Cliff Hanger

Jordan Creek - Skagit Co.

Aug. 25, 1969

Jordan Creek Falls © Ken James McLeod

"Gee, it's getting pretty dark, don't you think we should find somewhere to camp for the night?" my friend Greg said. "Though, this cliff we're on doesn't seem to have a likely spot for one!"

My friends, Greg Relf and Kit Winn were trapped with me in the dark on the cliff next to the huge falls on Jordan Creek. Now, it was too dark to go any further on our quest (4 day trip) and of reaching Jordan Lakes. We had made a huge mistake by starting our hike too late in the day and now we were going to have pay for that here on this damn cliff! It got darker and darken, then, we just sat down and made the best of it on a narrow ledge.

"Whose idea was this?" someone said.

The night pressed on, we sat on the ledge with sleeping bags around us for warmth, as there was no place to stretch out. Then, a bat swooped in upon us and tried to attack us or so we thought, and we entered the late night realm as if it were Halloween . . . nobody slept! No one could anyway with the roar of the falls rattling through our brains. What else could happen now? Then, came the rain . . .

We fought away the night and finally dawn whispered in. We gathered ourselves, shook off the dirt, and soon began our ascent up and over the hump to above the falls. Once there, we were able to hear again and the roar of the falls soon faded away as we made our way up the upper valley to the lakes.

It rained for the next four days, but that's another story . . .

KJM

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