A Return To Harper Falls - Part 2

We'd just arrived at Harper Falls, a magnificent cascade on the Grasse river, and I decided to continue on up the trail to the top of the falls. We passed a lot of interesting mushrooms along the way. This group had caps the color of leather and stems which were mottled like giant slugs:

These were the color of freshly baked bread - or perhaps slightly toasted marshmallows:

We arrived at the top of the falls but, due to my bad ankles and painful, awkward gait, I was unable to get close enough for any good pictures. The dogs watched me try and then erupted with joy when I decided to retrace our steps down the trail to the base of the falls again:

When we arrived at the base of the falls, I noticed this very large mushroom, the color of butterscotch:

Fergus was a very good boy and smiled most of the way:

At that point, there was nothing left to do but begin returning to our car. So off we went:

When we arrived at the stream which still showed the effects of the Hurricane Sandy flooding, the dogs ran right into the water to cool off and get a drink:

It was a peaceful scene and my dogs were very happy:

This beautiful mushroom was, I think, a white Chanterelle. They are supposed to be edible, but my identification skills are nonexistent and I would never, never try eating one:

We were nearing the trail head when I spotted this cluster of apples at the edge of the trail. I looked around for the apple tree which had produced them and found none. Then I remembered being told that some people leave small clusters of apples in the forest for "the little people." I figured that someone considered this forest to be of a charmed or magical type. Given the beauty I saw all around me, I was good with that:

And the variety of large, colorful mushrooms certainly added to the magical forest designation. This cluster of pink and brown parasols was just past the apples:

We passed back over the little bridge, returned to our car and the dogs hopped back in with as much enthusiasm as they'd showed jumping out when we arrived. Dogs are always happy to go on an adventure:

A Return To Harper Falls - Part 1

The weather forecast was for a hot, sunny afternoon and I'd been working pretty hard around the farm. Deciding to take a break, I loaded the dogs into the car and headed down to the town of Russell, along the Grasse (AKA Grass) River, to find Harper Falls. I pulled into the empty trail head and let the dogs out:

The trail began as an easy walk, just fine for my problematic ankles. The only problem was keeping the dogs from running too far ahead. They were full of energy and enthusiasm:

They wouldn't stay close, so I made do by calling them back when they got too far ahead. Little Daphne thought it was a fun game, and all the extra running just added to her joy:

We crossed a little bridge over a tiny stream. There was a rocky cliff to the right of the bridge, over which a torrential waterfall must cascade during the snow melt. But this time of year, it was just a trickle:

Hurry up, Dad, we want to run more:

The next stream had no bridge and, in fact, I saw lots of evidence of flooding and figured it must be from Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Clover and Daphne stopped for a cooling drink and a little bit of splashing:

Fergus and Seamus joined them:

And then we continued on our way through a hardwood forest:

It was a short hike and before long I heard the roar of a waterfall. We all quickened our pace:

As soon as Harper Falls appeared, I realized that I had, indeed, been there before. Clover ran down to the rocky shoreline:

I was having a lot of trouble negotiating the sharp, slippery rocks, but the two Papillons considered it great fun:

Seamus and Fergus were intimated by the rocks and wanted to stay where it was safe. The Papillons joined them and watched me struggling to get back across the sharp rocks and up the bank. I decided next to continue on the trail to the top of the falls, but I'll post about that tomorrow:

Chapter Four - Harper Falls

The forest was lovely, the weather pleasant and the dogs happy as we hiked our way back to the Harper Falls trail head:

Fergus led the charge as the youngsters raced along the trail:

But I stopped him long enough for a photo on a big, mossy rock:

I had happy dogs running both ways, exploring the forest and having a generally good time:

I love this shot of Fergus and Madeline sailing over a log. Notice Fergus' ears in the air like wings:

As we neared the trail head, I told the dogs to stay closer and slow down. I gave them a few refresher lessons on the meaning of "heal." They're quite good at it unless a dog or person appears on the trail up ahead. Then all their training goes to hell in a hand basket:

We crossed back over the big, uncovered culvert:

And past lovely little streams:

Madeline chugged along with her head down, reminding me very much of a little locomotive:

Seamus watched as Madeline chugged down the trail:

And Daphne looked so very earnest:

But very soon we arrived at the car. This had been a long and tiring day. I knew I'd sleep well and I also knew the next day would be another busy one for me:

Chapter Three - Harper Falls

We'd seen Harper Falls from both top and bottom, though there was no place to see the whole thing at once. Perhaps later in the year when the water level is down, one might find a rock at the bottom of the falls on which to stand and get a good view. But for now, we were headed back downhill to rejoin the trail at the base of the falls:

When we arrived at the bottom, the dogs surprised and pleased me by waiting and watching to see where I'd lead them. This was a welcome change from their common exuberant "running full speed ahead without thinking" modus operandi:

And so we began happily hiking back through the forest toward our parked car:

Seamus had slowed down by then and mostly stayed by me as the smaller dogs ran ahead:

Daphne passed beneath a fallen tree:

Followed by Fergus and the rest of us:

Little Madeline posed and smiled for the camera. What a ham!:

Clover had climbed up the log and jumped off at the upper end. Sheesh! Don't these Papillons ever run out of energy?:

But the trail was comfortable, the woods pleasant and the dogs happy:

Someone long ago had laid down a corduroy road of logs where the trail became boggy and we happily made use of it - except for Fergus, who very much enjoyed sloshing through the mud:

We crossed back over several small streams:

And every crossing became another occasion to play and act silly. Soon we would be back at the car and on our way back to the farm house, but for the time being we had more trail to hike:

Chapter Two - Harper Falls

We were on our way along the trail to Harper Falls, and doing so with great excitement. Little Madeline ran joyfully back and forth on the trail:

We crossed several small streams:

And I could hear the roar of the falls up ahead:

It was a perfect, happy day:

There were many lovely Yellow Birch trees along the trail:

Our pace quickened as the roar of the falls grew louder. I'd never seen these falls and wondered if I should put the dogs on a leash. I didn't do it, though, because I'd read the trail would take us to the base of the falls, not to the top:

And there it was, the base of the falls. From the mighty sound it made, I was sure there had to be more to it than I could see up ahead:

Indeed the falls turned out to be extensive, but they cascaded down in steps and the entire falls were not visible from one place. So I just enjoyed the parts I could see:

Then we climbed up the hill alongside the falls, seeing and hearing the churning waters on our right as we made our way uphill:

I put the dogs on leashes when we reached the top lest they fall in. That would be certain death. But the overwhelming power of the roaring water was awe inspiring. It looks almost flat in these pictures, but one certainly would not survive going down these falls:

A short video taken at the top of the falls. You won't see the dogs because they were on leashes at my feet. I didn't want them playing near that roaring water:


I let the dogs off their leashes after we turned away from the falls and Daphne and Clover once again became "The Silly Sisters" as they raced together up a hill, wrestling as they ran:

Then we rested and began our descent back to the trail. But I'll post more tomorrow: