Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lodge

I'm still in denial that summer ended. I come from the land of endless summers. There is a point where summer actually ends. Signs start with the changing color of the leaves with an initial burst of color. This is only a precursor. Then a time of blandness and dull colors mark many of the trees and shrubs. A storm came along sending leaves and pine needles to the ground. Now a second wave of color has arrived, about twice the brilliance as the first. I mentioned to Wendy that the trees were starting to change a shade every day. They've now changed to a more vibrant mix of red, yellow, purple, and orange. The leaves left on the trees are equal to the number that has fallen to the ground and remain pasted there by the wet weather.

Fitting is the term Fall because temperatures have fallen like the leaves and the rain. Much rain has poured out of that sky in the last week. Another precursor? And temps are in the 40's. With every passing day I add a layer of clothing when I take walks. I'm trying to walk daily.

When Wendy and Pa were here we did modest day trips with plenty of time left to relax at home. For our second trip we headed east. East, as opposed to west, is rural in every sense of the word. Seattle is but ten miles away yet the scenery changes to farms, barns, rivers, and small towns. Despite taking a wrong turn, we arrived at Snoqualmie Falls in a matter of minutes.

The falls are wide and full with a drop of 270 feet. It's located at the foothills of the Northern Cascades. The terrain has steep cliffs and thick forests. It feels like you're much higher in elevation. We park just a short distance from the viewing platform. There's a gift shop, picnic area, and the Salish Lodge at the top of the falls.

Below ground is a hydroelectric plant. You'd never know it was there if you didn't know what to look for. Constructed in the 1890's, the original generators are still at work.

Entering the Salish Lodge is like walking into the Awhanee or some other standout hotel of the woods. The Salish has class and a view to match. At the finer of the two restaurants, Pa spotted a table with a view that was getting cleaned up. He claimed it immediately and we sat down for an excellent lunch. We had coffee served to us with a special tray of cream, chocolate bits, and white and brown sugar. This impressed Pa. The hotel, gift shop, service, and excellent surroundings charmed Pa. Needless to say, Wendy and I were happy to see Pa enjoying himself. Their stay got better and better by the day.