Today’s hike was on the Twin Falls Trail just a bit east of North Bend off off Interstate 90. Twin Falls is on the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, upstream from the world famous Snoqualmie Falls. Twin Falls is smaller that it’s larger brother downstream, but equally impressive in terms of the sheer force and power of the water. There is a foot ridge that crosses right in front of the falls (see pictures below) and you get a more intimate appreciation of the waterfall’s strength than you do at Snoqualmie Falls.
I didn’t carpool today since I needed to go straight from the hike to Cheryl’s class picnic at Lake Sammamish. I met my fellow hikers at the trail head, and it was good to see everyone and share our fund raising successes of the past week, and thoughts about the hike that lie ahead. The rain starting coming down pretty hard just about 8:00 AM so we decided it was best to hit the trail quickly.
This trail was a bit more challenging than last weeks, not only because it was longer with more elevation gain, but because of the rain. The rain made for some slippery stretches on the trail but I didn’t see or hear of anyone slipping or falling. Several hikers brought their trekking poles with them, and found them to be very helpful, especially when going up and down the steeper parts of the trail, and negotiating switchbacks. I must get myself a pair of poles! (My knees voiced their approval of that idea!) The falls were about a mile into the hike and we went down a long set of stairs to get down to the viewing platform directly in front of them. Further down the trail was a footbridge that crossed the river, and the views both upstream and down were spectacular! I was especially impressed by the engineering that went into construction and placement of this bridge. The two wooden beams that seat the bridge were lifted in by helicopter.
Twin Falls Trail is about two miles in length and we stopped where it met the John Wayne Pioneer Trail for a snack break. We then decided that rather than turn back and return to the trail head, we would forge on for another mile or so up this trail to an abandoned train depot named Ragnar. This trail follows the former roadbed of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad two-thirds of the way across Washington, from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the border with Idaho. Along the way there are markers indicating the mileage to/from each of those cities. Being as it follows the roadbed, it was wide with little slope, so it was easy walking. After a brief rest stop at Ragnar, we turned around and trekked back down both trails to the parking lot.
On the return trip we passed several white-water kayakers who were headed up the trail with their kayaks, presumably to attempt a suicide run down the river. Yikes!! I don’t know that I’d be brave enough to attempt any kind of trip down the river given how fast and strong the water was running. But, different strokes for different folks, eh?!
Back in the parking lot, Craig told us that in just over three hours we had covered 6-1/2 miles with a total elevation gain of 1300 feet! Sweet!! Not bad for a second hike in my opinion! Next week there is no hike, but a “gear clinic” at the REI store in Seattle.
Thanks again to all who have donated and thanks for visiting this site. If you haven’t donated yet, please consider doing so – every donation counts and is so important! Don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know you were here!
Hiking on for the cause,
Ron
