Oh man. I was almost killed by a doughnut on my last hike. Or stupidity. I haven’t decided which. Okay, I know deep down it was the stupidity. The doughnut was just waiting there patiently to TAKE. ME. DOWN.
But let’s rewind to the beginning.
Doughnut Falls. (wait, did you think I meant a real doughnut? Not while this flabby-gutted blogger still jiggles in the wind). This…
…is Doughnut Falls.
This summer Fabulous Wendy and I are finding new hikes nearly every weekend to places one or both of us have never been (which is easy for me since I’ve always enjoyed sitting in an air-conditioned house eating corn dogs over ever joining people when they went hiking). Thanks to the incredible Wasatch Mountains that surround us, along with the aftermath of a few keystrokes into Google, we found “one of Salt Lake City’s most popular hikes”… Doughnut Falls.
It was an easier hike. Only about a mile each way from the trail head and not very steep at all, but an image search hooked me on the need to go see it. Basically, it was a place up one of the big canyons here in Utah where the entire river flows through a hole in the top of a cave (the doughnut).
When we got there, we didn’t realize that due to a recent avalanche, we’d have to hike up the river, over giant boulders, and over many other dastardly obstacles to actually see Doughnut Falls close-up. This was our view at the end of the trail…
If you look up at the very tippity-top there, you’ll see the falls spilling down into the doughnut hole.
Well, not to be outdone by a bunch of random people who were already starting to scale the river and the rocks, we decided to hoof it up the river as well.
Now, I feel like this is a good place to tell you that I wasn’t expecting anything like this, so instead of anything grippy or hike-worthy at all, I wore a pair of Etnies shoes (cool, but not made for tough terrain). There was pretty much NO traction on the things.
We somehow made our way to the bottom of the falls (a place that only about 30% of the hikers were making it to), and I snapped a quick photo of Fabulous Wendy and of the falls…
It was spectacular, and very much worth soaking our shoes in the river for. But, it wasn’t enough. Not for this crazy blogger. I wanted a picture from above, looking down into the doughnut. I wanted a perspective that I hadn’t really seen before in my image searches.
And this is where I got stupid.
Like, really stupid.
Like stupider than just about anything stupid you could think of.
And, unfortunately, I don’t have photos of this stupidity because a) I had stashed my camera into my backpack so that I wouldn’t ruin it, and b) because (as you are about to understand), I had no way to pull my camera out again.
But up I went. Scaling the slipper wet rock for my chance of the photo of a lifetime.
Now, to help you understand just what happened next, let me see if I can use a few photographs with funny doodles on them to get your brain connecting to the story…
Okay. Remember this picture?
Now, allow me to show you the path I took trying to get the shot that I wanted.
And then… right as I got to that part with the last X, I was stuck. Now, perhaps this doesn’t look super difficult, but let me draw a little person on there so that you can see about how big I was compared to these falls.
You see that teeny tiny person there? That would have been me. At that point I had crawled down over a ledge, and couldn’t go back the way I came. Moving forward seemed like certain death. And the only thing I had was a 1″ lip on the rock below me, which was hanging precariously over this giant doughnut. ONE. LITTLE. SLIP. and I would have fallen in.
Only, it wouldn’t have looked like such a beautiful swan dive. It would have been more of a dramatic display of human head smashing on rock, breaking backs, and probably drowning.
Needless to say, I was scared. Wendy stood above me terrified as she watched my body shake in its effort to hold on. I kept glancing at the gaping hole below me, trying to decide how I should fall in to possibly survive. I was very close to throwing my camera bag and monopod into the hole to lighten my load. I looked back to where I came. There was no way. I looked forward to where I could go. There was one, even tinier lip.
I said a silent prayer and kicked off of the ledge I was on, hoping to land solidly on the next one. I couldn’t believe that I was still standing on that rock when I opened my eyes again. I then found another ledge. And another.
And, before I knew it I was safe.
But, then I quickly forgot what a miracle it was, and I looked down once again. The hole had moved from my view and I wouldn’t be able to get a photo of it. So, I did something stupid. Very stupid. REALLY stupid. And I decided to cross the river right above the hole to get a photo of that damned doughnut hole. And I did. And I got stuck on the other side.
And when I wiggled across the cliff face toward the hole, my heart sank. The view of the hole was completely obscured from that angle. And so, realizing that I’d risked my own life horribly and ridiculously for nothing, I wriggled my way back and once again crossed the river.
In Etnies.
I’m an idiot.
Once back across, thank goodness there was another way down that was a tad bit safer.
I took a few photos from above (cool, but not the angle I was hoping for)…
And this one, which showed just how high we were…
Now, I understand that when taking photos like this, it’s difficult to see depth. Let’s try it this way. Did you notice these guys in the photo?
Yeah, probably not. They’re so tiny they kind of disappeared. But they’re real people. Want proof?
Anyway, enough trying to prove that I’m some kind of tough-guy idiot. I hiked back down to the cave part of the falls.
