Blum Basin Falls
Etymology
The falls takes its name from the creek, which in turn receives its name from Mount Blum, which was named for John Blum, a United States Forest Service fire patrol pilot killed in an early 20th-century plane crash.
Statistics
The series of cascades totals 1,680 feet (510 m) in height, although this distance has never been officially measured. The falls occur over a 1,500-foot (460 m) run of Blum Creek, although again, this distance is only approximated. During peak flow, when high temperatures accelerate melting of ice and snow in the upper basin, the creek may be able to flow over 100 cubic feet (2.8 m) per second, with an average width of 10 feet (3.0 m). Contrarily, during low winter temperatures, the ice and snow ceases to melt, and the falls diminish in volume or may stop flowing completely.
History and access
In 1920, the first reported sighting of the falls was by Pacific Northwest photographer Asahel Curtis, who also photographed the falls. However, as that date was before Mount Blum was named, the waterfall was also unknown and unnamed, and remains obscure to this day. Today, the Baker River Trail leads upstream several miles along the Baker River, and as it crosses Blum Creek, one may obtain a view of the upper portion of the falls. The falls is also visible from a portion of the Shuksan Lakes Trail, which climbs Mount Shuksan on the opposite side of the Baker River valley. From this trail better views are obtained. However, as the falls are not the best in the area, and as more well-known Sulphide Creek Falls is close, the falls are little-known by most visitors to the area.
See also
References
- ^ "World's Tallest Waterfalls". World Waterfall Database. Archived from the original on 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- ^ "Mount Blum". SummitPost. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
- ^ Swan, Bryan. "Blum Basin Falls". Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest. Retrieved 2009-05-18.