Get Outside: Starting the Year at Abiqua Falls

Get Outside is a weekly dose of inspiration to get you off the couch and enjoying what nature has to offer.

New Year's Day I woke up before the sun did, picked up a good friend, and off we went to find one of the hardest waterfalls to get to in Oregon. Once we navigated the icy, narrow, and windy road to the parking area, our excitement raised a few levels as we were the first ones here. We hiked down the steep trail using frozen ropes that are left up all year to help get people down and back up the canyon. Reaching the basalt column amphitheater and seeing the falls is such an amazing feeling. As you get closer to the water you feel the magic of the place fill your soul and drain your body of all your worries. Everything was covered in about an inch of ice, including a rock cairn stack off to the side (Some people don't like them and get offended, I don't and think they are beautiful and represent peace and balance) I grabbed my GoPro Hero 3+, attached it to the GoPole tripod and set up this shot with the cairn stack lined up with the waterfall and low enough to the ground to show the frozen earth. After we climbed out, we headed up the road to the hidden trail that takes you to the top of the falls, but that's a different story.

Here's a little extra inspiration to get you out there...

Check out more of my adventure's here.