Thousands of years ago Great Spirit and Evil Spirit engaged in a battle for control of the earth. The violent confrontation between these gods formed the Wissahickon Valley, tearing through the earth and opening the gorge. It was fierce and bloody combat that lasted for centuries. Finally, Evil Spirit was broken and tired, he fell to the ground and begged for the mercy of Great Spirit. Great Spirit knew that this was a trick and Evil Spirit would come for him again when his wounds healed. He looked into the eyes of that Devil and saw his true intent to destroy the earth and its inhabitants. Great Spirit ripped a boulder from the cliffs, raised it over his head and hurled it down towards Evil Spirit. The boulder struck with unbelievable force and drove Evil Spirit down into the earth opening an endlessly deep crater in the ground. The crater filled with blood and water, the rocky bottom collapsed onto the broken body of the devil. Evil Spirit screamed and cried out in pain as the stone crushed his body popping his organs like water balloons under a wet blanket. His jagged, broken bones tore through muscles and flesh. His skull caved in like the crater he lay in as brain matter poured from his mouth and ears. His eyeballs shot out and snaked into the collage of sparkling schist. Great Spirit watched the blood mix with the water and thought that he had killed Evil Spirit. He was wrong. Evil spirit watched through his disembodied eyes as Great Spirit walked from the pool, his giant body towering over the trees. Evil Spirit vowed revenge as the earthly form he inhabited lay ruined amongst the debris. Evil Spirit slept for many years as his body healed, he woke in a tomb buried under a thousand feet of jagged stone and cold deep water with a burning hunger for revenge. There was no relief to be found for this devil. He scratched at the walls of his tomb until his fingers were worn down to the bone. Evil Spirit relented, he sat on the cold, wet floor and waited. He starved and went mad in the complete darkness. He plotted his escape and revenge for tens of thousands of years with a hunger that could never be satisfied. His malignant power was magnetic and seeped through the crevices of stone like radon gas. It bubbled up through the cold water and out into the sky. It attracted humans from across the ocean, pulling them and compelling them to leave their homelands. It instructed them to steal and poison the land. He infected their souls and tempted them with gold and the desire to control this new world. As they arrived he instructed them to poison the waterways and destroy the earth. He instructed them to chase the original people from their ancestral land through violence, disease and deceit and then he slept. The treachery the settlers brought had satisfied his hunger. Great Spirit’s power was waning and he knew he that must contain Evil Spirit. He strengthened and solidified the walls of the tomb, filling the cracks in the walls. Evil Spirit slept again awakening only to feed.
The natural pool that was left above the tomb attract bathers to this day with its seemingly calm and clear waters. The boulder thrown by Great Spirit remains at the edge of the Devil’s Pool, bearing the imprint of his thumb. Evil Spirit sleeps below but still draws bathers to the pool. He compels them to jump from the boulder into the waters below. Throughout the winter he shakes the earth causing trees and branches to fall down to the roof of his subterranean prison creating hidden traps and snares.
Thousands of divers brave the jump from the boulder that sentenced Evil Spirit to his subterranean prison. Most escape his dark pull, mocking his power and the very idea of his existence. They sail through the air laughing and plunge into the water angering the devil. The sounds of human joy taunt him and raise him from his slumber. When his power is strong and he fully awakens Evil Spirit reaches up from the depths and pulls hapless souls down into the tangled wooden limbs. He holds them on the bottom of the pool where he feeds upon their souls. When he is done he releases the lifeless bodies to float back to the surface.
Evil Spirit is trapped, but his power is not. He compels humans to leave trash along the trails and amongst the rocky shore. He spreads disease and violence. Be careful when jumping from the boulder. The traps set below the surface are hidden and Evil Spirit sleeps lightly.
Great Spirit watches from afar, honored by the users and stewards of the trails that line the valley created in the ancient battle between good and evil. He waits for a time when Evil Spirit rises from the water for their final confrontation or dies alone in his dank tomb.