Donut Falls often fills with hikers in the warmer months, but not in the winter. I arrived at the parking lot around 6:30 a.m., with just enough light to see without light. No other cars were in the parking lot.
I planned to hike the 1.6 miles to the falls in record time.
My intention was to rappel down through the donut hole from above to the waterfall chamber. I wasn’t sure if I could actually hit through the donut hole because the water flow can get very strong. It was already early April, so the warmer, longer days were melting a lot of snow.
I continued with high hopes that I would be able to rappel down the Donut Falls into the waterfall chamber.
I started the day early for several reasons. Leaving early would mean colder air and harder snow, which is better for running and would also mean less melting of the snow coming down from the waterfall. I also thought I would see fewer people if I got up early.
On the track
When I arrived at the track, my plan seemed to be coming true. The snow was hard, the air was still, and I was alone.
I ran down the sidewalk until I got to the trail. In summer the gate to the main road is open and you can continue to the upper trailhead. In winter, the gate is closed so you have to start from the main road.
We’ve had a lot of snow this year and even though it’s April, there’s still a lot of snow on the trail.
My main concern was that too much water was flowing in the creek and I wouldn’t be able to rappel through the donut hole.
Things looked promising as I progressed down the trail. After a while, the trail and the creek bed merge. At this point I had high hopes as the creek was still completely snow covered.
I ran a little further down the trail and arrived at Donut Falls shortly after.
At Donut Falls
The Donut Falls waterfall chamber has two entrances.
This is the bottom entrance that enters from the side.
I turn on my headlamp and slide onto my back inside the room to check it out.
The waterfall was flowing, but there was enough space for me to rappel down without getting totally soaked. I also thought I could do the abseil without getting my feet too wet.
I crawled out of the room and climbed up to the falls.
This is the donut hole I planned to rappel into from above. Most of the water was falling on the outer edge of the hole and I was rappelling down the inner edge to think I could stay mostly dry.
Donut Falls Rappel
I put on my harness and helmet and started hiking above Donut Falls to set up my rappel. The snow here was soft and deep, so it took some work to get back up the slope.
I trudged through the snow to a large tree above the donut hole and attached my rappel rope to the tree with a tracing figure of eight. I threw my rope, held on, and began my descent.
Learn how to rappel safely here.
Here is a video of my recall
Success!!!
Despite the spring weather, I did my rappel without being knocked down by the falls.
After my rappel, I hiked the trail pretty quickly.
Learn more about winter trail running here.
Discover my winter ascent of the Pfeifferhorn here.
