This was the first day, of an overnight camping trip to the North end of Lake Clark, aptly named Little Lake Clark.  It connects to the main Lake Clark by ways of a channel, which can be dangerous, but navigable by those that know the way. Our first stop was Cave Falls, which we made quick work of scaling and then descending. The view there was breathtaking, but bad rock formations kept us from attempting the rappel at that location. So we descended the trail with minds on fishing to come and other waterfalls to explore. Once back in the boat, lunch was broke, and water placed behind us, we arrived at a few fishing holes. Grayling, Lake Trout, and Dolly Varden graced not only our poles many times that night, but also our plates. However an oddity occurred upon that trip. Whilst skinning on of the aforementioned lake trout, inspection of the stomach revealed fat and claws, which combined became a porcupine foot. It was a strange sight to say the least. It must have been a good meal for the trout.

That night stories were told around the campfire, and rest for the weary was accomplished. We started the morning with French Press, healthy pancakes, and bear sausage. That got us going. Due to mixed priorities and scrambling skills, our group split, but we still managed to scale on of the very promising locations for the long awaited water fall rappel. It took quite the scouting process and adventure traverse to gain the top of the Water falling sight. But once we made it there, we jumped right into putting together gear and donning harnesses for safety and necessity. We used 6 cams and nuts to attach the main line to the wall, and wrapping a tree, so there was no possibility for failure. Safety first is a good saying any time.

  So as the story began, I was the first to test things out, and I was very pleased to be out there, not just that, but being on rocks, out there, which is a whole new level of enjoyment when you involve the created with the creation. It went smoothly, and as soon as  I touched the ground, I was scrambling to get back up on the rock, not only to continue the exhilaration, but also to reset the system for the following rappels. The two that were with me, Anna and Ryan were new to this as well, and although some experience was behind them, the magnitude of the event was daunting.  They both caught on quick and I believe have a new perspective on the whole rappelling + waterfall adventures. No one got hurt and we made it down safely, so that always equals a grand success in my book. Chock that one up for future adventures. Who said Canyoneering is only possible in warmer locations.

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Our destination was cave falls, which was 27 miles away as the crow flies, but since we were in a boat, it would end up being about an hour drive. Being within the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, there were no roads that connected us to the outside world, so it gave us almost unlimited accessibility to the endless lake front that beckoned for us to explore. The Cave falls are unique in the way that they are literally that, both a huge cavern of a cave and a waterfall that cascades down, over a hundred feet. It is nothing short of awe inspiring, and something that is hard to miss even when flying in, but to actually get up to it, to feel the powerful wind that is created mixed with mist, gives you so much more of a well rounded experience. The falls however are not on the same lake, but rather are on a smaller portion of Lake Clark, called Little Lake Clark, separated by a small channel which must be navigated with utmost care as not to get stuck in the endless sand flats that border the channel.

Since we were able to get going at a decent time in the morning, and thankful to the endless summer sun, we had plenty of time to stop for a short bit at the Kijik River, to replenish our food supply with fresh Grayling. They were so abundant that it did not take long for us to catch our fill for the overnight trip which was ahead of us. Back on the water again, we switched to following the right short line, heading North East up the Lake. We passed several streams, rivers, and valleys along the way, all of which were yearning for our attention, and would have quite a bit to offer, however, we had a mission to accomplish, so we pressed on, with  our bow loaded down with camping and climbing equipment. We were not only going on a sight seeing trip, but a hands on adventure. The further along we went, the more rugged the mountains began to get, which was a good sign.

Rounding the bend, we arrived at the change of water color, where the drainage of the river had dumped so much sand and silt that it had become a huge sandbar when the water level was low enough. We had to maneuver the channel, making slow progress due to the varying water depth and speed of flow that would push us back out of the channel if we didn’t keep our heads on straight. Thankfully we had a great team that kept every thing going smooth. Once out of the murky soot, we then got out into Little Lake Clark, and then we began to experience a whole new ecosystem. Deep aqua blue colors in the water, waterfalls cascading down huge rock faces. It all resembled the Fjords in Norway. Although the area was spectacular in itself, our destination was still waiting for us.