I took a few photos from below…
But I wanted to be in the cave. So, I did. And it was waste-deep. And it was ice-cold. And it was splashing my camera like crazy. But I got some great shots.
Of course, Wendy (besides the part when I was about to be sucked into the Doughnut) was getting a kick out of watching my stupidity, all in the name of some pictures. She snapped a few of her own with her iPhone.
When all was said and done, it was amazing. Spectacular. Wondrous even. To see an entire river pouring through a hole in a rock and down into a cave was something else. I’d recommend the hike to anybody, even if all you do is stand at the base of the avalanche and look from a distance.
Oh, and I know a lot of you are experiencing severe drought this year. Utah is the opposite. We’re experiencing moisture like we haven’t seen in a long, long time. This river, apparently, is usually more of a fast stream. The cave often has ample walking room around the perimeter. Just not this year. If you want to get in there, you’re gonna have to get wet. Really, really wet.
Just don’t do what I did. Any of it.
Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
PS. I’d love to hear your comments on today’s post and also your stories. When have you done something that seemed fine to begin with but suddenly became horribly dangerous?
PPS. I’m planning to take my family here next month some time, so hopefully I’ll have learned my lesson. I’ll also be doing it in the winter because apparently it’s breathtaking when surrounded by ice.
ahh photographers...we really are a different breed! ...just prepare better next time, scope your walk online via other walkers blogs etc (especially walker photographers/artists) usually they are trying to get the same views as you that you can learn so much from their idiot mistakes, be ready with proper boots and get your angles!
That is something I would do as my boyfriend stood at the bottom going REALLY? YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA? as he climbed up to save the day and we both get stuck ... We are the KING AND QUEEN of You thought that was a good idea? Ideas
what a story! Great pics. Glad you didn't get hurt!
~ Super scary! However, the photos you took are so beautiful ... as always!
A friend of mine (and I) do this far too often. Made me smile.
You are such a funny guy...great story of your adventure to the doughnut :) Loved the pictures too!
The quote is perfect for this post! We took a hike this weekend too, nothing liek this one. Great photos!
i would rather just call them life lessons like everyone else....
fits today perfectly!
I've done a few stupid things like that... My grave stone is going to say "Whoops!"
Love it and glad you are safe. Now I want to go back to Utah even more. Maybe you and the Fabulous Wendy can be our tour guides when we get back.
Oh, Dan! You make me miss Utah so much!
~ Super scary! However, the photos you took are so beautiful ... as always!
I have to say that the great pictures and the entertainment value made your terror and stupidity well worth it!
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I've always been the fun-ruiner who says, "that's not safe--don't go there--if you slip you'll die--I''m calling 911 right now..." My husband, fortunately, got his adventurous nature dealt with before we married: he's taken a dogsled trip in the Arctic Circle (he broke rib and was nearly left for dead when his team kept running after dumping him in a frozen river); a camel trek through the Australian desert; a sailing trip in the Virgin Islands; and gotten stuck in a guano-covered tube cave in Australia that emptied out over a hundred foot drop and you had to jump from the tube to the rock on the other side, about five feet away.
The only thing I've done that was adventurous was raft the Grand Canyon in 2006--on IV nutrition and tube feeding. I'm only 39, but my health is a bit fragile--and despite my advanced osteoporosis, dependence on IV nutrition, and severe sleep disorder, we're going again in 2013. Wanna join us? It's a j-rig pontoon raft, great food and service, six days on the river with side hikes and the fastest rapids in North America and a helicopter ride out--they provide everything... Let me know so I can get you on the list!
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@Jenn I did not know that you could get vertigo from just reading about something; but that guano-covered tube cave made me want to curl up in a ball and cry with terror. I actually got the stomach-flippy thing and just the teeniest bit of dizziness. I seriously would have died if I were there. Shudder. That said, way to go on the river adventures. Sounds like you're kicking osteoporosis butt. :-)
The photos are amazing! Glad you were able to get some great shots and live to share them! Thank you.
Dan, as your older sister I'm required to call you an idiot and demand that you never do something like that again. I'm glad you're alive! Love you!
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Great Photos, Glad you're safe. Thanks for sharing!!!
Wow! I'm glad you didn't get hurt! That was pretty harrowing! I have to say, though, the photos are gorgeous!!
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Oh wow, I'm glad you did die! But, if I may say so, those pictures were worth it! That's absolutely amazing.
Crazy, but funny!! Glad you guys made it home safe. I bet the rain we had here the other night really helped :) We are visiting Utah, & are only a few miles from there, & the Timp cave. My question is how cold was that water?!?!?! We just hiked Bridal Veil Falls, & while crossing the river up by the falls barefoot my feet were in pain it was so cold. I had a jacket on because I had been there before, & know the mist is COLD. What I did not anticipate is being blinded by my hairspray that was pouring into my eyes so I ended up getting so close that the falls were pouring on my head. I have never gotten a brain freeze from water on my head until that incident the other day....serious brain freeze.
what a story! Great pics. Glad you didn't get hurt!
Amazing, I have now added this waterfall to my list of must see these waterfalls before I die.
