My First Gallery Show

For some time my family and friends have urged me to have a show to highlight my outdoor images. I have never really wanted to put a commercial spin on this area of photography as there are so many that so much better than I. Last year the local paper offered me time and space in their monthly gallery and I declined believing myself and my images not worthy. But I rain-checked them for a year in the future and wouldn’t you know it…..it’s time.

I have spent the last month processing and printing about 15 pieces for display. These images are a mixture of frames, standouts, and even a couple of gallery wraps. I hung them on the afternoon of March 3rd. They will hang for a month and the paper will do a short piece about me and my work later this week.

I have learned a lot during this process and the first is…..if it looks good on the computer it looks twice as good printed…at least for me that is the way of things. Even though I can dissect each image with all it’s faults when I step back and look as the not-to-critical consumer they work very nicely. The second thing I learned is that printing bigger is better. Anyone with a camera of 8 megapixel or so and a good capture can produce some really fine larger images.

The next thing I learned is anyone who needs photos printed should strongly consider MPIX/MPIXPro/Millers Lab. From dirt cheap overnight FedEx shipping, to rushing an order, to the absolute rock-solid packaging of your precious images……these guys ROCK! They have someone there 24 hours and I have yet to send an email that was not answered within 30 minutes. Every file I have ever sent looks better than I could have ever have imagined. Recently my daughter was in Pittsburg,KS looking at Pittsburg State University as a possible place to continue her volleyball career at the collegiate level(yes she will be a GORILLA!). While there I arranged a tour of Miller’s facility. My tour leader spent over two hours and answered every question that I might ever have had about any process at the facility. I just can not say enough good things about them. Every time I have considered another lab I always find out the grass is seldom greener on the other side.

Anyone out there with a photographic vision and some images….consider letting the rest of the world view them in real time. All of us are suckers for the visual side of things and we will lap up all the images you want to hang. Even if you think they are bad there is someone who loves it.

In closing I will just say that the ground in Arkansas is getting saturated with moisture and the sound of waterfalls will not be far behind. I can hardly wait! I believe I will be posting just a bit more regularly as the spring waterfall season heats up.

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Westbound and Down-Oregon Photo Tour

There are many nature photographers that I admire.  One that is at the top of the list is Marc Adamus.  Marcs’ images are unforgettable and when you see them you can bet your jaw is going to drop.  I have spent about a year setting things up with Marc for a small group tour and so in the middle of May I headed to Portland, Oregon.  I was accompanied by two photo friends, Tommy Morgan and Steve Palmer .  Tommy is a Canon shooter and Steve has embraced the darkside of Nikon. 

Flying out of St. Louis on SW to save some dough  was an experience unto itself.  From not knowing that the SW terminal was located in a separate terminal about half a mile from the main terminal, to the line up and get the best seat you can on your own we were continually amazed at how SW does what it does.  All in all a positive experience.  The flight attendants had humor and attitude and that experience alone was worth the trip. 

Arriving in Portland in the later afternoon on Friday we headed to the rental car desk where we discovered we lucked into an upgrade from a Subaru Outback to a Toyota Highlander.  This vehicle was awesome and held us and our gear with room to spare.  The comfort and sound level was excellent as was the ride.  Now onto our motel in Troutdale.  This is an east side suburb of Portland and was chosen due to it’s proximity to the Columbia River Gorge where we would do lots of waterfall chasing.  

We chose a local landmark to eat at by the name of McMenamins.  On site it has a spa resort, winery, brewery, golf course, amphitheater, and three dining choices.  We went with the high-end and had an excellent meal and service.  Onto the motel and a good nights sleep. 

Elowah Falls-Columbia River Gorge

 

We met Marc at the parking lot to Horsetail Falls about 7:30 the next morning.  We spent the morning chasing several waterfalls on moderate trails.  Marc was a great tour leader who spent all the time necessary to make sure we were operating our equipment to get the best images, helping us with composition, and even getting us and our gear up and down some tight spots.  This would be the norm for the entire three days we spent with Marc.  After a great lunch at a locals spot in the Gorge area we headed to the seashore.  Along the way Marcs’ Subaru Outback(with over 300,000 miles) finally gave up the ghost and blew a head gasket.  Marc made some quick calls and obtained transportation and the tour resumed.  We spent that evening and most of the next day touring the northern Oregon coast at places like Seal Rock, Cape Perpetua, and Cape Kiwanda.  During this segement I am sad to report that the Old Man of the Sea claimed Tommy’s Canon 5D .  Most waves are just about this size and come along at just about this time interval…Tommys’ wave was quicker and larger than most and we were almost all caught unawares.  Several other close calls ensued throughout the coast experience.  My advice, do not leave your gear for a second unless you are really tired of the gear that you have.  Luckily I had brought a second Canon body and we soon had Tommy shooting again.  And the experience of cleaning sand from your tripod is not to be missed.  

