Walking the Gorge Trail

Exploring Buttermilk Falls involves a steep ascent through many layers of Devonian shale and sandstone that have eroded for thousands of years under the relentless progress of water. It’s a lovely climb, but first, you take stock from the ground, where you’re greeted by a welcoming pool sporting an unnecessary warning not to jump in. (It’s too chilly even to be tempted.)

You take note of things like reflections on calm water, and the lazy drift of fallen leaves.

Then you start to climb. A humanly-constructed stone staircase ascends next to the natural staircase of the falls.

It’s short but steep, and you welcome the chance to stop for a bit, turning back to survey the view from a new elevation.

You can’t really see it yet, but from a little higher up you’ll discover a large mall with a Home Depot just beyond those trees at the bottom.

As I look, I remember a family photo experiment in the grass of that park when our daughters were young. We set up a tripod with a camera that shot a series of pictures as we dashed toward it, trying to look ominous but succeeding mostly in looking goofy and disorganized. So many walks trigger memories! The landscape bears an intimate record of our activities — not just the bad stuff, like dumping chemical waste or garbage, but good stuff from the times we spend together.

Turning to look across the stream, you note the daredevils: trees crowding to the edge of a cliff that will only ever crumble.

What comes next? The ascent is nowhere near completed. I’ll share more in the next post.