Elakala Falls Virginia USA

The lovely Elakala Falls are a series of four waterfalls of Shays Run as it descends into the Blackwater Canyon in West Virginia. They’re within Blackwater Falls State Park and are reasonably popular among photographers, with the ease of access for the first waterfall, and the relatively low traffic of the other waterfalls in the series. The first of the series of waterfalls is 35 feet in height and is very easily accessible from park trails, which is second most popular waterfall in the park. From Elakala trail there is a bridge over the top of the first waterfall offering easy access and views. The remaining three waterfalls of the series are progressively more difficult to access, and have no official marked trails to them. The gorge is nearly 200 feet deep at this section accounting for the difficulty of the descent to the lower waterfalls of the series.

The second waterfall is only 15 feet tall and is the smallest in the series, however remains popular by the well-worn path from the first falls. The third waterfall of the series is the highest at 40 feet tall but it is particularly difficult to reach. It has a path worn to it but is very steep and rocky terrain. Traveling beyond the second waterfall should be considered for experienced hikers only due to the danger of descending the canyon without trails. The fourth and final waterfall of the series is considered quite dangerous to access, with no trails, and should not be attempted by inexperienced hikers. 

This attractive waterfall is accessed by a short trail starting out from the park’s main lodge.  The falls are less than a quarter mile down the trail.   The trail truly doesn’t give you a good look at the waterfall, so take the time to follow the unofficial foot path down the ravine to the base of the falls.  Elakala is loveliest in times of heavy water flow.  The water stream leaving the base of the falls takes a lovely swirling path across the moss-greened rocks.  But make sure don’t miss climbing a little farther down the ravine to view a couple other pretty waterfalls on Shays Run.  The stream actually cascades all the way down to the bottom of the Blackwater Canyon, but it’s not actually safe to go much beyond the second or third cascade.  In winter the Elakala falls completely frozen over, and the sound of the water running under the ice was magical.

The name of the waterfalls comes from a Native American legend, although numerous meaningfully different versions exist. According to some sources it involves a princess which name was Elakala who threw herself over the edge of the first waterfall when her lover despised her. But another source said the legend involves a Massawomee warrior named Elakala who was shy-girl and fell to his death from the falls while being chased by two women of his tribe. Alike legends exist for numerous waterfalls in the eastern United States, and there is of course no way to confirm these stories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solvay Hut Switzerland

The Solvay Hut positioned right on the slender north-eastern ridge of Matterhorn, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. Well; at over 13,000 foot above the ground level, it is the highest mountain hut in the region. The hut was named after his founder Ernest Solvay (1838-1922), a Belgian chemist and industrialist who donated the famous hut on the Hörnli Ridge on the Matterhorn as a gratitude for the memorable hours he spent in the mountains, and from the comprehension that sporadically sudden thunder storms lead to tragedies. Before his alpine career initiated after retirement, Ernest Solvay was an inventor and businessman who conceived the industrial process for sodium carbonate production, from which a world-wide undertaking resulted.

The emergency refuge is owned by the Swiss Alpine club, and is envisioned to deliver food and shelter to mountaineers, climbers, and hikers. At about 1,500 foot below the summit and two-thirds up the mountain, it offers respite to several Matterhorn climbers and rewards them with the magnificent view of all the Monte Rosa summits. It is only meant to be used during emergencies, but climbers do break there to rest and takes photographs. The Solvay hut, which can accommodate around 10 people, is not a recent construction. It was in fact built way back in 1915 and took only five days to complete. 

All the building materials were brought up to Hornli Hut, just 2,500 foot below, with the assistance of animals. A little temp cable car was used to haul up the materials from there, and it was reconstructed in 1966 and an emergency radio telephone was fitted in 1976. The hut offers 10 beds and is equipped with a radiotelephone.

Baker Lake Canada

Baker Lake is located inland, at the mouth of the Thelon River, nearby to the geographic center of Canada. The lake is famous for its arts and craft community and it is 320 km inland from the west coast of the Hudson Bay in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. Several distinguished studios and artist promoting crafts and arts i.e. Inuit Heritage Centre, Jessie Oonark Center and art galleries. Baker Lake has rich natural resources making significant impact on the economic development of local area, like development of Meadowbank gold deposit, has already created several local jobs, and more opportunities are increasing in the town at mine site approximately 70 kilometers from Baker Lake. The area community council vigorously looking training programs for their residents for the assortment of jobs and business. The Baker Lake area has seen main exploration projects in recent years, particularly with gold, uranium and other minerals. 

A number of major rivers, including Thelon, the Kazan, and the Dubawnt, flow into Baker Lake. You can explore the lake shores which tell a tale of early settlement and growth of a community mixing tradition with high technology. The lakefront is well lined up with several little sheds, used by inhabitants to store fishing gear, or winter equipment. On the hills above the houses, you will see a large snow fence installed to control drifting in the community itself. 

There's the arena and community center, the swimming pool, RCMP facilities, post office, schools and colleges and the Health Centre. There’s a road winds north via rolling country towards White Hills Lake. It's a lovely place to hike, and you may spot nesting loons, a peregrine falcon, or caribou. The area at the mouth of the Thelon River has always been an old-style gathering place for Inuit, for summer hunting and fishing. The numerous groups travelled up the river systems in the area to their winter hunting grounds. The Kazan River, in specific, was also very important as a travel route and for hunting caribou. Several local outfitters proposed trips to fish or see the sights of barren lands. The Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization are licensed to outfit sport hunts to visitors attracted in hunting barren ground caribou and muskoxen.