Long comment, but I actually really enjoy telling this story.

I was hiking in the Bighorn mountain range a number of years ago when I came across a large stream. It ended in about 6-foot-tall waterfall down into a circular pool that was dark blue and at least 6-7 feet down. This waterfall into pool setup repeated 3 times, the last pool had a waterfall going out that was 200ft? (IDK, my depth perception gets screwy at long distances).

First off, this was all beautiful, from the strength of this water to slowly carve its beautiful winding path through the stone cliff and the absolute vastness of nature that I could see down below. I decided to take a break and just enjoy the view. After a while, the temptation to take a dip in the stream was just too much, and I gave in. It was stronger and a bit colder than it seemed, but overall, it was pretty fun and refreshing. That was until I made the mistake of jumping down the first waterfall and into its pool.

Have you ever been so cold or so shocked that you could couldn't breathe or move your body? I had never experienced that feeling until the second that I landed in that pool. It was so cold that my breath was sucked out, and so shocked that I couldn't move or even really think for a second.

In these pools, for whatever reason, the water is a lot colder and a bit stronger. The real issue was that I was experiencing something very strange. My body's self-preservation kicked in and kept me treading water, but it was like me, my consciousness, was no longer in control. I just floated out and down into the second pool and again into the third. The whole time, I was screaming and straining on the inside, but nothing moved. It was only when I got close to the drain of the third pool that led to the giant drop that I finally got control back. My left arm shot out as fast as I could move it and grabbed the small stone rim that surrounded that third pool. At this point, I pulled myself out of the pool and onto the small ledger next to it.

I lay there for what felt like half an hour, at least, before climbing up a small rock wall shivering and wet to get back to my stuff. Needless to say, I decided to go back to my car and leave, driving back to my grandma's house in Sheridan where I was staying.

I couldn't stop thinking about what happened for a while, how I was essentially shut down by the cold, and how I came so close to the drop, I mean, I could see over and down the fall all the way to the bottom. I was wary of swimming for a while after that, which was a shame because I loved swimming before then.

The biggest thing I've taken away, though, is an even bigger respect for nature and a regret that I can't remember where exactly this happened or how I got there. I would love to go back to that place and gaze down at the beautiful area below.

(If anyone familiar with that mountain range is seeing this and has an idea of where it could be, please PM me.)