After seven years, my wife and I decided to revisit beautiful Clifty Falls State Park, near the charming historical town of Madison, Indiana. Why the long delay? Because extreme things happen to me there!
Clifty features four scenic waterfalls and lots of cliffs—hence the accurate-but-silly name. The last time we visited, we’d hiked the Riverbed Trail, intending to see Big Clifty Falls from the bottom.
Problem: the Riverbed Trail is literally the riverbed, and is full of rocks varying in size from that of a toaster to that of a medium-sized continent. So in order to hike it, you have to climb over a non-stop succession of boulders. Hence, at the start of the “trail” there’s a warning: “Extremely.” “Extremely what?” I laughed. I found out a moment later when a boulder I was climbing over rotated like a cogwheel and crushed my knee against another. Result? Permanent knee damage. Never laugh at boulders; they’re easily offended and have long memories.
My “Clifty knee” was acting up during our return trip. So we played it safe and took the easy trails. At the end of an incident-free day, we decided to take one final photo at a pictureque lookout point. Using my shiny new selfie stick, we stood with our backs to a protective stone barrier, the majestic Big Clifty Falls behind us.
As we smiled, the selfie stick (clearly in collusion with the boulders) ejected my phone over our heads onto a slope six feet below, where the cliff was particularly…clifty.
Oh, no! But aha! I fashioned an ingenious grabby device from a broken limb and reached to snag the phone. At which point, the leaves it was resting upon decided to relocate, and take my newly-adopted phone with them. They landed on a sniggering stone ledge another ten feet below, in a place visited exclusively by owls.
I’ve tried calling the phone several times since. But so far, no one’s answered. I’m hoping it will eventually connect. “Hello,” I’ll say, “I’m the owner of this phone.” Still, I’ll probably hear nothing but “Who?” in response. After all, this is Clifty Falls where everything that happens to me happens…
Extremely.
My advice? Stick to beaches. Can’t hurt yourself in the sand.
True, Rob. On the other hand, streams produce very few tidal waves.
Speak for yourself, Rob.
Nasty boulders! Should be a law! Have I mentioned that I’m accident prone? I probably would have stepped forward a bit, selfie stick in hand, and fallen with my phone. Consider yourself blessed! 😄
I do, Gail! ;>)
Extremely Exteemley one might say…okay, I’ll show myself out.
;>) So bad it’s good, Abe.
Drat. I was hoping that ingenious grabby device from a broken limb was the final answer.
Me too, Joy.
My son is making a list, “places Mom needs to avoid,” because of my various mishaps. It sounds like Clifty Falls should be on your list 🙂
Yep. Good to meet you, Lynn.
Those are very beautiful photos, but I am very sorry for what happened to you there. A crushed knee is a pretty big disaster.
The bone wasn’t broken, but the soft tissue is permanently injured. I do therapeutic exercises to keep it (mostly) happy.
Your warning sign amused me. It reminded me of when a friend and I hiked over a small mountain outside the downtown of Hong Kong in 1996. We trudged up precarious rocks and ridges until we came to the top trail. We took a selfie (with a real camera set on auto) of us in front of the sign we just climbed over: DANGER- NO HIKING BEYOND THIS POINT
😆😱🤠
Crazy Americans!
Spero tu stia meglio, forse dovrai scegliere visite più tranquille 💖🐈
Penso che tu abbia ragione!
🐈⬛🌹
At my advanced age, I realize there are places I can’t go, like you. Mountains, hikes up mountains, mountain climbing, rock climbing, driving up mountains, and down. Momo has developed a hyper-ventilating thing when she gets above 8 K feet, and I tend to pass out, so that means no one would be driving our truck, I get her fear. We go to the Chihuahuan desert in Big Bend part of Texas. The only thing we have to worry about there is Rattlesnakes and mutant Chihuahua’s, maybe a few drunk locals from Marfa.
I believe I spotted one of those mutant chihuahuas at Ohio’s Salt Fork State Park. Other hiker’s mistook it for Bigfoot.
;>)
;>)
Those clicks felt really fresh! Awesome!
Wow, that was an extremely adventure! We might check out that place – sounds interesting – but I will be careful not to offend any boulders!
Wise choice, Annie.
Clifty Falls State Park is definitely not a place you should revisit. There must be some bad mojo there. 🙂
Soooo . . . I am going to need you guys to NOT go back to this place. LOL. Just steer clear and stay safe. LOL! Please.
;>)
Time to get a brand new fancy phone, -cool
I did, and I don’t regret it!
At least you had a reason for your injury. A week before Christmas I was on a gift-wrapping adventure in the fellowship hall in the church (shouldn’t have been such a dangerous place) when I caught the toe of one boot on the other and went smack down on my right side, giving myself a huge bruise below my knee and bouncing my head off the floor! Fortunately there was no real damage (a bump on my forehead the only visible result) and I was able to get myself up (no one else near by to help). So you don’t need to go far to have that kind of thing happen. I’m sorry though that you have had long-term damage to your knee. That is not fun at all. But your photos are beautiful–if that’s any compensation. Have a wonderful (and safe) 2025.
Thank you, Diane. You too!
Keep trying calling your phone for a bit. Maybe an Owl will fly with it and drop it somewhere so you will get it back.
;>)
Great photos. Sorry about your knee
Thanks, Maja. I get by pretty well with a little regular therapy.
Aptly titled!
A very “extremely” story! Sorry for the injury and phone loss, but glad you survived to tell the tale!
Thanks, Peggy!