Blum Basin Falls
Encyclopedia
Blum Basin Falls is a waterfall
in Whatcom County, in the U.S. state
of Washington. It is located near the southern boundary of North Cascades National Park
on the headwaters of Blum Creek
, a tributary of the Baker River
. Fed by two small retreating glaciers and several snowfields on the southern side of Mount Blum
, the waterfall is formed by the largest meltwater stream that feeds the mainstem of Blum Creek. The falls tumble 1680 feet (512.1 m) down a high glacial headwall
several miles within the national park in two distinct stages; the first is a series of slides over rounded rock, above the tree line, and the second is a series of near-vertical plunges to the forested valley below. Although most of the falls is clearly visible, parts of it are obscured by tall pines that grow at its base. There is no trail leading to the waterfall.
fire patrol pilot killed in an early 20th-century plane crash.
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 ft3 per second, with an average width of 10 feet (3 m). Contrarily, during low winter temperatures, the ice and snow ceases to melt, and the falls diminish in volume or may stop flowing completely.
, 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.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in Whatcom County, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. It is located near the southern boundary of North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the state of Washington. The park is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Several national wilderness areas and British Columbia parkland adjoin the...
on the headwaters of Blum Creek
Blum Creek
Blum Creek is a small glacial tributary of the Baker River in Washington state, in the United States. It is sourced from the Hagen Glacier and another unknown glacier on the north face of Mount Blum, and flows approximately from there to its mouth at the Baker River...
, a tributary of the Baker River
Baker River (Washington)
The Baker River is an approximately , southward-flowing tributary of the Skagit River in northwestern Washington in the United States. It drains an area of the high North Cascades in the watershed of Puget Sound north of Seattle, and east of Mount Baker...
. Fed by two small retreating glaciers and several snowfields on the southern side of Mount Blum
Mount Blum
Mount Blum, or Mount Bald, is a summit of the North Cascades range in Washington state, on the western edge of North Cascades National Park. It is the highest summit of a string of mountain peaks located east of Mount Shuksan and west of the Picket Range. Two small active glaciers rest on its...
, the waterfall is formed by the largest meltwater stream that feeds the mainstem of Blum Creek. The falls tumble 1680 feet (512.1 m) down a high glacial headwall
Headwall
In physical geography and geology the headwall of a glacial cirque is its highest cliff.In civil engineering, a headwall is a small retaining wall placed at the outlet of a stormwater pipe or culvert....
several miles within the national park in two distinct stages; the first is a series of slides over rounded rock, above the tree line, and the second is a series of near-vertical plunges to the forested valley below. Although most of the falls is clearly visible, parts of it are obscured by tall pines that grow at its base. There is no trail leading to the waterfall.
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 ServiceUnited States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
fire patrol pilot killed in an early 20th-century plane crash.
Statistics
The series of cascades totals 1680 feet (512.1 m) in height, although this distance has never been officially measured. The falls occur over a 1500 feet (457.2 m) runRun (waterfalls)
In waterfalls, the run is the linear distance the stream flows from the brink of the waterfall to its base.Therefore, a steeper waterfall would have a shorter run, and a less inclined waterfall would have a longer run. As an example, rapids typically have longer runs, as their actual drop is...
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 ft3 per second, with an average width of 10 feet (3 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 CurtisAsahel Curtis
Asahel Curtis was a Pacific Northwest photographer.-Birth:Asahel Curtis was born in 1874 in Minnesota to Johnson Asahel Curtis , a reverend; and Ellen Sheriff .-Parents and siblings:...
, 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
Mount Shuksan
Mount Shuksan is a glaciated massif in the North Cascades National Park. Shuksan rises in Whatcom County, Washington immediately to the east of Mount Baker, and south of the Canadian border. The mountain's name Shuksan is derived from the Lummi word [šéqsən], said to mean "high peak". The highest...
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
Sulphide Creek Falls
Sulphide Creek Falls is a tall, moderately large volume waterfall within North Cascades National Park in Washington state. The falls drop from Sulphide Lake on the southeast side of Mount Shuksan down a narrow flume-like canyon to a broad basin below. Because of the narrow, twisting shape of the...
is close, the falls are little-known by most visitors to the area.