On Saturday, September, 3rd I hit my four month post back surgery mark, and I wanted to do something to celebrate. When I was in German rehab for three months in a place called Bad Urach, I was very close to this famous waterfall but unable to make the hike. I thought I'd finally give it a try today, and I'm so glad I did. The Bad Urach area is known for their massive supply of fresh spring water. There is a very popular thermal bath there as well as this waterfall/hiking area.
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| Almost to the top |
With husband and Brady in tow, I packed up a small backpack with water, dog treats, and a peanut butter low-carb wrap (for me), and hit the road on this gorgeous sunny day. I'm not even a big nature lover but anything outside that involves water (accept a pool) captures my attention. I remember walking around the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee while visiting my grandparents. There was nothing I could compare that breath taking view to until we moved to Germany and I saw the Swiss Alps all coved in snow and ice sickles.
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| Very steep and curvy walkway |
For me, this hike was a pivitol point in my recovery. I was going to be hiking outside in the heat for well over an hour, something I haven't really been able to do since even before surgery. The waterfall was sybolic as well because to me it represented the fruits of my labor; all the hard work I have been putting in at physical therapy and the gym added up to a massive flow of fresh water.
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| Brady and Matt taking in the view |
I was expecting there to be a pool at the bottom but there wasn't. This waterfall wasn't exactly what I was expecting but once I reached the top and could see down to where we began the stair climb, I felt like super woman! What a great way to spend a warm sunny Saturday in Germany.
Here is a list of the different types of waterfalls. I think the one we saw was a "Cascade":
- Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
- Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.
- Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall.
- Chute: A large quantity of water forced through a narrow, vertical passage.
- Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.
- Frozen: Any waterfall which has some element of ice.
- Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.
- Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface.
- Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out in a wider pool.
- Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.
- Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.
- Multi-step: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.
― Maya Angelou
