When we last left our hiking heroes, they had just made their descent from the Esplanade and entered Surprise Valley, a rock strewn landscape with minimal plant life. Suddenly, upon another descent, they came upon a stand of regular trees:
Welcome to Thunder Falls (and Thunder River):
Thunder River - including Thunder Falls - is a 0.5 mile river that runs into Tapeats Creek. It was not "discovered" until 1904.
The falls themselves derive from Thunder Springs, the second largest spring on the North Rim. The falls and the river are a perennial flow. Estimates are 21,000,0000 gallons of water flow every day over the falls and downstream.
Given the landscape we just hiked through, one appreciates water like this all the more.
We spent well over an hour here, enjoying the coolness and the water. We met a group of day hikers that had come from a river rafting trip to see them as well; as it turns out they would be the last people that we saw for 2.5 days.
Seeing this water after the dry landscape we had been through, one comes to understand why people in arid climates wrote so passionately about springs and oases.
Lunch today was fruit punch and a chicken Caesar Salad:
As much of a self portrait as I do. The water felt great (54 F/12 C).
Somehow, the intensity of the waterfall matches the contrasting intensity of the landscape.
ReplyDeleteIt is very much a land of extremes, Leigh. Arid and lush almost side by side.
DeleteThose videos ( all seven!) show the power of falling/rushing water. Did a search on the Canyon and geologic uplift was also a major player there...huh.....so much for remembering that from geography classes at university. Good choices on these visual representations TB, helps to feel like "you are there!". Oh, BTW, forecast high 40 above today....:)
ReplyDeleteI am glad, Nylon12! What is the point of traveling if you cannot share it with people?
DeleteOne thing I am just realizing now is that some of the areas are named after the rock formations that exist there (Esplanade, Surprise).
Super glad the temperature is bearable again!
I didn't have the ability to take video 25 years ago but this is how it was flowing back then:
ReplyDeletehttps://freeimage.host/i/fcFefvj
Wow Ed! Looks very much the same, except the trees seem taller.
DeleteI think (judging from the angle) we came down around that point it looks like the picture is from. I can see it in my mind.
It has been so long, I don’t remember details of our hike but I suspect this was snapped on our way away from the falls as we made our way to Deer Creek. I remember standing near the cascades below much like your photos and videos above.
DeleteEd, did you hike along the river to Deer Creek or take an inland route? We hiked along the Colorado.
DeleteYou may have already gotten the answer if you saw my response to your last post but essentially we hiked from the Colorado up Tapeats Creek to Thunder River to Thunder Falls then up and over a pass into Surprise Valley and then down to the river again via Deer Creek. The boats dropped us off at Tapeats and picked us up at Deer Creek so I have never seen the Colorado River between those two drainages.
DeleteEd, you effectively did a 270 degree loop in reverse of what we did. So glad to know I still get to show you some new things!
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