Partially-Frozen Falls

Is it too early for my buddies to be out?

It was 23F when Becca and I went out this morning, and only a few degrees warmer when, with Dr. K, we set out for a trek on the Bridal Veil Falls Trail.  We shouldn't have been surprised considering the temperature, but we were astonished to find the falls frozen in many places, with icicles hanging from the cliff edges.  Some of the ice formations at the base of the falls were gorgeous, and I took a lot of photos there while Dr. K and Becca waited for me in the nearby ramada.  Altogether we spent two-and-a-half hours hiking in pleasantly sunny weather here in the Sacramento Mountains.

Old railroad trestle across the creek

Headed down for a crossing

Footbridge across the creek

Creek water

Manzanita growing alongside the creek

Trail marker :)

Becca headed down the Bridal Veil Falls Trail

I'm going with "Gray Vireo"

Gray Vireo

Pine with cone

Further down the trail

We're headed down to that gorge

Juniper country

About to make a steep descent

Softball-sized rock with a breccia-like crust

Getting close to the falls

We were surprised to find icicles at the falls

Frozen falls

Icy water

Small falls beneath the main falls

Quite a bit of ice in the water

A good portion of the falls was frozen

A step back to see how much was ice

Dripping water kept the center part unfrozen

The pool of water at the base of the falls

Ice stalagmites

More of the frozen icicles

Natural ice cubes in the water beneath the falls

Old homestead near the creek

Riparian woodland along the creek

White Sands

Commander waits at the side of Fresnal Canyon Road