Exploring Waterfall Ice in Ferry County Washington, Chiefs Hockey, ...

5am yesterday morning I was on the road headed north in the rather dense fog. It cleared up by the time I got past Deer Park and I had minimal traffic to deal with. On my way Art let me know he was sick and couldn't go so I just headed on anyways.

By 6:30 I was nearing the Kettle Crest and the only tracks on the road were from the plows doing their predawn passes.

Up and over the summit which the Kettle Crest Trail crosses. I have run the entire 43 mile trail in 2 sections and it is a wonderful trail for both summer and winter adventures.

Down the west side of the crest as the sun was lighting the sky.

South out of Republic I drove towards my goal and as I did I was astonished by the amount of ice I saw.

There were runs everywhere, and all different sizes and volumes.

2 hours after leaving the house I got to the trailhead for 13 mile creek and trail #23.

I got my pack on then snowshoes and began the hike up the trail. The creek was to my right and the trail was actually boot packable.

After about 1/3 of a mile I looked up to see it across the creek.

It took a bit to clamor my way down, across, then up to the base. I was very glad I had the snowshoes so I wasn't post holing.

25 mins after leaving the truck I was at the base of the ice.

hike up.JPG

I was rather annoyed that I hadn't stopped and picked up the ice screws from Art. There is no way to setup a top rope on the falls, at least safely or without gear. If I had the screws I would have been able to rope solo it.

So instead I had to make do with just climbing on the bottom 10 feet of the falls. I traversed back and forth and just tried to get the feel of the tools and crampons on the ice.

I decided to wander and see if there might be a ramp system that would lead to the tree for top roping but this is what I found as I tried.

It was a vertical wall with no ledges and this below.

I had a major battle with myself standing at the base. I know I could have soloed the waterfall, it's not really vertical more so just under, BUT I did not want to dive in head first for my first water ice, I'd prefer to be safe. I had to stop myself from climbing higher each time I got on the ice and it lit a fire for me to go back as soon as possible.

It took me 11 minutes to get back to the truck.

hike down.JPG

I was on the road headed for home before 9:30 and I headed north up the canyon and drooled over all the ice.

THIS IS INSANE! That is a curtain wall of ice! I am SO CURIOUS about it! It looks like it isn't anywhere near as strong as the waterfall but still super intriguing.

I stopped by Art's on my way for home to show him the pics and get him stoked for the moment he is feeling better we will go climb the falls.

I was bombing south for home and managed to get a bit of sunshine as I neared Chewy.

Just after noon I got back home, 7 hours after leaving in the morning.

It took a bit to unpack and sort stuff, dump pics and vids to computer, then the boys got home from school and the storm had moved in all around.

J took the opportunity to use the printer to make a puzzle game thing.

This is a SUPER common effect in our region. There are countless times that storms are inbound but we get this large bubble around the Spokane area cities that is like a force field to the rain and pushes it all around us. It took until after midnight for the rains to finally hit.

HOLY SHIT did the Chiefs kick ass. They were up 6-1 at the highest and the game ended 9-6. Spokane is going in to the playoffs in great shape.

Our local SWX channel played the Pizza Factory commercial which always makes me happy. I grew up in the town that the Pizza Factory started in the year I was born. The flavor created at the gates to Yosemite. They are now all over the west US.

Got out to soak but ended up in after half an hour or so as I was tired.

Woke to the rain this morning which will return for the next days and looks to make today a soggy mess. Man Utd are really aiming for relegation and they barely hung on for a tie this morning. I'm not sure what all I'll be doing today around the farm but there is plenty to do so I'll just have to pick something and go. Kraken play this afternoon for an earlier game thankfully.