their own earthy beauty.

At times the companions are a challenge. While two youngsters chattered nonstop, another did quietly his own thing. People join even when they donot have interest in half the things planned. Like, people want photoshoot but not the hiking involved. So, the cribbing and commenting was going on. And some patiently suffer. Well, in a group it happens, stick to your plans !! I went on hiking up the rocky trail while my back painfully ached under the weight of my backpack. Sun was quite strong on us.


In my opinion, people are excited to see something different than what we usually see. Just something like Bumpass Hell in Lassen. At least for me it is so. The ladscape opens up something amazing like acidic, hot blue pools, boiling mud pots, boiling lakes is something interesting to see. But surprizingly, my group thought otherwise ! Anyway, everybody has their own preferences and differences :) Sun was hovering right above our heads and the sulphur in the air wasn't pleasing either. Landscape was amazing again !

After the hard, hot day there was no possibility for soft bed or long shower. While others took rest in their tents I went for a short walk but, with each passing hour the number of mosquitoes was increasing. They were not much but, enough to take away your peace. I wasted no time in closing my eyes and falling into deep sleep. With that the idea of shooting star trails was forgotten.

Both ways we had food at Subway ... unlike my last few other trips where I had dinner with highest percent of grease at either Chinese or Thai restaurants, or Indian if we happened to find one ! Oh I was so hungry and I ordered a footlong ... I could not take a bite of that 7th inch of bread !? But, at that moment I wanted to eat spicy channa batura (deep fried Indian bread with spicy chickpea curry), or Malabar parotha and kurma (layered Indian bread with spicy vegetable curry) or strawberry shortcake, coffee icecream etc ...

Columbia River Gorge : A Waterfaller's Paradise

2nd to 5th July 2009

More pictures here :) More to come.

Being a cancerian I love water. I like the sound of it, I like the look of it though I rarely get into it. I can spend hours looking at the waves of ocean and listening to the music they create. Same with the waterfalls. The flowing water inspires me. It flows through all the obstacles, rocks, trees, mud or dirt. It finds its way through and in time carves everything the way it wants. I keep checking waterfalls pictures on the net which is my favorite passtime. Specifically waterfalls of North-West which are considerably easier to reach. What excited me was Columbia River Gorge in Northern Oregon. And Independence Day weekend was fast approaching and so :) When you have a destination and when you have a plan then you should not wait. Just do it ! That is my attitude :)

Multnomah Falls

From San Jose I took a flight to Portland. It was very hot. At rental car station an older sweet man asked me if I were a student. When I told him that I was there to visit the gorge he said "Dear, you have come on the hottest day!" At Safeway I did some groceries shopping for next 4 days. It felt little amusing, every employee of Safeway who came across me wished me "Good Morning" and smiled as if they knew me for some time. I am not saying Safeway-employees at Sunnyvale, Santa Clara are not friendly, but none have wished me a Good Morning :) And then I started driving to Colombia River Gorge. My first stop was at Bridal Veil falls. While looking around for the trailhead I started a short conversation with a senior lady. Every time when she referred me, she said "Honey" with a sweet concern, which made me feel so sweet !:)? With that I didn't feel that I was away from home and I was a foreigner !

Bridal Veil Falls

Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area is a stretch on the Historic Columbia River Highway and nearby are few State Parks, picnic areas and campgrounds. This highway is narrow and at the bridges it is very narrow. Few waterfalls are visible from the road and some need hiking steep uphill trails. On any trail, you will find several beautiful waterfalls or cascades every now and then. Hiking up to each waterfalls is so refreshing. Multnomah Falls is an Icon. It is the symbol of Columbia River Gorge. Anybody visits the gorge will atleast see this waterfalls and eat the fudge at the visitor center. On the other hand, there are much aloof and mysterious waterfalls like Metlako where you want to some how reach them. Punchbowl is as refreshing as a fruit punch on a hot summer day. On the trails I met people. One lady even hiked with me. Telling about the hikes to several waterfalls, how are the names of these waterfalls pronounced, where which bridge is broken, and some obscure stories where I just nodded without understanding, stories of her friends from Portland and so on ... She was surprised to know that I was alone by myself ... that came from California ... hiking and camping ... She asked me for tips and said she might try as well ... Yey ...

Wahclella Falls

To get good pictures I had to be there at waterfalls before Sun rose a bit high up the horizon. As these waterfalls are quite high sunlight could reach them early in the morning. My days started as early as 4:30AM. I camped at Memaloose State Park, which is a wonderful campground on the banks of Columbia River. Long evening walks along the river and watching the sunset in solitude was wonderful. Only problem with this campground was the distance from the gorge. Around 50 miles. I wandered around in the gorge area like a waterfalls maniac. I visited most of them. I may go back again for better pictures of few waterfalls.

Hike to Wahclella Falls was memorable. I started my hike at 6:00AM. It is a short 1 mile hike in the thick green forest. The trail runs all along the Tanner Creek. It was too early in the morning and I didn’t see any other car parked and realized the whole trail was reserved only for me. As I hiked I was experiencing the pure nature … cool refreshing morning air … welcoming music of the water … the leaves spluttered with the moving breeze … it sounded as if Ents were whispering “here we have company” … I stopped at places to inhale more and more of that fresh air … feeling greedy that I may not get this air once I was on Hwy-84 … The trail went a bit of downhill and the whole view opened up … there was the magnificent waterfalls … So big and so much of force … white surfing water … it looked like an elated angel … if there is any paradise then this place has to be part of it. Photographing this waterfalls wasn’t easy or I would say I didn’t get a good shot at all as this angel was throwing a big cloud of mist at me and my camera every second. I sat there soaking myself in that mist and enjoyed it the most. That was a spirit reviving feeling. Words can only say part of the experience :)

Tripple Falls

But, there are times where you feel a need for a buddy. I felt, once for a change, especially when I was about to wade into the Oneonta Gorge. In fact, I was so enthusiastic about this small adventure and had prepared a lot. I had heard at places the water would be waist high for an average American. So, I thought for me, who is short even in Indian standards it would be chest or neck high. So had a waterproof bag for my photo-gear. As I started to go towards the tunnel I heard paramedics and someone being rescued. I kind of got me off. Next day, again I went there. As I approached the gorge parking I saw paramedics already busy and another big ambulance coming with 2 van-full of officers. Ahhh!! what a luck ? I was on a trip, not on a survival contest that I had to win. At times the beloved milky, misty, romantic, cold water might turn into a cold hearted murderer. But, I will go again :) Already one semi-stranger (a flickr-buddy) has already promised to join me.

Hiking Eagle Creek historic trail was great. I went up to Punchbowl this time. Next time I will go up to Tunnel Falls. The front view of the Punchbowl Falls is mesmerizing. I was standing the stream feeling the water moving. It kind felt like a long unnamed unexplainable thing is sliding down from the cliff to reach me. The muted colors of the rocky bowl makes this waterfalls just wonderful. But everything has a price. In the excitement of shooting the waterfalls I dropped my polarizer into the water. Water level there was higher than knee level. Still I dipped my head completely with open eyes in the hope of finding it. I found it ! When I picked it upthere was only the ring my hand. So, I paid an expensive Hoya ... At Startvation Creek I paid the remote shutter release ... Quite an expensive trip huh ?

I drove over Mt. Hood Scnic byway. Magnificent Mt Hood stood so much dominated the landscape there. Granite partially covered in snow looked like devil hidden behind the haze. Last day before heading home I visited Oregon Gardens at Silverton. Huge garden with lots of flowers, yeah gardens are always full of flowers :) It was very sunny and the walk in the fields of daisies kind of got me headache.

Best part of the trip was over, then comes the time for misadventures. I was done with Oregon Gardens a bit earlier than I thought. Drove to Portland and had a great meal by then it was dark. I thought I might get an earlier flight so, returned the rental car without even checking. After standing in the long line to check-in I learned that no flight had a seat for me and I had to wait, wait at airport in the night. There were few more people like me so I thought it was okay, just for 3-4 hrs I don't have to hire a cab, and rent a motel room. I saw that couple, an Indian woman and a white man. They were going to Seattle. While the guy stared at the laptop screen the woman read a book. Don't know why they kept on changing their seats in the lounge. Every time the woman dragged all those heavy suitcases in 2-3 trips while the guy only carried his precious laptop. At last they dragged two more chairs to make sleeping arrangements. Looking at them few others too did the same and felt comfortable.

I might have dozed off ... I woke hearing some loud voices ... Walking on those cool, green shaded trails, getting drenched in the mist of those dreamy waterfalls, long evening walks along the Columbia river at sunset was over. The other reality of travel was here ... COPS !!! They asked all of us if were travelling that morning. They were checking if there were any jay-sleepers. They found two out of nine people though !! When I realized that all the people in there were not passengers I couldn't sleep.


I was sitting there at the airport lounge and was thinking ... My brother says I am addicted to travel. My Mother says I am destined to travel. My colleagues who know me less say that I am not married so I travel. My Father says do whatever you like :) So, why do people travel ? What makes a traveler different than a tourist ? Why do I get into some misadventures ? What is that between me and airport that always I have something to remember?! Then, I was at Gate 12. All I needed was 2 hrs of sleep. I looked around ... Monday morning ... almost all the passengers there were commuting executives may be ? In fresh, neat clothes. Fresh faces enjoying coffee and muffins while their eyes were stuck on those laptop screens. May be they were checking emails, or getting prepared for their presentations, or meeting agenda, a demo ? or just looking at their family pictures on slideshow ? I was the only one sleep deprived, in wrinkled clothes, dirty hair and hungry. Ahhh how much I needed sleep. I remember getting into the plane and the seat #8A and then was woken up by the air hostess at San Jose airport !

I inserted the key in the keyhole and turned it with intense happiness, I am home !! There is nothing like coming home :) back to that routine ...