As we rounded the point, we could see it. A massive gaping hole in mountain side, with an enormous river of water that was suspended in mid air for quite some time, before crashing and falling upon the the enormous boulders that were piled up at the bottom. It was a gorgeous sight, even from a mile away. We were not content however to merely gaze from a distance, so we pointed the boat towards the overhanging greenery that outlined one of the creeks feeding the deep blue water. Pulling up to the shore edge, we jumped off, secured the boat well, with packs slung and hearts pumping, we set off for Cave Falls. The hike was uneventful, and it was not a difficult climb, but we had to watch out for the sharp and evil looking “Devils Club”, ( a broad leafed plant) which bordered our trail. to the base of the falls. The stream that we followed was boulder strewn, and created for a tranquil background noise to the already surreal environment that was surrounding our movement. Long before we reach the falls however, we could hear it. Nearing the edge of where the bushes ended and the green and mist began, our hearts skipped a few beats. But then we arose onto the small plateau and continued our gaze up, We found ourselves face to face with an incredible monster of a moving water. Over a hundred feet high, when the water hits the base of the pool, it becomes a wind tunnel, that shoots mist all over the area, causing it to be very green, and pleasant to spend time in.

The thunder that was being emitted from the waterfall seemed to be amplified by the huge cave behind. The feeling of serenity changed back to excitement. But it did not stop there. Then we began to ascend the left side of the water fall into the cavern behind as the mist began to surround us.

To be continued. Look for the rest of this adventure in Part 2 of To Walk Behind Waterfalls.

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It is odd the think that at 1 am in the morning, it can be light enough to see, let alone experience adventure with out the aid of artificial light. Well in Alaska it is possible! Having just past the summer solstice not long ago, on the 21st of June, the endless summer nights are still in full swing. Many people come to Alaska, and have to cover the windows, and wear shades on their eyes, just to catch a few z’s. But what I have found is that when you work hard, and enjoy the outdoors, it is quite easy to fall asleep, even under the sun, rather than the moon and stars. It is a very different concept for sure, but it is something that must be dealt with. And what better way to deal with it than to go on an adventure. And not just any adventure, but a climbing one!

Before this year I really had not done much consistent climbing, but after an extended stay in Idaho this spring, (check out adventure in Idaho here), and meeting a few people that were really into it, my already present desire for climbing began to grow. I was privileged to attend a few local climbing competitions, not to try and win, but to meet new people, and to learn more about the sport. I was able to do both, and grew a lot. One was a bouldering competition, and the other a top rope competition. Meaning one was without ropes, and one was with. If you ever get a chance to try out a competitive climbing event, I would strongly suggest it. Whether or not you are skilled enough, it puts you to the test, and really grows your climbing knowledge. And you get chances to get Schwag, i.e. free stuff. The climbing extended beyond the gym though, and I had the chance to climb with others outdoors, which is much better than indoor, so if you are able and want to try something new, jump on some real rocks. The feeling is phenomenal. However, make sure you are with really experienced people, with the right gear, because it can become a very serious situation, and more dangerous than in a gym with pads.

When I finally made it back home to Alaska, I still had the climbing itch in my fingers and feet, and it would not go away except with some use of both. So a few other hardy fellows and myself set out to find some climbable walls, cliffs and boulders in the Lake Clark region. The amount of rock and cliffs were in a large abundance, however, finding some with decent faces, and non-crumbly rock was another matter. We got lucky though, and the first cliff we found produced some great results. Although it was only some thirty feet high, it satisfied my craving, at least for a little while. We had several people in our party, and we even got some new climbers on a wall, and they learned the “ropes”. It was very rewarding to see others enjoying the sport, which is what its all about, sharing the experience with others.

The lack of a wide array of climbing spots and gear was limiting, but it did not keep us back. We stuck with top roping, and bouldering, which proved successful, on short walls that had a sufficient amount of solid rock. The best climbing outing came about on a trip with a different destination. It was a full day trip that took use 30 miles up the lake, to a gorgeous place called Little Lake Clark, home to the Cave Falls. It is a water fall that cascades over a hundred feet, into a roaring basin, that creates its own wind. All of which lies behind a huge cavern, that is large enough to climb into, and observe the water fall and the lake from within. (Look for a post about that amazing place, coming soon). Along the hike some granite boulders were observed, and proved to be sufficient for a short little send up its beautiful face. Then our destination became the inlet of the Lake, and we were surrounded by huge granite walls, with a beautiful sun above. The nearest wall was not the highest, but once again served to give us a few different routes. An easy 5.8, that most everyone was able to try a hand at, and then a 5.11 with a wicked overhang, that had less holds than was needed to accomplish the accent, for our slightly amateur skills. It proved a good challenge though, and filled our day with many hours of fore arm burning enjoyment.

Since then I have not been able to return to the granite cliffs, and unfortunately there are none closer than 20 miles by boat. But we have not forgotten the joy we had from climbing together, and I am looking forward to getting out again soon, and testing the arm and finger strength. Once again, the adventure had to be discovered, and I hope that you will get out there and discover yours.

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