McCloud River Falls

"We're going camping this weekend. I found this spot..."

If you know me at all, you know those words like gospel to my ears. When "this spot" happens to be in California, the lure gets downright hypnotic.

Just south of the Oregon/California border is... well... THIS:

 

 

...and that imposing sight over there on the horizon?

That's Mount Shasta.

How about a closer look:

 

 

I was quite taken with the mountain.

But this isn't even what we came for.

 

We settled into a nearby campground for the weekend. There were campfires and s'mores, permission for our chainsaw-wielding firefighter to chop our own firewood, Cards Against Humanity with some new friends from the lot next door, a tiny tent, and nights of sleeping outside under the stars. It was absolutely perfect, and a weekend worthy of it's own cover shot:

 

But that still wasn't what we were here for.

 

Behold, the pièce de résistance!

McCloud River Falls, near the city of Mount Shasta, California in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

 

 

There are actually three waterfalls.

The easy-to-access hiking trail winds along the river, past the first, smaller falls where, on this day, a large number of people were splashing and jumping in the water. We made our way past the crowd along the trail with two quick stops to remove a fishing hook from my shorts *cough* I told you so! *cough* and repair an injured toe with crazy-glue from the first-aid kit.

 

 

We didn't even make it to the third falls.

Once you see the second one, you really feel like you don't need to go anywhere else.

Ever.

 

 

The water was absolutely FREEZING, but the day was hot and once we got past the shock, there was no keeping us out.

 

At one point, there was a woman climbing a path along the side of the cliff to the  side of the falls itself and jumping off. Not ones to miss out on any way of potentially paralyzing themselves for a thrill, the boys made their way to the jump point as well.

 

You can see them here off to the left of the top of the falls.

 

Can't see them? There they are waving. What a bunch of hams!

 

Yeah, they jumped.

A few times.

I did not.

There are pictures and a video.

And now, at the bottom of what we've since been told is about 35 feet of water just under where they were sitting, after a few failed rescue missions, is a brand new GoPro camera.

DOH!

 

 

She wanted to be a mermaid on the rocks. :)

 

 

Supervising the GoPro rescue attempts:

 

 

and soaking up the rays:

I felt like I was in a truly tropical wonderland, like somehow I had hiked onto the set of Fern Gully or something from Lord of the Rings. There is nothing I enjoy more than being introduced to new corners of the world by people who love to explore and soak up life for all it's worth.

 

And I've found them.

I may truly be the luckiest girl in the world.