INCH Hike: Five Finger Falls

382. Five Finger Falls (03/27/04)

Hikers (19): Blinky, Bunny, Cal, Carissa, David, Elaine, Eugene, Glen, Gwynneth, Judy, Kevin T, Mozhdeh, Nancy, Rick, Ross, Russ, Steve, Sue, Tammy
Distance: 14 miles
Rating: 3 difficulty, 9 beauty
Park info: Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos

Write-up by Blinky -- Pictures by Steve

This is the route we were supposed to take, but only Ross and Steve faithfully followed it (and were literally "up the creek" for quite a while).

Beth tells her story in the form of a modern haiku:

I II III
starting the day
in the intel parking lot
eleven, ready.
in the big brown
scooby doo van we drove
over 17.
in line for outhouse
some of us milling around
parking lot.
I over hear Steve say
fractured and people get lost
prophet.
1-2-3 INCH we yell
and the hike is on, walk into
the forest.
those aren't roots
beneath my feet, they are
rail ties.
trains came in
and took away trees
long ago.
creek hopping
rock to rock needing
those poles.
then there's a sign
commemorating the event
earthquake.
further evidence found
in trails sliding down hillside
shaky footing.
did the train bridges
fall down with age or from
shaking?
snaking back front
came back to find us, stop,
why?

trail goes nothing
but up and up and up
up more.
what is it to be
intrepid and leading daring us
off trail.
we all went down
down to the water into
the creek.
one jumped in
wet to the knees and
laughing.
one slipped and
bashed gashed his leg
bloody ouch.
two fleet of foot
skipped like stones ahead
left us.
all but two
went up the big hill
anyway.
sharp eyed man
points to snake and she
gathers.
same man later
runs down, too quick and
ankle pain.
stopping by
a wood on a mossy
afternoon.
tall trees stand
hushed and watchful
green.
shutterbugs that see
so much more than me
beauty.
waterfalls and logs
welcome us to rest and
eat much.

soon its time
again to get going
hiking.
where are you
I'm lost I hear the
shouting.
Staying behind
because I saw where
they went.
Now there are
four together in the
forest.
We fall far back
behind all the others
slower.
Arrow guide us
we get tired and ask
how long.
Oh not all that
far from now we will
go wrong.
Last arrow moved
intuition gets ignored
now lost.
Three boys on bikes
shed light as forest canopy
turns dark.
We four turn back
from where we came a mile
no panic.
Back at that spot
out come the flashlight
and map.
Steve finds us there
happy to be found, led out by
blue light.

I	II	III
starting the day in the intel parking lot eleven, ready. in the big brown scooby doo van we drove over 17. in line for outhouse some of us milling around parking lot. I over hear Steve say fractured and people get lost prophet. 1-2-3 INCH we yell and the hike is on, walk into the forest. those aren't roots beneath my feet, they are rail ties. trains came in and took away trees long ago. creek hopping rock to rock needing those poles. then there's a sign commemorating the event earthquake. further evidence found in trails sliding down hillside shaky footing. did the train bridges fall down with age or from shaking? snaking back front came back to find us, stop, why?	trail goes nothing but up and up and up up more. what is it to be intrepid and leading daring us off trail. we all went down down to the water into the creek. one jumped in wet to the knees and laughing. one slipped and bashed gashed his leg bloody ouch. two fleet of foot skipped like stones ahead left us. all but two went up the big hill anyway. sharp eyed man points to snake and she gathers. same man later runs down, too quick and ankle pain. stopping by a wood on a mossy afternoon. tall trees stand hushed and watchful green. shutterbugs that see so much more than me beauty. waterfalls and logs welcome us to rest and eat much.	soon its time again to get going hiking. where are you I'm lost I hear the shouting. Staying behind because I saw where they went. Now there are four together in the forest. We fall far back behind all the others slower. Arrow guide us we get tired and ask how long. Oh not all that far from now we will go wrong. Last arrow moved intuition gets ignored now lost. Three boys on bikes shed light as forest canopy turns dark. We four turn back from where we came a mile no panic. Back at that spot out come the flashlight and map. Steve finds us there happy to be found, led out by blue light.

Five-finger Falls Five finger lunch

Milestones:
Nancy's 30^th leaf