This week is all about finding a waterfall. We are betting this won’t be difficult unless you are presently meandering in a region without a source of water. For those of you who have yet to partake of Niagara Falls perhaps it’s time to take a journey west. The first time I experienced Niagara Falls as a young child I was mesmerized. And with each subsequent visit, I have done my best to get as close as possible to the surging power of the falls either by walking under the falls or traveling near the falls by boat.
Then there’s the Hanakapi’ai Falls on the Kalalau Trail on the island of Kauai. Though it’s not easy to get to and one must be prepared to hike four miles in and out, the reward for doing so is magnificent as is the swimming. A note of caution, however; this part of Kauai experienced significant flooding last year and now that the Kalalau Trail has reopened there are more stringent permitting and parking requirements for day and overnight hikers.
For those of us here in Vermont enjoying the dog days of summer, fear not; there are waterfalls aplenty to be discovered according to Rodrick Pingree. In 2014, Pingree self-published a book entitled Rodrick’s Guide to Vermont Waterfalls, Cascades and Gorges. If you are a waterfall hunter this guidebook is a must. It is user friendly and for each identified waterfall, Pingree listed the vertical drops, the width of the river, the distance and most importantly how to find the falls with or without GPS coordinates. In my neck of the woods, the Mad River Valley, there are several waterfalls calling my name. In fact over the weekend, I visited three for the first time; Warren Falls, Stetson Falls and the Sugarbush Access Falls. Oh, by the way, the biggest waterfall in Vermont is in Troy on the Mississquoi River and is aptly named, Big Falls.
So what is it, that piques our interest in visiting waterfalls? I am entranced by the sounds of the rushing water. But perhaps the desire to seek out a waterfall is much deeper than the sights and sounds alone. Some people lament that waterfalls make them happy. According to Pierce J. Howard, author of The Owner’s Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research, waterfalls do have the ability to bring us happiness and here’s why. Waterfalls are one giant ion generator – the vitamins in the watery air give off negative ions, which we take in as positive energy. Once the negative ions reach our bloodstream, they are said to increase our bodies’ production of serotonin, the chemical responsible for relieving stress and depression, and for boosting our energy and happiness.“High concentrations of negative ions are essential for high energy and positive mood,” Howard reports. “The best ratios of negative to positive ions are associated with waterfalls and the time before, during and after storms.”
George Ellison, a naturalist and a writer has a different theory about why people are fascinated with waterfalls. He says that waterfalls activate all five senses and likens the experience of standing at the base of a waterfall to walking into a bakery. A yummy treat without any calories.
Many moons ago, John Muir said “As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing.” We wish you lots of positive vibes as you find your way to a favorite waterfall or discover a new one. And if you want a good chuckle, here’s a quote from Ellen DeGeneres I found somewhat fitting for this week’s challenge. “Romance often begins by a splashing waterfall and ends over a leaky sink.” I wish you many romantic waterfalls and no leaky sinks.
See you on the PATH Ahead,
Shevonne, Gillian, Ashley and Amy