Then it was back to the Gorge on day 3 and then that evening back to the coast.  The back and forth was necessary as we were chasing weather, tides, light, and lodging.  Then for two more days we had the coast and the Gorge.  What sticks with me so much is how rich, lush, and green everything was in the Gorge.  You almost always had moving water in your sight and often a large waterfall.  From the coast I will not forget the smell of the ocean, the wind and waves, and the seafood at the local cafes.  We relocated so many times I felt like a Ping Pong ball bouncing from spot to spot.  I hope the shots that I posted here can give everyone an idea of the beauty and grandeur of Oregon.  I really only scratched the surface.  My images of the seashore did not turn out very well.  I confess to really struggling with this side of landscape photography.  My next trip to the seashore will result in a much better capture rate of good images. 

Bob, Steve, and Tommy with Waclellah Falls in the background

A Day in the Life of a Pro Photographer

Getting Your Platform Right

I finally got to experience the life of a pro photographer.  Not all the life-just a glimpse.  This glimpse drove home the old saying that you should be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.  I was lucky(and I use the word loosely here) enough to be able to be a second shooter at the Arkansas State High School Volleyball Championships held at the Convocation Center on the campus of ASU in Jonesboro, AR.

Can I Really Serve Now?

 Quite a day.   It actually started the evening before when I met the pro, Tom Ewart.  Tom has an extensive history shooting big-time sports here in Arkansas and he showed me some of the ropes.  Or this case wires.  Because we spent several hours the evening before the event hanging lights and stringing wire to give them power and cables to synch the flashes.  High up in the catwalk of a major event venue is no place to be if heights are a problem for you.  Luckily I do very well with heights.  NOT so good with keeping my head out of the way of metal supports.  Dang that hurts! I’m not going to get real technical because it would be boring and I really can’t because my knowledge base is limited.  Suffice it to say to get everything to work takes testing and the ability to re-rig things on the fly.  Once we had things as good as we could get on Friday evening it was off to bed and get ready for a long day on Saturday.

Arriving at the venue about 2 hours before starting ceremonies was a good idea because a few problems crept into the mix that kept us busy working things out until just before the start.  We would be available for 5 volleyball matches.  No breaks other than ones we thought we could take.  Having two shooters meant that if one was not on the floor shooting that the other could cover things quite well.  Having the large strobes set up in the catwalks with wireless triggers meant we could shoot all day long at a rapid rate with few problems.  Every now and then we hit the strobes a little hard and had to go back up in the stratosphere to reset them.

Pulling Together

Streching Out the Defense

2 on 1

We would shoot the match trying to give equal image time to both teams and fans.  At the end of the match we would shoot intimate shots of the winners as the losers really are not interested in that moment.  Then it was marketing ourselves by putting business cards into as many hands as we could before the next match would start.  Then it was to the computer to dump the memory cards into the laptop and get ready for the next go round.  Lets not forget the other photographers working the event and trying to stay out of each others way.  Plus knowing that different photogs are contracted for different types of images.  So I also had to work not to step on any toes here also.

Once the event is over it is tearing everything down as fast and safely as possible.   The Convo workers are setting up the floor for basketball and they want us to be done before they are ready to go home.  And they work hard and quick and so we did also.  Making sure we didn’t drop any expensive equipment three stories and injure anyone or damage any equipment is tough to accomplish quickly.  Even so with Toms’ experience and my enthusiasm we got that done without incident.

Bringin' It Strong

I found out a lot of things during this process. 

-Shooting about 5K images in one day with a heavy body and lens takes a toll on the arms, shoulders, and backs of the shooter.  I could not do this day in and day out as so many do. 

-Being aware of the coverage of my lights and the changing exposure depending upon where I was standing was  very new and a constant challenge. 

-Making a contact with the event staff is key to getting things done easily throughout the day as you might need the everyday rules bent just a bit from time to time. 

-And the fact that media get to graze at the hospitality trough makes the day just a bit easier. 

Kudos to the event staff and Westside High School who hosted the event at the Convocation Center.

 Interesting stories from the day include the end to an almost perfect season by 3A St. Joseph Conway who had their hearts broken by the girls from Mansfield.  The 6A match between Benton and Marion-talent versus determination.  Talent prevails in this match with Benton being crowned. The rivalry between the big girls from 7A Rogers Har-Ber and the not as tall but determined champions from Ft. Smith Southside-match to Southside.  The repeat of last years 5A matchup between Siloam Springs and Greenwood.  Results the same as last year-winner Siloam Springs.  And the marquee 4A matchup with local flavor.  Westside versus Valley View.  The gym was packed during this match.  Valley View has won every time during the regular season.  But the Westside coach has guaranteed a state championship this year.  Both teams were here last year and Valley View won.  Now Westside is without a key starter and has changed their entire offensive and defensive scheme in the last two weeks of the season.  Westside prevails in three and Coach Glenda Patterson proves her prediction accurate.

 Throughout this post and following  are a few of the shots from the day during the match between Siloam Springs and Greenwood.   Everynow and then you as the phtographer get an opportunity to be in the right place at the right time and capture a special moment.  The last image in this group is “The Moment”.

