Lower Gorge Redux
After soaking in the scene at Henline Falls, we began the first of three vertical "canyon crawls" that we knew lay ahead of us. The traverse around Henline Falls begins as a deceivingly moderate boot path, but soon deteriorates into a steep scramble through a narrow gap in the cliffs that surround the falls. Below, Ted and Greg dodge falling rocks kicked loose by the photographer...
Soon the goat path levels off and curves above the cliffs, providing an impressive view across the huge amphitheater that contains Henline Falls (below) and the valley of the Little North Fork, in the far distance.
Continuing upstream, we passed the top of Henline Falls, then began working our way up the steep creek bed. It was clear that a significant washout had occurred since our last visit, clearing debris in some spots, but triggering slides along the canyon walls that dropped new debris across the creek. Greg navigates one of many new downfalls encountered along this stretch, below.
The somewhat more open creek bed allowed us to quickly navigate this portion of the route, and soon we could see Jerry Falls - the first of Maynard's discoveries - plunging from the cliffs ahead...
