Cliffs can be found in every direction sought on The Lake of the Woods. Everyone amazed by the beauty of the jagged rock and the reflection on the gigantic lake from tens of feet above. The sound of silence can be heard from all around. Thinking of the jump into the refreshing water gives me such a rush, bringing me back to a happier place, a better place. Everyone is antsy to voyage across the lake to the huge cliff. Looking out the back of the boat I see Jack and Kallen eagerly waiting to arrive on the other side. Mom and Terra are behind us paddle boarding over. I know the ride over on the fishing boat will only last a matter of minutes, but it feels like an eternity. Looking down into the water only a foot below I could see my wild lake …show more content…
Slipping on the velvety moss we slowly progress onto the well-worn path up the cliff. Due to the water, my hands and feet shriveled up making my grip stronger. All around I can see beauty. The enchanting clouds, the towering trees, the clear sea-green water. The rocks are steady under our feet but the dropped pine needles create a small hazard, making us slip and slide. We duck under the many branches obstructing our view to the top. We finally end up on this thin trail, clearly loved by all the previous hikers. Blueberry bushes are all around; as my excitement grows, I try one. But I instantly regret it, the unripe and sour berries had me spitting in half a second. We carry on our merry way until we see the beautiful green water just over the cliff. I look over the edge, with water droplets still rolling down my legs, to see our families hollering from down …show more content…
My heart begins to pound in my chest. Josiah, Allison and I back up to achieve a running start. Josiah goes first, and we watch his sun-kissed hair disappear from our view at the ledge. Horror runs across my face as cheers from my family and friends crash against the cliffs. My heart is beating faster than ever before. But it is now or never, so I walk up to the edge, and it feels like the shortest walk of my life. Then to hype myself up I yell the well-known saying of the week, “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!” clap and jump. My jump felt as if it went on for an eternity. Once I hit the refreshing water, it is like a wake-up call. I feel rejuvenated as my head brakes surface. I swim back to shore and begin my climb once again. My second time was an easier jump but a more difficult fall heard with the smack of my legs on the
I smiled to myself and decided that I would go join in. With that, I took a huge deep breath and jumped into the salty water. The water was cool and refreshing; I felt it slide through my hair making it sway in the water. I swam deeper and deeper into the deep blue water. Sunlight streamed through it, lighting up the water around me turning it to gold. I kicked harder and I felt my muscles surge with strength and I pushed further. My lunges began to burn for the need of oxygen, but I refused to go up. I repeatedly told myself just a little bit longer. Until I was unable to proceed anymore without more air in my lungs, I swam to the top of the water taking a huge breaths, filling my lungs with air. I could then taste the salty water as it ran down my face and dripped over my lips. Just then I thought, I will never forget this moment, this place, or the experiences I felt while visiting
Surprisingly, our parents had beaten us to the top and we all stopped in awe, mesmerized by the great waterfall in front of us. My mouth felt like the Sahara desert. I vividly remember reaching for the chilling water bottle that hid underneath the tons of clothes stuffed in my father’s black backpack to quench my thirst. I took off my beaten down shoes and stinky socks covered in dirt from the trail and blood from the blisters on my feet and dove into the refreshing lake. After swimming through the lake for a few seconds, I abruptly jumped out of the freezing water. My toes turned into a blue that reminded me of the blueberry muffins from breakfast that morning. My body shivered as I exited the lake and threw on a warm towel over my shoulders. Gradually my body heat increased, escaping the risk of hypothermia. At that point, I just wanted to go home. My family and I gathered all our belongings and I dragged my energyless body into the large, gray shuttle. The shuttle smelled of sweat from previous passengers. It drove us down a rough, bumpy trail, causing my tall father to constantly slam his head on the roof of the car. After we finally got back to our hotel, we all let off a sigh of
...as hurriedly approaching my toes. I clinched my toes deeper in the sand to prepare myself to get annihilated by the wave’s white water. But, of course, it was just the familiar feeling of the cool rush between my feet as they sunk deeper into the sand. Scanning the water vigorously, I tippy toed my way out into bottomless ocean. Remembering the feeling of the tingle and than burn, I peered back to see my beach chair waiting for me in the scorching sun. While I contemplated turning around and heading back to my safe place. I continued on. I continued to walk forward. I did not stop once the water passed my waist. I would not let the phobia of jellyfish hold me back from the once place I loved the most. As the water washed over the tips of my hair, warm memories of my past fled into my mind. I let my once again peach colored toes disappear deeper into the blue water.
The third time I wanted so bad to get up, I yelled “Ready.” I felt the water rushing against my face, the pressure on my back foot, I was up. I leaned back and felt the water rushing against my calf the breeze against my face as I cut across the wake making a huge rooster tail. It was freedom. I felt like I could stay like this forever. I was so overjoyed. I cut too the left, then too the right, but Soon I got exhausted and let go. I exclaimed “I did it!”
We arrived in Lake Oswego and as a group decided to head to a popular place known as barrels. Barrels is roughly 40 feet above the water. Lots of people were there and it was a fun time. After a few minutes of standing around, I decided to make the plunge. Slowly, I climbed on top of the railing and looked over the sparkling blue water below. Inside my head, I counted down from five and my feet left the earth and were gliding through the air rapidly towards the water. My feet hit the water and shock overcame my body. The icy water chilled me as I clawed to reach the surface. As I hit the surface of the water, I smiled. I had conquered the first jump and I knew I could survive twenty-five more feet.
