Helmcken Falls

Helmcken Falls is Canada's fourth highest waterfall, and one of its best-kept secrets. Plunging 141 metres in a straight drop, this waterfall is about three times higher than Niagara Falls! But while Niagara is plagued with gift shops and tourists, on a quiet day you might arrive at the modest viewing platform for Helmcken Falls and find nobody else there.
This is where we went Saturday. Around 11am we jumped in the car and drove the 125m (200km) to Wells Gray Park. The 5000 square kilometer park is home to some of our provinces most beautiful country. The road into the falls is mostly paved and the gravel road is kept smooth and free of pot holes so it was a beautiful trip. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. The weather was incredible with the sun shining high in the sky and although we thought it would be a bit cooler in the Rocky Mountain range boy were we wrong. It was about 38c (100f) at the falls.
We got out of the van and walked no more than a city block to the lookout for the falls. Keygan was scared to death but braved the fear and walked out to the fence. Dean picked him up and scared the crap out of him once again. As he was hollerin "daddy put me down" Dean held him up to see how far down it was to the bottom… about 250 feet. I was a picture snapping fool taking pics from every angle. The view is gorgeous both left and right.
We walked away from the falls down river along the fence. This area is all deeply forested and you really need to watch your foot steps so you don’t trip or fall on the roots and rocks on the forest floor. I become anxious in territory like this when the kids are with us. I fear them taking a wrong step and tripping onto a rock and hurting themselves or worse yet stumbling and falling over the ledges. The fence doesn’t run all that far and before long we were on free trail. Robert and Alysia like to walk ahead if they can so I usually end up fending off the bears by shouting at them not to get to far ahead of us.
Dean and I took turns with the camera and at one point I walked to the edge of two rocks on the ledge knelt down and started snapping photos. I decided to take one straight down the wall I was sitting on and that is when I realized the two rocks I had my full weight on were jutted out over the edge and the wall was actually behind me. I panicked and told Dean to grab the camera, and then I told him to come grab me I was paralyzed with fear. I hate ledges. I can climb any rack face, I just can’t be at the top ledge and look down. I freak out getting off a roof for crying out loud.
The temperature at the peak was much hotter than it had been in town. We figured being that far above sea level it would be cooler. Boy were we wrong. At points along the hike it was like walking through walls of fire it was so hot. About 25 min into the hike I told Dean I couldn’t go any further. That kind of heat doesn’t serve me well. We turned around and walked back to the van and decided to head to a spot my gf at work told me about. Baileys Chute
Along the way we stopped at a pull out near the river and Dean went to see if we could walk down to it. It was a steep walk in soft sand so he decided it best we not try to venture it. He did take a hand towel down and dip it in the river for me so I could cool off with it. I was so glad he did too cause it wasn’t long before I was feeling the effects of heat exhaustion. We ventured further and arrived at Baileys and got out of the van. Now let me tell you why we didn’t make it to the chute…
HORSEFLIES
Them furkers were swarming the van and they were huge. I swear they were no less than an inch long and they were HUNGRY. Swatting at them was pointless and we all looked like jesters trying to keep them away from us. Just as I suggested to Dean that we head back to the van to escape them we heard a clap of thunder! Standing amongst the timbers that were 30-40 feet tall was not where we wanted to be to be damned sure. We dang near ran to the van, doing our best not to let the horseflies into the van as we all climbed back into the oven we were driving in.
We headed back to Clearwater as we needed to be home to drop Keygan off around 6pm. On our way our we saw a deer and drove past a dead black bear on the side of the road, a reminder that we were mere visitors among nature’s home.
The drive home was as eventful as it was beautiful. The kids, tired and hungry, talked the whole way home while I drifted in and out of a nap. I wasn’t feeling well the first 30 min or so. Once I cooled off I was fine. The drive home runs along the North Thompson River and it is God’s artwork to be sure. Raging waters stirred by under current. Glacier fed and gorgeous it invites you to jump in and cool off. Too cold even this time of year for a leisurely swim. On and off we were pelted by rain drops that did little more than raise the humidity of the air around us. Lightening and thunder just on the horizon but never in our path. The debris from the storm the night before littering the highway.
We stopped at the fruit stand in McClure bought the kids some freezes and me some fresh cherry tomatoes and we headed for home. We dropped Andrew and Keygan off at Keygan’s mom’s for the night and we headed up to Wal-Mart. Dean needed new shorts and I wanted to buy some new pants. We grabbed a quick bite at McDonald’s, did our shopping and got home around 10pm. The 2 older kids went to bed and just as they dozed off a storm hit.
Dean and I turned off the PC’s and went to sit on the deck and watch the show. Lightening is not a good thing here when there is no rain but it sure is cool to watch. I don’t know how many fires were started but we saw over 30 strikes of sheet and bolt lightening. The helicopters and water bombers were up and flying hard today to be sure.
Around midnight I was done for the day. Falling asleep on the deck I decided I best get myself to bed. Dean wasn’t long after and we both slept solid ‘til the alarm went this morning to tell me I needed to get to work.
It was a great day.