Oh well, it was time to head back anyway to check out of the hotel. I picked up Jaime, and some Subway, and we parked along Jackman Brook so I could check out the portion I hadn't last time. I wasn't expecting much so man was I surprised to find a handful of spectacular waterfalls. Two of them were more impressive than the actual Jackman Falls itself. And now I have to change that entire chapter in the book.
Next up on the list was Moose Falls which I had to hit again in order to get better directions. Jaime accompanied me on this one since I'd already done it and knew the way. Turns out the falls are easier to find than I thought and barely require a bushwhack at all so it's a good thing I went back.
Worried I'd missed out on something else, I had to go back to Ledge Brook as well. I followed it down to Swift River but didn't find anything more than I did last time so for once I had turned around at the right spot. Even with half the water as last time, the lower pools were still gorgeous. I wanted to follow Swift River up to a tributary brook so I began my long, boring journey along the winding stream.
The bushwhacking was easy in spots, thick and difficult in others, but I continued on, knowing there was something up ahead. As it got late in the day and I began to question if my 'spidey' senses had led me astray, right before I called it quits I came across some rapids over rocky ledges. Although not a huge drop, the river is wide enough that it made quite an impressive waterfall. And while I was enjoying it, I got to see a mink run across a sand beach, look at me from his rock pile and then hop in the water and swim downstream. This was my first time seeing a mink in the wild.
A nearby tributary brook was making a racket and I had a good feeling about this one so I followed it upstream. Before long I was treated to an incredible waterfall pouring over a ten foot cliff.
As I rounded the side of the cascade I noticed another stream of water obscured by a block of granite that had broken off from the main ledge. That broken block created a tunnel behind the waterfall, passing from one side to the other. A cave behind the cascade. Oh my god. I slipped on my water shoes to get a better look and sure enough it went all the way through the ledge and popped out on the other side of the brook. Never have I seen anything like this before. I got a bit wet being inches from the waterfall and even stuck my head under it to cool off. This one is incredible, especially for being such a small unnamed brook.
For such a boring approach, this turned out to be one hell of an adventure. I made my way back to the car via the small stream and we began our journey home. I had hoped to hit up Alpine Cascades but after my long trip along the Swift River there wasn’t even close to enough time. There's just a few details needed to finish up the NH waterfall book but I’m worried it’ll be too long with all these added falls along the way. One more week and then it's on to our ten day vacation.
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