Sahalie Falls, Oregon

Sahalie Falls in all her splendor. This small microcosm under constant water spray is literally a 'rain forest'. The temperature plummets 10-15 degrees in the 100ft walk down the short stairs from the parking lot to this viewpoint.

Echoes From a Secret Valley. The crisp McKenzie falling down one lava shelf after another, her source shrouded in mist.

Icey Rush. The water is pure snow melt. Perhaps the only reason it is not ice is because it is moving so fast.

Edge of Delicacy. This little gems are perched right on the precipice of the rushing, ice-cold McKenzie just below Sahalie Falls.

White Water Chill. Numbing cold. Pounding rapids. Icy waterfalls. The McKenzie River plunging over one lava flow after another. This is Sahalie Falls in the Cascade mountain range east of Eugene, Oregon.

Water of Life. Color and Light swirl and dance, playing in the powerful and deep waters of the McKenzie River below Sahalie Falls.

Sahalie Stairfalls. The path next to the McKenzie River below Sahalie Falls is spotted with steps like these. I love staircases. Don't know why. Maybe it's something to do with exploring-- stairs imply motion to somewhere, something new, a different level perhaps.

No Obstacle Too Great. It seems there are a lot of things that get in the way of where we're going. There's a lesson to be learned by the river. Go around it. Go through it. If necessary, go over it. Time and persistence make all obstacles yield to the force of will. Go McKenzie! Did I just root for a river?

The Water of Life Calls. Roots know where to go to get life, don't they? Our roots do to. Our souls know where to go to get life, if we can be still in spirit long enough to just listen for a while. The Water of Life calls out to us, "Come drink of me and you will thirst no more."

Sahalie Falls - The Oregon Rainforest. Dense, vibrant vegetation thrives in the constant baptism of cool mist generated by the falls.

Island in the Stream A stalwart sentinel firmly stands its ground against the force of nature. More than a rock in the river, this stone has become the rock of life; ferns and moss flourishing on their island in the stream.

The Greater Wall. This mass of lava rock, stone and roots stands firm against the pounding, frigid waters of the McKenzie River below Sahalie Falls in the Oregon Cascades.

Edge of Delicacy II. Stone and white water are no match for Mother Nature's Delicacies.

Water Falls, Water Flows. Water falls over ancient lava flows to create the Sahalie Falls system nestled in an Oregon rain forest microcosm on the western edge of the Cascade Mountain range.