Salmon River Gorge
1963 Naming Expedition
Frustration Falls 

      
 This spectacular 55
      foot falls is located immediately above Final Falls, and is the
      second of six named falls in the Salmon River Gorge. It is aptly
      named for the difficulty in reaching the falls. Here, the Salmon
      River enters a narrow, vertical gorge, where cliffs on either
      side of the river rise hundreds of feet. This rare photo of the
      falls shows the stair steps that make up this rugged cataract.
      The logs scattered across the falls are huge, old growth trees
      that give mute testimony to the violent power of the Salem River
      during high water.


      
This
      photo was somehow taken from a point directly opposite the falls,
      from what - by all appearances - is a vertical, 200 foot cliff.
      I was unable to locate a route to this spot in a 1983 expedition
      to the lower group of falls. Frustration Falls can be seen from
      cliffs high
      above the gorge, yet the precarious scramble to the viewpoint
      has also claimed the life of at least one hiker who ventured
      too close to the dangerous cliffs.

  

 These photos are courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service, 
and may not be reproduced or used without photo credit