Water Falling Over Things 2010: Part IV (Introducing...)

[regnaD kciN]

...a "brand new" waterfall! (If one can consider "brand new" a fall that tens of thousands of people drive past every year, that is.)

Last Thursday, I was driving to Mount Rainier to try to get some images of the mountain in autumn. On the way down, I was taking State Route 123 over Cayuse Pass. As you drive through the forest, there are a number of gaps in the foliage along the east side of the route, which is built along the base of a Rainier foothill. Most of these gaps are just for creeks (running or dry) or rockslides, but occasionally, you'll see a small waterfall along the side of the road, nestled in one of those gaps. For example, last year, I "discovered" a fall that turned out to be Zigzag Falls (which I covered in this post). But I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the real waterfalls (as opposed to the slanted-creeks-that-kind-of-look-like-waterfalls) along 123. Therefore, it was a surprise when I turned to look in one of those gaps about a mile and a half past Cayuse, and saw a 15-to-20-foot "real" waterfall that I had never noticed before. Fortunately, there was a pullout nearby, so I was able to stop the car and get a photo of this new discovery.

Upon returning home, I checked, and found this fall listed in neither the Waterfall Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest nor the Waterfalls Northwest database, the two most-reliable sources for waterfall information up here. I contacted Bryan Swan, the owner of Waterfalls Northwest, with a description and photo of the fall. I got back his reply last night -- this is definitely a waterfall he himself had found, and named, while hiking through the area, but one that wasn't in his database yet -- it was due to be added in the next few months, once he could get a photo of it himself. Interestingly, he says that the portion visible from the road is only the lowest part of the fall, and that it actually continues up the hillside quite a distance, so the height might be in the hundred-plus foot range rather than the smaller size I guessed.

At any rate, since this waterfall has apparently never appeared in any reference source yet, I hereby present to you Seymour Peak Falls:



I hope to get back there when Cayuse reopens next spring, when the water should be running a lot higher. Maybe I'll be able to find a vantage point to get the entire fall, instead of just the lowest levels seen here.

[NV Whino]

1. What an exciting find!

And a great photo to document it. I can't believe the fall is full spate could garner a bette photo.

[Mira]

2. Love it totally. The light tipped greens are spectacular.

The divided fall which then re-connects is beautifully lit!
Hugely gorgeous.
It's calendar ready.

[maheanuu]

3. Really great work all the way around!

Being an ex Pac Norwester, I have this fond attachment to Cascades also.

Here on Raiatea, we only have waterfalls when it is raining on the mountains. We're just too small to have large reserves of water high up in the mountains and without the altitude to capture snow, well the evidence is obvious...

Bravo Zulu for your "discovery" and also for the kindness in presenting it to us. I will be waiting to see more of this beauty in here.

I will post one of our "sometimes" falls that I took during a rain squall here and as I am making a Road trip today I will try to post a couple of more if I can manage to get close enough to shoot and if the high altitude rains continue.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. Great shot!

Thanks for sharing it. :bounce:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. What an incredible shot!

I think waterfalls are about the most beautiful things I've seen on this earth.

I love my breaking waves, but waterfalls are just so stunning.....and this waterfall is tops!

I would be proud to have a print of this.

Thank you!

It is just a great find.