Deception Falls

Saturday we laid low, spent a good part of the day sitting in front of the RV looking down on the Icicle River, stared out at the wilderness.  Lovely day.  Yesterday, even though the threat of rain was 70%, the sky looked fine, so we drove westbound on Route 2, through the Tumwater Canyon, towards Stevens Pass.  Our goal was to drive an auto tour that stated looked promising, driving west bound on Route 2 towards Stevens Pass.  However, due to the fires last year, 4 of the 7 stops were closed, so decided to continue westbound to go to Stevens Pass and then about 5 miles beyond the pass to Deception Falls.

The start up Tumwater Canyon

At Stevens Pass where ski resort is

I think the Cascade Loop Route 20 is a prettier drive over the Cascade Mountains.  Route 2 was such a gradual incline, passing in and out of small little towns, you never got the sense you were in the wilderness, or even climbing up over the Cascades.  Railroad tracks criss crossed along the route, somewhere near you, you could see trestles passing over rivers along the roadway.  Evidence of past wildfires was common, not pretty.

Wheel chair accessible to main falls

Can walk under Route 2 to see main part of falls

Stonework was lovely

After viewing falls, started on the nature walk

Pretty cool bridge

Got to Stevens Pass, a very active ski resort in the winter time, the national Pacific Crest Trail crosses at this resort, lots of cars stopped - there were hiking trails in the area.  Misty valleys due to past rain, had hard time seeing the mountains.  Found Deception Falls, and by that time there was a light rain.  We thought to go ahead and walk the nature trail.  This area is where in 1893 the Great Northern railroad drove it's last spike to connect east to west, linking Minnesota with Washington.  There is a 7 mile snow shed somewhere up the road, we did not venture that far, maybe another day.

So much moss, reminded us of the Pacific Northwest Rainforest

Saw 2 teenage boys jumping into river, was cold out!

The moss was amazing

So many waterfalls within this area

The walk felt like we were in the rain forest of the Pacific Northwest.  Lots of moss, lichen covering trees and the ground.  Sometimes the trees looked like monsters, so covered.  This trail had a number of waterfalls, the main one is located right underneath Route 2.  A bridge was built so you could walk under the road and see the main falls on the other side.  Water crystal clear.  Roared.

The Tye River takes a dramatic 90 degree turn - weird to see

Just turns right

And then the river just meanders gently around the corner

This stump, see the notch where it was wedged to cut down in 1893, had a
tree growing on top of it.  Considered a nursery tree. 

By the time we finished the hike rain was coming down more steady but luckily the canopy of the trees protected us.  A little tricky going back up over the pass with lots of rain falling.  We got back to the camp sight and within an hour got a lovely thunderstorm.  Just echoed through the canyon.  Then the fog rolled in.  We were socked in this morning but cleared by noon.

Raining pretty good coming back over the pass

Still snow in the mountains