A Walk In The Park

Well, hardly.
But adventure, yes!

So, took the geologist down to Mt. St. Helens.
Good museum.
Great view of the crater when it is not socked in!
And since I could speak from first hand knowledge, as I was there - well ....
I knew a little more than what the 20-somethings were trying to sound knowledgeable of.

It was great.

But what to do next.
I had no clue.
So we drove down to Portland.
Picked up the Oregon Anarchist, as he knows where there are great hikes.

Ended up at Panther Creek Falls, back in Washington.

Long drive.
Short hike.
180' STEEP slope, just a few degrees from a sheer cliff face.

I questioned my sanity going down.
Confirmed I was an idiot climbing back up!
But I digress ....

 Nice stream, twin falls, sturdy overlook.
Unless, of course, you decide you have got to dangle your feet in the stream!
And, OA did just that - almost!
His feet slipped on the wet volcanic rock and SPLAT!
In the creek above the falls he went ...

Of course, this was after Geologist and I were hiking back!
Up he trots, "I don't feel good ..."
He is dripping wet, with a broken arm!
Of course, he is a doctor by trade.
GG and I dragged his body up the cliff.

So, I set the arm.
While GG hunted for a large compress - yeah, compound fracture!
And a three hour drive back to Portland - to get him a tetanus shot and 5 stitches.

Best part was that Sunday he was speaking at a conference on brain function.
We all agreed over dinner he needed to attend, not speak at that one!