FriHike: Two Waterfalls and Three Mines

 We had made it to, what I'm guessing is, the aptly named Hidden Falls and were tucking into our Clif bars (someone who shall remain unnamed having forgotten the sandwiches on the kitchen counter) when some pebbles splashed into the pool at the base of the falls. Tam didn't notice, but I did, and thought what the hell, is someone up there throwing rocks down at us? It bugged the heck out of me and, even though we were pocketed in this peaceful place off the beaten path, I kept looking up around the surrounding cliff tops. Soon enough we were heading back down the narrow side canyon, branching off the South Fork of Lytle Creek, a steep place visibly scarred by rock fall, scrambling over deadfall, and sliding down boulders. A few minutes passed before we heard a sharp crack, sounding for all the world like a gunshot from where we just were. The heck, I thought again. Another thirty seconds passed before another rumble and craaaaacckkkadoom split the silence. Holy crap, did we just miss being flattened by a rock slide back there or what? It was nuts!

So, this months' interlude turned out to be a little more unexpectedly exciting than either of us bargained for and, since it all worked out fine, I can say, cool! Admittedly the South Fork of Lytle Creek was not my first choice, but a morning traffic report warning of an overturned concrete mixing truck on the freeway put a nix on traveling to the west, and the search was on to find someplace a little closer. A quick scan of maps and review of some mining sources pinpointed a likely option - Lytle Creek has been a well-known gold mining area dating back to the 1800s, and the canyon we would be heading up had at least a couple waterfalls we could check out, in case locating any old mines proved to be elusive.

Even though a workday, there were quite a few cars at the roadside parking on this Friday morning and, after boulder hopping across Lytle Creek quite a few pairs and groups heading up the rocky wash of the lower portion of the south fork. I suspected that they were heading to the best known, closest, and easiest to get to of the falls - Bonita Falls, and decided to dodge around that traffic jam in favor of just wandering up canyon. I knew there was another fall somewhere, and a likelihood of old mines to discover. I was practicing my rock hopping, doing my best Jack be nimble, Jack be quick impersonation (and honestly, is there any better way to condition your reflexes, coordination and quick thinking than rock hopping?), when we veered away from the main canyon to follow up a little side canyon that seemed to hold a promise of interest.

The promise panned out quick enough, in the form of some large pines growing and birds chattering. There was no trail, so we never felt locked into one route, and our path zig-zagged ever forward, around some burned out dead fall here, through a boulder maze there. We passed a split in the mountains, a little hill separated from the bulk of the mountain, probably by an ancient water course of long ago. Had I looked at my map at this point I would have noticed a mining prospect in that gap. Ah well, something for the next time. Instead, I was focused on what appeared to be the box end of our little canyon. Reaching that end, my attention was drawn to a little graffiti left my some vandal named Pho, but even more curiously, an indistinct trail heading up an even smaller side canyon down which the sound of water could be heard. There was nothing to do but follow it. The walls of the canyon closed in, there were jagged rocks and splintered trees, other trees had great gashes in their sides, with the likely perpetrators lying cold and still nearby. We were really heading upward now, but it was no time to turn back, the sense of some success was palpable. And then, after scrambling up one especially slick-sided boulder, there was the first glimpse of Hidden Falls. Every few steps brought us a new view of the fall, until we reached the pool at its base and caught the spray coming off the top.

Turning back out, and resigned to the idea of not finding any mine(s), we got to the mouth of the canyon where I knew Bonita Fall was and, since there was no sign of large groups of people around, up another canyon we went. I gotta tell ya, for all the stunning drop that Bonita Fall is, it is simply overshadowed by the massive amounts of graffiti and trash, it was really disappointing. The kind of nonsense that people will commit in, what should be, a beautiful place is really disheartening. Anyway, while there I noticed the side trail heading upslope and sure enough there was the mine, just a small adit, likely an exploratory tunnel that never panned out. Next to that one were two others, one also short, the other I didn't go into because it required getting up a sheer rock face with no good hand or foot hold. Like the falls, the mines were covered in graffiti, both inside and out. Such a shame; some people are just never taught respect I guess. Nice place, but in dire need of some major clean-up.

Whether your weekend has adventure in it, or not, make it yours!

the crossing of Lytle Creek

hmmm, this little canyon looks likely

Hidden Falls

gnarly

the final, and longest drop, of Bonita Falls

adit #2

adit #3

seriously? someone couldn't think of a better way to express their love than by massively defacing public property?

well, the queen of clean up did her part, so I guess I forgive her forgetting the lunch

a rock-hopping wonderland...

then back across Lytle Creek