Kitsap Waterfall Survey: "Gold Creek Cascades"

Gold Creek is a tributary of the Tuhuya River, which drains the large, fault-created valley between Gold and Green Mountains in the Blue Hills. The creek begins in a series of small connected lakes and ponds, many of which are formed in part due to the heavy activity of the local beavers, which have created dams in several places. After flowing quietly from these lakes, the creek begins its descent down towards Lake Tahuya.

Within a half-mile of exiting its source, the creek has carved a large canyon through the thick glacial deposits here and into the gabbro and andesite/dacite dikes of the Blue Hills. At the head of this canyon is a small but charming set of cascades roughly 25 feet high, crashing over a series of gabbro outcrops and an andesite dike in eight or so drops; this is "Gold Creek Cascades."

"Gold Creek Cascades" in high water

The cascades are relatively easy to access from the Gold Creek Trailhead. From the trailhead, simply follow the trail towards Gold Creek until it joins an old logging road. Walk along the road for about 10 minutes until you hear audibly rushing water to your left. At this point start looking for a side trail branching off and heading down towards the creek. This trail goes down the steep side of the canyon, dropping down until you come to the base of the cascades.

After the cascades, the creek continues its journey through the canyon towards the lake without encountering another set of cascades like the beginning. However, it does trip over several more outcrops of bedrock, creating some delightful chattering rapids and bouncing drops not more than four or five feet high. Following several of these whitewater features, the creek quiets and meanders peacefully through the forest before emptying into the lake. 

Kitsap Waterfall Survey: "Stephenson Canyon Falls"

Located in the heart of East Bremerton is a small park encompassing a steep-walled defile carved into the glacial deposits and clay layers near the Port Washington Narrows. This is Stephenson Canyon. flowing through this canyon is small but quaint Stephenson Creek, which flows year round. Looking at topographic maps and google terrain imagery. I entertained the idea that somewhere along this canyon there might be a waterfall. I wasn't expecting a titanic 50-60 footer producing a jet like roar, but I entertained the possibility of maybe a small one ten to twenty feet tall or a pretty cascade, and my curiosity drove me on.

Shaded relief map from Google Maps showing the location of Stephenson Canyon in East Bremerton. 

One afternoon I drove down to the canyon, parked at the trailhead and began walking upstream along the creek. The gently rounded boulders and vegetated slopes soon gave way to hard blue clay shelves and carved notches. Once or twice I passed by some very tiny cascades maybe one to two feet high tumbling over more resistant clay outcrops. And soon the clay gave way completely to slippery bedrock, which suddenly rose out of the creek producing a delightful three-foot-tall cascade.

Three Foot Cascade. Photo by Micah Kipple

Pushing on around a couple more bends, the sound of hissing water made me look up, and there leaping off of a small ledge of rounded rock into a green-blue catch basin was a five-foot waterfall. A smile crossed my face as I stepped onto a nearby ledge on the creekside to get a better look. Then I saw the second tier. Almost hidden by a sharp turn in the creek, this tier slid down the shallow face of another basalt ledge another five to six feet, bringing this waterfall's total height to about 10 feet. I was ecstatic, while there were numerous signs I wasn't the first one here. I was still pleased I had found a waterfall, regardless of how small it was (Ok, if it was under four feet it would be pushing it), and smack in the middle of Bremerton no less.

The lower horsetail tier of Stephenson Canyon Falls. Photo by Micah Kipple

While these falls are beautiful, getting to them is somewhat of a chore, and they aren't as pretty as they could be. I'm going to make an effort to pick up trash while I'm there in the park, and I need to find a way to put this on the City of Bremerton's radar so maybe there can be an official volunteer effort to clear the area around the falls. That would be very nice indeed and would make this a destination to keep going back to.

A close up of the lower tier. Photo by Micah Kipple.

Both tiers of the falls. Photo by Micah Kipple. 

Fan and Mortar July 15, 2014

It was the 2nd River Vent Pause and I was riding at a even pace down to Fan and Mortar. It was day 5 since they last erupted and a considerable crowd had gathered. I parked my bike just as High and Gold came on and it quickly became apparent they were on for the long run. Angle Vent came on a few minutes later and the following events took place between three of my friends and I.

High Vent starts going steady trying to lock, droplets reaching halfway up the opposite bank from my perspective. Gold can't make up its mind.

Ryan's on the verge of psychological breakdown.

Demetri has his radio halfway to his mouth but has a face of "I have no idea doing".

A few minutes later I notice "chevrons"  becoming visible in High. Will starts flapping his arms like hes trying to take flight. "DEMETRI LOCKITLOCKITLOCKIT."

Demetri hesitates: "uuuhhhh, uuuhhh."

Ryan's excitement is about to hit critical.

Gold joins in and Fan is in full lock, I just about explode. "DANG IT DEMETRI! LOCK IT!"

Demetri calls lock, it lasts for 5 minutes, during which im running up and down the boardwalk screaming like a bafoon. Demetri's glued in place, Ryans shaking like a leaf. Will is wooping and staring from near Mortar.

Im standing next to Ryan, snap a picture of his idiot grin. 23 seconds later East Vent explodes without even a puff of steam to precede it. All hell breaks loose.

Fan's East Vent takes off! 

Will screams and dives off the boardwalk, racing to get in the splash zone, Demetri calls it like a nuclear strike just occured. Ryans just screaming, glued in place next to me. I snap another picture of his face (its his first F&M.)

Main Vent rockets upward, Will leaps into the deluge and embraces it like its the second coming of Christ. Ryan and i scatter towards the bridge. I don't know what Demetri's doing. We continue to cheer and watch F&M for the bext 30 minutes.

Unfortunately fan and mortar have not been as well behaved as we have hoped. They've erupted twice since the 15th eruption, and its been 5 days at the time of this writing. And just 30 seconds ago I got a message they're in an event cycle, will they go? We can hope!