|
Bear Creek is the first major tributary to the Baker River (though technically Lake Shannon at this point) which the Baker Lake Road crosses. The stream is quite unassuming at the bridge, but about a half mile downstream it begins a tumultuous tumble, dropping over four major waterfalls in a little over half a mile. The second waterfall, a loud cascading mess of water skipping down a wide incline of bedrock for a total of 106 vertical feet, is both the tallest and the most difficult to access. The cascades are plainly audible from the nearby user trail but cannot be seen at all and are only accessed by scrambling down muddy slopes and through thick brush comprised largely of all things thorny. This is most definitely not a waterfall to seek out unless you enjoy getting dirty, scratched, poked and generally abused by nature.
- Mesachie Falls is the Unnamed name of this waterfall.
Bear Creek appears to have been incorporated into no less than three hydro stations along its descent to Lake Shannon, all of which were likely in operation in the early years of the 20th century and were abandoned when the Lake Shannon Dam was completed in 1925. Because of the significant development in the area, there is a good possibility that this waterfall was named at one point, but any such supporting information has yet to surface. In the interim, the name Mesachie has been proposed by local waterfall hunter Aaron Young. Mesachie is a Chinook jargon word with seemingly dozens of meanings, but the general concept is of "bad spirits".
The waterfalls of Bear Creek are accessed from an abandoned road branching from the Baker Lake Road. Park at the second road branching right on the north side of the Bear Creek bridge, about 9 3/4 miles north of Highway 20. This road can be driven for a short distance in most vehicles but very quickly deteriorates into an undriveable surface, so it is advised to walk from the beginning. Follow the road for just over half a mile to its end at a meadow. A foot path picks up, crossing the aforementioned tributary stream on a rickety bridge and parallels Bear Creek on an old road bed for another 500 feet to the top of Laplash Falls. The "trail" heading downstream bears slightly right and downhill near the dam at the top of the falls, following further remnants of the roadbed downstream. Mesachie Falls are found about 1000 feet downstream of Laplash Falls. You will have to find your own way to the creek in order to see them, as spur paths are nonexistent.
|
