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PYROCLAST FALLS

RATING - 38.0

VR - 4 (Sm/Med)               HR - 6                  SR - 14/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Difficult

LOCATION - Wells Creek Area

TYPE - Slide

HEIGHT - 134'

WIDTH - 20'

Pyroclast Falls     Closer look

Wells Creek is created when four tributary creeks combine just above massive Mazama Falls.  Each of these four creeks contains at least one waterfall.  Pyroclast Falls occurs on the western-most creek and is definitely the most unique of the bunch.  The creek the falls lies on drains a small glacial remnant and several permanent snowfields created a good sized creek.  The waterfall occurs when this creek encounters a cliff of bright, white petrified ash and slides 134' in a shallow reverse C.  The super white cliffs combined with the natural waterslide look make this a really cool location.  From the base the waterfall seems much shorter, but views on the way down the hillside will help demonstrate the height of the falls.  I suspect there is actually more to the waterfall around the corner that can't be seen from the base. 
DIRECTIONS - Follow the directions to Upper Pinnacle Falls.  Follow the stream upstream for about 1/4 of a mile to where Alix Falls can be seen dropping in from the south.  I shot my pictures from the ridge opposite the waterfall, but getting to the base wouldn't be too difficult either (once you get into the area at least).

NEARBY WATERFALLS - Lower Mazama Lake Falls, Lower Noochsakatsu Falls, Mazama Falls, Mazama Lake Falls, Noochsakatsu Falls, Pinnacle Falls, Pyroclast Falls, Upper Pinnacle Falls

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