Lower Snoqualmie Falls

Another Maive outing. This time to Lower Snoqualmie Falls. Surprisingly, I had never been. I mean, I’ve been to the Falls several times. Usually checking out the view after brunch at Salish Lodge. Haha, the last time I went to Salish Lodge was when I was pregnant with Maive. A friend and I went for brunch and massages, and I’m still laughing at our experience.

Brunch was fine; it’s always good. The spa though. It’s a beautiful spa. Expectations were high because, well, Salish Lodge. This isn’t Massage Envy or a walk-in massage parlor. This is a fancy schmancy place made even more apparent with the prices. We changed and stored our stuff in a locker, and then we waited in the tranquility room. I’m not sure what they call it but I imagine it’s something like tranquility room. Most spas have this kind of waiting area. Complete with calming music, drinks (water or more), water fountains for that peaceful tricking noise, dim lights… the whole deal. We were in there waiting for our massage therapists and we were quietly talking about how nice it’ll be to get a good massage.

Her therapist came in to call her back and mine came a few minutes later. I lied about being pregnant because this was my fifth, I know how being pregnant works with any kind of body services. I’d hide my belly while getting pedicures as long as I could during each pregnancy, because all those theories about massaging pressure points on feet can cause early labor. But when I could no longer hide my belly, the massage part of pedicures was basically a leg petting session for about one minute compared to a decently pressured massage for nearly 10 minutes. I was barely two months along at the time of the Salish massage. Anyway, the massage was awful. It was an hour-long session where the lady basically rubbed me as if she were wiping crumbs off of a table. At first I figured she was just starting with this style and that it’d get better. Nope! Funnily enough, she’d ask me if the pressure was okay. I’d say she could go harder but she didn’t. It became comical. Then I questioned if maybe I did mark that I was pregnant. Pretty sure I didn’t.

The previous massage I had at Salish years prior, the massage was great. But at the end, the therapist put a metal bowl on my stomach as I was lying face-up, and then proceeded to bang it with a drumstick (with a soft head), and started humming and chanting. I hadn’t signed up for any special massage, so this was unexpected. I did all that I could to hide my smile and keep in my laughter, which was difficult lying face-up. I mean, it was cool and all if you’re into that—or if you’re expecting that—but neither applied to me.

After my crumby massage (haha), my therapist directed me back to the tranquility room. I waited for my friend to appear, and when she did, she had a huge smile on her face. I asked if her massage was good hence the smile; it had to have been better than mine. Nope! She also had the crumb wiping massage. Here we sat in the quiet, peaceful tranquility room, dying of laughter because of our massages. That was a fun day. I haven’t been back to Salish Lodge for a massage since. Although, I’d go again because why not? It’d be fun to see what a third massage there would entail.

All of that has nothing to do with Maive and me visiting Lower Snoqualmie Falls. Worth documenting while I can still remember I suppose. My friend and I did check out the Falls after. Beautiful as always. I often wonder about back in the day, long before roads and buildings were built in the area, how many boats went down the river just to find themselves above a massive waterfall. Did people know? Did anybody go over? Cartoons always make it seem waterfall accidents are a common occurrence. Maybe they were?!

Maive and I set out after dropping off the girls for the day at their writing program. It’s maybe a 15 minute drive from Carnation, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I know Snoqualmie Falls is popular and sure enough, the parking area reflects this. After winding through country living roads—where people probably don’t enjoy all the traffic coming and going—we found the entrance. The large gate was open, leading us into a large well-maintained, paved, parking lot. It was fairly empty. We parked and went to check out all the things.

