[Elvis]

Arrived at the office Tuesday morning and was surprised to find the power was out due to a misdirected automobile incident. Since it wasn't expected to be back on for at least 3 hours I took the opportunity to visit the Lake Whatcom Trail. This trail begins at a Whatcom County Park and follows the east side of Lake Whatcom, along an old railroad route, IIRC. I originally heard about this trail from a book by Ken Wilcox: Hiking Whatcom County. <<Edit: Website here, part of the North Lake Whatcom Park, this trail is also known as the Hertz Trail.>> This was my second visit out here, but the first visit was right about a year ago, on a lunch break. My sources told me there was a pleasant waterfall a ways down the trail, so that was my objective. It turns out the waterfall is about a mile from the TH. There is an easy to "follow" side trail to get you closer to the bottom of the falls, but it's a real 'veggie belay' to climb up the steep hill to the top. Might be considered a cliff, but not quite, IMO. The falls are split into a couple tiers, but what I found very interesting was the minor trickle off to the left. This seems to be coming out from the rock face... possibly a tunnel carved through the rock. It's source was overgrown and I wasn't dressed in a manner that would let me get up close and personal with it.

Falls 1

Falls 2

Water From Stone

Additionally, I enjoyed the green ferns reaching outward on the cliff above me, the tree growing down the cliff and into a crack in the rock plates and a naturally carved rock in the midst of the falls that seems to take different shapes the longer you look at it.

Ferns Above Reaching for Light

Tree in Rock

Falls 3 with Rock face: Cougar, Seal or Labrador?

My other sources tell me there are some other enjoyable places to enjoy in the area, but I'll have to save those for another day. Trail is very flat, very wide, very stable. Encountered a few other walkers, joggers, dogs and took a lot of pictures.

Trailside view

Looking South along Eastern Shore Lk Whatcom

Shoe Shot

Looking West over Lk Whatcom

Wildlife on Lk Whatcom

Very pleasant, quiet and scenic. I'm looking forward to opportunities to further explore the area. ~E

[drcormac]

Elvis, where do you work? At my job, we were also sent home because of the accident up on Lincoln St, that knocked out the power.

[Hiker Mama]

Those are the cleanest, dressiest shoes we've seen in the shoe shot gallery!

[Elvis]

drcormac - I work off Iowa Street. PM sent. Hiker Mama... I almost brought separate shoes with me to work that day to wear for a walk during lunch, but decided against it. Was glad I had the camera at least.

[Sabahsboy]

Nice shoes, great falls! Go back on a nicer sky day and get more shots! The lake looks like placid. Name change for Whatcom? Elvis...you could weigh in on that! Maybe the historic name is "ok".

[MLHSN]

I must admit, I get a little jealous sometimes when I see snowfree trails on the westside reports during the winter. Snowshoeing has a lot of pluses but I find myself dying to fly up a trail in tennis shoes or boots sometimes. I also like many of the ferns and other vegetation on the east side of the rainshadow. Again, the dryer climate of the east can be nice but a change in vegetation is wonderful every now and then. Nice pics

[yew]