- Crane (bird) (Wikipedia)
Cranes are a type of large bird with long legs and necks in the biological family Gruidae of the order Gruiformes. The family has 15 species placed in four genera which are Antigone, Balearica, Leucogeranus, and Grus. They are large birds with long necks and legs, a tapering form, and long secondary feathers on the wing that project over the tail. Most species have muted gray or white plumages, marked with black, and red bare patches on the face, but the crowned cranes of the genus Balearica have vibrantly-coloured wings and golden “crowns” of feathers. Cranes fly with their necks extended outwards instead of bent into an S-shape and their long legs outstretched.
Washington Trails Association
- Ladder Creek Falls (wta.org)
Located behind the Gorge Powerhouse in Newhalem, Ladder Creek Falls offers a refreshing woodland retreat with exotic flora and close-up views of the third tier of this spectacular waterfall. When the hydroelectric project near Ross Lake was under construction during the 1930s and ’40s, owner and developer J.D. Ross built a trail to nearby Ladder Creek Falls to showcase the area.