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I've been really wanting to do this hike. I'm glad you got pictures from above and shared this story because that's probably something I would have tried. Now I don't have to. :)
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okay Wendy gets bravery points and you get the lesson from a real hiker to a novice...NEVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT YOUR BOOTS!! grippy boots at best....oh yes and...you are an idiot....cool photos....but silly man stay safe!!
I thought you meant an actual doughnut! I see what you did there! lol.
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You are such a funny guy...great story of your adventure to the doughnut :) Loved the pictures too!
Wow- those pictures are stunning! And i vote Wendy gets a special prize for not hurting you herself for givng her a heart attack.
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I love doughnut falls! I've wanted to try climbing up to the above part but have always been too chicken. Now I know that's probably a good thing. :) Last time I went there wasn't much water standing in it so it was easy to take some fun pictures looking up.
I was once attacked by bats in a cave in the middle of Nowhere, Ethiopia. Okay, well maybe not really "attacked" I suppose it was more like a fly by... but at the time, I was convinced I was going to die a slow, painful death by bats, unable to get to the nearest hospital hundreds of miles away.
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THAT IS DEDICATION (and a little craziness) to get a good picture. You make me laugh. Your pictures are stunning, the story of how you got them in hilarious....good stuff! Thanks for sharing.
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A friend of mine (and I) do this far too often. Made me smile.
When my husband (a true Real Dad!) tells stories like this to our kids, I make SURE he prefaces it by saying, "Don't EVER do this!"
LOVE the pics and reading about your misadventures! Sounds like something I'd do.
OH, that reminds me of the time I got stuck in a stair well, in my nursing bra & panties... yeah not a pretty sight! My husband was out of town on a mission and I was determined to move the twin bed out of my 2 month old's nursery. The stair well went down about 7 steps and then there was a small landing before decending 7 more steps in the opposite direction to the bottom. Well I got stuck on the landing pinned against the wall by the bed and I was really STUCK! I kept thinking how embarassed I'd be if I had to call for help & be rescued in my undies. =( I eventually wiggled out with only a few scrapes & bruises. I try to wear clothes when I move furniture now! ;)
We were living in Colorado Springs when I was almost 9 mos pregnant with my 2nd son when we decided to go on a nature walk. There we were my ex, our 3 yr old, our dog, and me very pregnant. No big deal, right? Not until we start up this hill called "Pulpit Rock " and figure out the other side is more likehiking down a mountain than the intended nature walk. Probably wonder why we didn't go back the way we came? We had started down the other side before seeing how steep it was and being as pregnant as I was I couldn't get back up the hill. Lol Down was the only way to go. Yep stupid was the word of the day
Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures and not getting hurt while doing so. The only thing I did seriously stupid without a thought "brain matter" in my head. Was skinny dipping in the wintertime. Yeah, head first dive, which took me further out and not even after two-three strokes, my whole body went numb and was heavier feeling to even move.
The quote is perfect for this post! We took a hike this weekend too, nothing liek this one. Great photos!
Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures and not getting hurt while doing so. The only thing I did seriously stupid without a thought "brain matter" in my head. Was skinny dipping in the wintertime. Yeah, head first dive, which took me further out and not even after two-three strokes, my whole body went numb and was heavier feeling to even move.
Yeah... that will NEVER happen again! lol
fits today perfectly!
Waste-deep makes it sound like you were spelunking in a sewer :P
I'm in dusty brown drought land, your pics are beautiful!
i would rather just call them life lessons like everyone else....
I do sooo many things during our adventures that seem great until I have to get back. 1) climbed up several ledges until I realized there was no way to get back down with certain death. Had to shuffle down a narrow opening (back against one side, legs and arms against the other and shimmy down) 2) Climbed a boulder and couldn't get down. Had to slid off. Ended up rolling when I hit the ground until a tree stopped my movement 3) Took an abandoned, tied-up dog to a stream to get water. Stepped on a piece of ground that was washed out. Leg went in, I went sideways. Grabbed a root so my head wouldn't be under the fast moving water and yelled for help b/c I could not get upright.
*sigh* Those are only the most recent. I'm keen on doing things like that.
I have read your blog forever and can't believe I never realized you're from Utah! great pics and I'm glad you didn't hurt yourself!
I've done a few stupid things like that... My grave stone is going to say "Whoops!"
you are completely nuts. Beautiful pics though
Wow, Dan! I see why you wanted to get pictures of it. The pictures you did get are beautiful and breath-taking...especially the one you led the post off with. I've never heard of these falls (though I don't hang out with hikers often so maybe that's why) and now I don't have to make myself do physical exercise to see them. You did it for me! ;)
I can't recall a time I put myself in danger like that...I'm kinda a 'fraidy-cat person so I wouldn't ever try. But I enjoyed reading about yours. Only because I knew you came out of it okay since you were writing about it!
How 127 Hours of you, without the whole cutting your own arm of part, of course. :)
Julie
ilikebeerandbabies.com
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Beautiful! You are so lucky to live near so many natural wonders! And also lucky they didn't take you OUT!
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