Whispering Cave

Saturday
After a breakfast of pancakes and mixed berries, enjoyed out on the deck, we set off for a morning hiking. In the last year, the park has opened two new trails, or more precisely one new trail, Hemlock Bridge trail, with a spur off it to a huge recess cave, Whispering Cave, shown in my blip. The trail started at the parking lot by the Dining Lodge which unfortunately burned down last December. The trail connects to others in the area, so we extended the hike further along the gorge, before returning to the cabin for lunch.
After lunch we explored the Cantwell Cliffs area. In the northern reaches of the park, and about ten miles away, it isn't quite as popular as Old Mans Cave area, which is near the state park cabins and campground. The erosion caused by Buck Run accounts for the deep valley, steep cliffs and rock shelter under the cliff. Approaching the rock shelter, the trail winds its way through narrow passageways caused by large slump blocks that have fallen away from the main cliff, one of them aptly named Fat Woman's Squeeze! By this time, we decided we'd done enough hiking for the day, and returned to the cabin to relax for a few hours before going out to dinner to celebrate Roger's birthday, which is actually tomorrow. I sat and enjoyed my cup of tea on the deck, watching the hummingbirds at the feeder, and then relaxed in one of the hammocks, reading my book. Dinner was at the Inn at Cedar Falls, where we have stayed on a previous occasion to celebrate my birthday, and thoroughly enjoyed the food. We rounded off the day with another soak in the hot tub, star-gazing and watching fireflies flitting among the trees.
One year ago: "Magic mirror"