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regnaD kciN

(26,035 posts)
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 05:10 AM Dec 2015

Water Falling Over Things 2015: Part One (And Only)

For those who may have been wondering what happened to my annual (mostly-)Pacific Northwest waterfall series, here's the explanation in one sentence: This has been a godawful year in the PNW for shooting waterfalls (or pretty much anything else, but more on that later).

Put the blame on last year's truly weird winter, where 60- and 70-degree days were not uncommon, and precipitation was way below normal. That meant two things: first of all, there was a lot less water in rivers and streams; second (and I'll write more about this in my year-end summary, due in the next week), seasons seemed to be running at least a month ahead of usual. In other words, not only were waterfalls flowing at a lower level than normal, but the usual spring period when they're at their highest featured warm, clear, sunny summer-like days that are about the worst possible conditions for shooting waterfalls. It wasn't until late in autumn, when the clouds and rain returned, that conditions for decent (I said "decent," not "great&quot waterfall photography reappeared.

But, of course, that doesn't mean that there were no opportunities at all! Unfortunately, for most of spring, it did rather feel like it. Fortunately, we did have one appropriately-cloudy weekend when I was able to get down to the Columbia Gorge, and take the trail up (and up, and up, and up...) along Wahkeena Creek to one absolute gem I had never visited before, Fairy Falls.





However, that was pretty much the highlight for the entire spring (and summer). Unfortunately, late summer also brought massive wildfires that blackened tens of thousand of acres in Washington state, including the sites of a number of notable waterfalls in the north Cascades, some of which had been on my "must-visit" list for some time. We'll have to wait until next spring's snowmelt to find out whether any of them sustained long-term damage.

Only as mid-October approached did conditions improve, and I was able to capture this autumn scene at nearby Snoqualmie Falls (of "Twin Peaks" fame).





Finally, in November, things were looking up enough that I ventured out on another trip down to the Gorge on what turned out to be a day of steady, drenching rain. (By the time I got back to Seattle, three-plus hours later, my supposedly-waterproof parka was still feeling like it had come straight out of the washing machine.) This time, I avoided the standard tourist stops (which were overflowing with crowds) and headed east. First up was Emerald Falls, another fall I'd never visited before.





Then further east to Starvation Creek State Park, where the namesake Starvation Creek Falls was the first attraction.





From the park, I cut back west on a trail running parallel to the highway. Ephemeral Cabin Creek Falls is actually screened from the trail by a giant boulder (visible on the right edge of the image), but can be accessed by going off-trail a few yards.





Finally, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls is a striking location I'd visited before, but only in spring. As it turns out, autumn foliage adds a lot to the scene.





And that was it for this year. Hopefully, 2016 will be better -- certainly, the amount of rain and mountain snow we've already received gives a reason for optimism in that regard.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Water Falling Over Things 2015: Part One (And Only) (Original Post) regnaD kciN Dec 2015 OP
Beautiful shots! mnhtnbb Dec 2015 #1
Thank you! dixiegrrrrl Dec 2015 #2
How wonderful to see these amazing photos! I have missed your work. CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2015 #3
Love the photos, Curmudgeoness Dec 2015 #4
Great stuff and Dyedinthewoolliberal Dec 2015 #5
These are so beautiful. Blue_In_AK Dec 2015 #6

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
2. Thank you!
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:30 AM
Dec 2015

If I had a dollar for every time I drove past Snoqualmie Falls , I could afford to live up there again.
Lovely shot of the falls,
And you are right, the autumn colors do add a lot to the pics.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,308 posts)
3. How wonderful to see these amazing photos! I have missed your work.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 11:34 AM
Dec 2015

These are so beautiful. You always find the most wonderful waterfalls...

Thank you!

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
4. Love the photos,
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:58 PM
Dec 2015

love the stories. Always worth opening the thread.

I hope that the wildfires didn't get close to all the falls you intend to visit, but if they did, get photos anyways.

Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts)
6. These are so beautiful.
Sat Dec 26, 2015, 08:16 PM
Dec 2015

We were down your way the early part of this month, and, oh, my god, I've never seen so much rain. Certainly not conducive to picture-taking, that's for sure.

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