All the things was more than I expected. I thought there’d be a typical dirt trail leading to a view of Snoqualmie Falls from the bottom, hence the lower part. Nothing special. Nope, it’s quite the area. Walking from the parking lot there is an open area with different ways to. go. To the left there is a trail that takes you to the upper viewing areas of Snoqualmie Falls. Where some people walk incredibly slow and take up the entire width of the trail. But that’s for another post. To the right, there is a trail with stairs down to a the road for PSE to access the hydroelectric plant (I think that’s what it’s called?). Obviously there is a gate that stops the public from accessing the building. But to the right, there is river access. Straight ahead from the open area leads to a few fun things on display, like an old turbine from the original plant (I think, I didn’t snap a picture and I’m going from memory), a metal structure that I’m guessing is public art—probably using old metal from the original building?!—and then there are two huge pipes (that could use a good power washing) leading up to another PSE building. From the display board:

Water in motion transforms energy and drives the machines that create electricity. The Plant Two penstocks (pipelines) on this hillside carry diverted Snoqualmie River water into the turbines at the Plant Two powerhouse. The force of the water current flowing downhill applies pressure to tunr the turbine blades, transforming the kinetic energy of the water into mechanical energy of the turbines in order to generate electricity.

Continuing straight on the path leads to a wooden boardwalk. I love a good boardwalk. No idea why I’m a big fan but I am. I also have a thing for bridges. It feels like the boardwalk goes on forever. It leads to a viewing deck of Snoqualmie Falls. Obviously.

Before this day, I had only seen the Falls from above. I think I may like the view from below better. Above I think it’s more majestic and it feels bigger, seeing the width of the river falling down the rocks—it looks smaller from below and a less impressive waterfall. But below, while still a beautiful waterfall, I like to see the calm of the river where the Falls flows into. And then looking down the river lined with trees and rocks on either side. I suppose I like all the things. Maybe the boardwalk also persuaded my preference for below. Bonus was the sign with all the stickers. I may be a fan of public defacing, like graffiti and/or stickers. Even if it falls under vandalism. It depends where and all, gray areas. Obviously not on a memorial or a State Capitol, places that have meaning. But on the back of a sign, yes. It adds color and character. Maybe I’m wrong for feeling this way but whatever.

Maive and I had the viewing deck to ourselves. Bonus of a random winter Wednesday. Walking back on the boardwalk we passed a mom and teen boy, and then another mom with two young kiddos was just starting their boardwalk adventure. As a crowd avoider, it was nice to see other people since it kind of felt remote being there all alone.

Back to the main area where all the things are, Maive and I went down the stairs to the road that leads to the river. I had no idea what to expect. Maybe a small area to see the river? Maybe a large beachy area to enjoy the river? Turns out, it’s a boulder garden of large rocks on the riverfront. Past the boulders I could see more of a beach area, although still rocky—just small rocks. Being the confident outdoor kiddo that Maive is, she and I climbed over the large boulders.

On the other side of the large boulders is a smallish rocky beach. We nosed about and noticed a couple further down the river on another area of large boulders. I think they may have been bummed they no longer had the place to themselves. We were walking toward them and then I got the vibe they wanted to be alone so we turned around. Not that we were up in their faces; we were still a good 20 feet away. But still. They seemed young and perhaps trying to get away from parents who want to keep them apart. I’m making this up. My mom’s friend used to come up with stories about strangers and sometimes I do the same thing. Like all the pictures of smiling people on the orthodontist’s office walls. Maive and I were waiting one day, and she asked me the names of the people in the pictures. Instead of just telling her I didn’t know, I made up names for all of them. Probably about 12 people in total. Now she remembers their names every time we go back; I didn’t retain this information. She’ll ask me the names again, and I have to make up new ones… only for tell me, “Silly mom! That’s [whatever name I originally made up].”

Large boulders are large boulders, we didn’t have to check the next area out. Let the young couple have their privacy. We stayed on the rocky beach and did standard rocky beach stuff. Like through rocks into the river. And of course, Maive wanted several pictures of her taken in various spots. We even found a river measurement tool (ruler?). Maive was shorter than the tool. When the river is that high, there is no beach for young couples to sneak off to, away from their restrictive parents.

We must have spent a good 45 minutes on the beach, enjoying the calm of the morning. Sometimes I miss having two kiddos with me because I love watching how the kids find things to do and games to play, all out of nothing. But I also really appreciate solo time with Maive, having never had only one kid at a time.