Hike: The North West Inner Eye

Hike: Snoqualmie Falls Viewpoint (WA)
Shared by Arlene

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Today’s hike was more of a long walk, but it achieved our basic goal, which was to get us back in the habit of bundling up and getting our bodies out of the house and moving.. Given our holiday hiatus, rainy (snowy) weather, and the last stages of a cold for one of us, we chose a trail easy on our bodies and path-finding skills.

Near the town of Fall City, there is a trailhead for the paved path to the Snoqualmie Falls Viewpoint. By adding a little extra distance on our return, we were able to get a four mile walk. The trail was nearly flat and even, although we did have to contend with black ice on the pavement, which meant looking down at our feet more than we would have wanted.

We walked through wooded areas (with a few reminders of civilization close by) and quickly got to our destination – a viewpoint for Snoqualmie Falls. We hoped that with all the rain this winter, we would see a gushing waterfall. The impressive waterfall drops 268’ (100’ more than Niagara Falls), and there is much legend surrounding this powerful force of nature (e.g. the mists from the falls are thought to connect Heaven and Earth).

As we approached the viewpoint, we could hear the roar of the water, but as we turned to the viewpoint, we could see nothing but white fog.

We could see where others could sit and enjoy the view (on a clear day), but none of the openings had anything but the white, misty blankness.

As we were drinking our water, a woman who had been power walking on the trail, turned off, looked out at the view, and said, “You have to see it today with your imagination.”

As she strode off, I realized that, in the Northwest, with its moist winters, where we feel like we live inside a cloud for 3-4 months, we have learned to see with our imagination, our inner eyes. I know I have a view of Mt Baker from my back yard (although it is a rare day I actually see it). I know where Mt Rainier is from particular spots while driving on I-5 and I-90. I am aware that the Olympic Mountains are snow-covered jewels, although I will probably only see them a handful of times between now and March.

So, with our well developed inner eyes (and possibly through a mist-ical Heavenly connection), we were able to see Snoqualmie Falls today.