<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4NY6Q8_0wNvLFGv00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4NY6Q8_0wNvLFGv00" width="600" height="450" ></figure><p>Three of us started from the trailhead around 8:20 for a lovely rainy hike to both falls. Both my hiking partners had a tracking app and both of their data conflicted with the WTA and AllTrails data. Who to believe? I'm going with 9.2 miles and 1200' ...because that's what the Mountaineers listings say! We went first to Big Creek Falls and then, as the rain picked up, headed to Otter Falls for an early picnic.</p><p>This was a scouting trip for a pre-Thanksgiving outing I'll be leading in a few weeks, and I learned that my rain shell is no longer waterproof. Fortunately, I have another that will do for winter. I used gaiters over my Keens and my feet remained dry the whole hike despite a steady drizzle. I was prepared with a down coat, extra gloves, hats, and socks but we didn't need any of them. Nice to have experienced hikers along. My phone, however, sucked battery power in the cold, so I'll have to do something about that. Great opportunity to test my gear for upcoming wet, cold winter trips.</p><p>Most other hikers on the trail had dogs with them, making me miss my own at home. One person was coming out with an overnight pack. Maybe 15-18 people on the day? There were a surprising number of cars (8-9) already in the lot for a rainy Saturday in late October, when I arrived after my hiking partners, and as I drove out around 1 p.m. most of the trailheads along the Middle Fork had cars in them. I visited both the Otter Falls trailhead latrine and the one at Oxbow Lake and both were fully stocked and clean.</p><p>We saw two downy woodpeckers and heard some golden-crowned kinglets but with all the stream, rain, and conversation noise we didn't hear a lot of birds. Some chipmunks. Still a lot of mushrooms, and some cool mossy rocks for photo ops including the one attached. All in all a lovely outing. </p></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Day Hike - Taylor River: Big Creek Falls and Otter Falls

Three of us started from the trailhead around 8:20 for a lovely rainy hike to both falls. Both my hiking partners had a tracking app and both of their data conflicted with the WTA and AllTrails data. Who to believe? I'm going with 9.2 miles and 1200' ...because that's what the Mountaineers listings say! We went first to Big Creek Falls and then, as the rain picked up, headed to Otter Falls for an early picnic.