Switzer Falls with the Nystroms

A long time ago Aaron, Torrey, Katie and I had planned to do some sort of hike together on Saturday. We ended up going back to Switzer Falls, along with Aaron's two sisters Shelley and Shannon. This time we explored the creek farther down, and found some really good pools, including one with a natural slide.

If you haven't seen them already, I also posted some photos from our last trip to Switzer Falls (look partway down the page).

Looking up at the many Alder trees.
Excitement over a butterfly!
Of course, Aaron and I were always in the back, taking photos.
Torrey balances on a log
Practicing the acorn whistle
The trail follows the canyon of the creek most of the time. In some places there isn't a trail and you just hike through the creek.
This was one of the best pools, with a natural water slide which you can see at the top where the water flows in. The rock is quite smooth, and is partially moss-covered, so it's perfect for sliding down into the pool (either feet first, or headfirst).
Katie found this dragonfly emerging from the larvae (nymph) stage, so we spent a while watching the process.
Everyone crowded around the dragonfly, rooting for it to dry off and fly away.
Making progress....
The event took a traumatic turn when an ant came up and bit the dragonfly's leg, causing him to lurch, and fall back into the water below the rock he was on. There was a gasp from the onlookers, and we quickly rescued him. Amazingly, the ant was still holding on when we got him back up onto the rock. We took care of the ant straight away, but the damage was done; one leg was broken, and he was bleeding green stuff. He did manage to fly away later (or get eaten), since he was gone on our way back.
water strider
Aaron wanted a more interesting camera angle
Running to catch up.
Aaron taught me a cool trick he had just read about to get this nice star effect - use a small aperture, and let part of the sun show through from behind whatever is blocking it. (No photoshop or filters were harmed).
Yay! Group shot. I got to use my cool C-clamp-with-a-tripod-mount thingy for this (no real tripod was harmed).
Filtering clean water
Katie swimming below the main switzer falls
A newt.
Shannon
Shelley
Aaron
We saw a decent-sized rattlesnake on the trail on the way back.
yucca bloom
Katie saw this photo opp in the parking lot later that evening.

Recent photo comments

This was one of the best pools, with a natural water slide which you can see at the top where the water flows in. The rock is quite smooth, and is partially moss-covered, so it's perfect for sliding down into the pool (either feet first, or headfirst).

Katie: but what you can't see in this photo is how high the slide goes - probably twice as high as what is visible in the sunlight. it was so awesome!!

(anonymous): I have been to Switzer falls where is this waterfall with a pool?

Suzanna: I have been there to Switzers fall wright by the picnic tables and I walk by the stream I did not see any waterfall with a pool.

Daniel: To get to this pool, you have to hike down toward the main waterfall, but instead of taking the trail up to the falls, you continue down the creek downstream. It's a ways beyond the falls.

caity: so you can actually go down this like a waterfall??

A newt.

Matthew: ... I got better...

Katie found this dragonfly emerging from the larvae (nymph) stage, so we spent a while watching the process.

Matthew: That's really cool!

Katie: he looks like he just took a nosedive

Aaron wanted a more interesting camera angle

Katie: he totally looks like he just bounced straight up into the air about 15 feet! =)

water strider

Katie: wow

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