As you’ll likely notice, yesterday’s post has been delayed until today. What’s the excuse? Being out of the country. Although currently writing this from a train in Toronto, today’s topic relates to the wonder that is Niagara Falls. Home to three distinct waterfalls that collectively form “Niagara Falls,” water from nearby rivers flow over a cliff that drops more than 180 feet. While an amazing sight to see in and of itself, there’s an unmentioned phenomenon that was far more jarring.
Despite the weather being quite pleasant upon first arriving in Niagara Falls (prior to the 6″ of snow that would come in the evening), that was not the case adjacent to the Horseshoe Falls. While many have heard of the “Maid of the Mist,” named for the mist storm generated from the force of water dropping over the falls’s cliff, one seldom hears of the weather conditions at the top of the falls. In an idealistic world, a view of the Horseshoe Falls provides a picturesque view of the falls. Instead, the wind rushes atop the water and blows this mist directly at viewers. Moreover, the horseshoe shape of the falls funnels the mist directly into one location. What does this look like in practice? Walking into/through a monsoon.
Very rapidly, walking alongside the falls, one begins to encounter the slightest mist that quickly turns to a sideways torrential downpour. Forget attempting to view the falls; your immediate concern quickly shifts to exiting the area as quick as possible. Worsening the situation is the cold, which only serves to freeze the rain and create incredibly icy and slushy conditions.
Although it’s great to view from a distance and at an angle, don’t say you haven’t been warned.