The silhouettes of blossoms are menacing shadows against the luminous falls. I tiptoe further down the twisting vine of pale red blooms emerging, unfurling their rosy petals to the fluorescent streaks of lightening that extend their crooked arms through the sky and down into the swamp’s abyss. The brisk breeze carries scents of moss and mist. The magnificent falls tower above my head, breaking through the clouds, stretching up into space, like a daylily reaching up to swallow the sun. Water surges to the ground, crashing, the sodden earth crumbling away in its presence. An overwhelming sound of water rushing, as though it is a massive radio set malfunctioning, penetrates my ears. I slink through the canopy of vines, slithering, watching intensely,
My sweat soaked shirt was clinging to my throbbing sunburn, and the salty droplets scalded my tender skin. “I need this water,” I reminded myself when my head started to fill with terrifying thoughts of me passing out on this ledge. I had never been so relieved to see this glistening, blissful water. As inviting as the water looked, the heat wasn't the only thing making my head spin anymore. Not only was the drop a horrifying thought, but I could see the rocks through the surface of the water and couldn't push aside the repeating notion of my body bouncing off them when I hit the bottom. I needed to make the decision to jump, and fast. Standing at the top of the cliff, it was as if I could reach out and poke the searing sun. Sweat dripped from my forehead, down my nose, and on its way to my dry, cracked lips which I licked to find a salty droplet. My shirt, soaked with perspiration, was now on the ground as I debated my
Dani and I stand in the sun waiting for the “men” to catch up. The view was worth Quill’s whining and navigating through the snow. The breeze catches in the bright green and gold of new Aspen leaves whispering around the lake. The Pine trees scent the air and bask in the sun to steal its warmth from the forest below. The trees are a dark canopy along our path permitting only a few patches of the raised finely mulched trail to a beam or two of sun. Framed like a photo three pencil lead gray peaks rise above a lower sweeping curve of pines. They look close enough to walk over the ridge and touch them. Boulders precariously cling to the side of the mountains. The perfect deep blue early summer sky is the perfect backdrop.
Immediately, I angled my position and went for a dead sprint toward the water. I jumped off the cliff. I never felt anything like it; the trajectory had me flying through the air for longer than I expected. A surge of adrenaline pulsed through my body, bringing a new sense of life to me. The scorching heat went away as gravity pulled my body toward the water, bringing me a pleasant breeze through my fall. Then, I finally hit the water. I didn’t stick a solid landing, as I went head first into the water. I panicked and opened my eyes under the murky water, only to see nothing but dirt and sediments float around me. I kept sinking and saw a monstrous fish swim right in front of my face. At that very moment, my body went into overdrive, and I managed to project myself back up to the surface.
As we walked to our car, we realized just how much the day had taken out of us physically. We were both bruised and sore from our practice jumps into the gravel pit and very tired. But, at the same time, our souls felt warm and satisfied at discovering that we could overcome our fears and experience the joy and freedom of skydiving.
Davie’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned, running up the steps, and out of the water with me not trailing far behind. I watched as she approached the 3ft edge of the poolside and jumped into the water. I was about to do the same, when I heard my name called from the shaded picnic tables next to the pool.
We took off down a path covered softly with moss and tiny pink flowers. Off to the side of the path were endless green trees and pants all nestled together to make one beautiful piece of art. After a while, we reached a sparkling, clear brook. It was about twelve feet deep and nearly three feet deep. The path wound right along side the water. Down the brook a ways, we came to a deep water hole where the fish danced in the swirling current. I noticed the brook was beginning to flow a little faster now, and I could hear the steady, rushing noise of the water falling over the cliffs that lied ahead. We walked to the cliff's edge to look over at the crystal clear lagoon that lay below us. The falls dropped about thirty feet down before it met the pool of water below. To the sides of the waterfall were moss-covered rocks, ferns and other green plants, growing from the crevices of the cliffs.
I keep walking because I know that ahead of me is a small stream where I can quietly sit and listen to the water. It is small enough that some rocks portrude above the water and I could walk across if I wanted to.
...e became more and more overcome with suspense and anticipation. Before we plunged to the bottom, we noticed a kayak broken in two pieces. It had been caused by a collision with a boulder, at the bottom of the fall. We were scared to death, because we thought we would hit it and flip over. However, with the help of our fast-thinking and skillful guide, we were able to make it down the fall safely. All the action was over, so we let out a sigh of relief and allowed our nerves to relax.
It’s a beautiful morning, as my group of friends and I wake up, we hear the pounding and the thrashing of the water slamming on the moss covered granite rock, I go down the eroded leaf covered pathway to fetch water just like I would do every morning, the sun had just begun to rise, the mixture of scarlet red, orange, and a bleach-like yellow beaming against the hurried water of the river that led into the waterfall shone like flakes of gold floating on top of the whitening water. The serene environment of the surrounding rocks overlooking the waterfall, the ambience of water clashing against the granite, and the aroma of the white pine filling the forest is an awe inspiring experience to all who dare make their way down the narrow and lengthy