Lets Get This Right

The Bench Watches it All

Bliss

The Moment

Richland Falls-You Are MINE!

Twin Falls of Richland Creek in the Fall

After my defeat by the Twin Falls of Richland last week I was determined to battle them again and be victorious.  With my hiking buddy Larry Patrick (who goes VERY prepared I would say) along I set out about 130AM to the Harrison, AR area.  I needed to stop at a local photographer’s house and pick up my camera, backpack, and tripod.  I had left them in his Jeep last week during the rescue.  Then it on to Lurton and the turnoff onto the back roads. The last few miles of the trip are along a very lonely dirt road with only about 4 or 5 houses on it.  Just long stretches of Ozarks hills and woods.

 We leave the parking area about a mile above Hill Cemetery about 7AM.  Temperature is now 34 degrees but before long I am very comfortable in a wicking t-shirt and a nylon long sleeve shirt. My fleece is packed away in case I stop long enough to get cold.  No chance of that happening as it takes us about 4 hours to drop down to just above the falls. The old logging road is easier to see now that quite a few people have come thru in the last couple of weeks and the rescuers even cut some trees and limbs away from the path in their efforts to evacuate Ed Cooley(see my previous post) last Friday morning. A very steep drop down I might add with lots of slick areas and rocks just ready to roll down the hill.   This time in addition to my GPS and compass I have a custom-printed topo map from the good folks at mytopo.com.  they are based in Montana but they can ship it quick and print exactly the area you want.  My map  has  parts of 6 different quads on it.  So they can save you money if you need that service. 

These falls must be seen to be appreciated. They are about 25 feet high and each fall is about 15-20 feet across. The water level in Richland Creek was low enough that at all areas I could see I could wade across with the deepest parts being maybe 2 feet deep. The flow at higher water levels must be epic for the Ozarks! The fall color had peaked in this area last week so there was very little red even visible. Mainly yellows and browns now.

The lighting was poor for photography as we had bluebird skies and a bit of wind. Nevertheless I was determined to make some images and so I set off. The creek bottom is very slick and it was very soon  that my feet went out from under me and I hit the ground hard. The camera was spared but my elbow took a big hit. I had an impact cut that bled for quite some time requiring a big band-aid and a wrap from my first aid kit. My shirt was not cut but the elbow area filled with blood pretty quickly. I am sure the baby aspirin that I take daily had some bearing on the bleeding. After about an hour we started the trek back up the hill. This bit was 20 minutes of the hardest physical activity in my life. Loaded down with a backpack, tripod, and fanny pack made it tough. And not to mention the rocks, wet and slippery conditions, and my already tired state from the hike in. We persevered and made it back up to the logging road without a mishap. This trip will spur me to get a lighter backpack and to put less stuff in it. I want to be prepared but I find that I rarely use many things that I carry. Time to trim the list!

This area must be insect heaven. Spiders and their webs were everywhere. Even more unusual was the number of “walking sticks”. From dark to light brown, green, and even one with a bit of blue, they were everywhere. At one point I carefully pulled three different ones off me and set them carefully down on the ground where they immediately vanished. From the amount of rock in the area I would also venture a guess that during warmer conditions this area would also be snake heaven. I can say with confidence I will NEVER take this route in during a hot time unless there is another rescue going on in the area. I will try hiking in from the Richland Creek campground next time.

We happened upon two groups of people on the way out. The first was a large group of U of Arkansas students who backpacked in and set up camp just above the last big side drainage into Long Devils Fork. They were well-prepared for the conditions. The next group was not. Larry and I encountered a couple in their sixties about 230PM who were dressed in very nice casual clothes with no packs of any type and no supplies visible. They wanted to know if they were on the trail to the waterfall. I wanted to lie to them and tell them no but I replied that it was but I suggest you not try and make the trip. It is very physical and they would not get there before dark. They followed us out very slowly but as we were only about 200 yards from Hill Cemetary they were out fairly quickly. As Larry and I walked up the mile long road to our car they stopped and offered us a ride in their 4WD Expedition and we gladly accepted. I pulled out my Tim Ernst Arkansas Waterfall Guidebook and steered them to another waterfall in the area that I knew they could get to with ease with the time they had left in the day.

From here it was 25 minutes on the dirt roads and another 20 minutes into Jasper, AR and the Ozark Cafe. After Larry and I power late-lunched  we declared this to be some of the best home-style cafe grub anywhere.  The near standing-room crowd echoed out thoughts.  We passed on the great home-made cobbler for dessert as we knew the 4 hour drive home would be murder with that on board.  You need to check them out-OzarkCafe.com.  they also have a great pizza place right next door with wonderful homemade crusts and sauces for the pizza.

About 930PM I rolled in the door and heard a whisper from upstairs.  It was my bed saying”Come on in Bob-sleepin is fine.”  And indeed it was.  When I awoke this morning I smiled at my previous day and the majesty of those falls that only a few people have seen.

Until next time….

Fall in the Ozarks–And a Fall in the Ozarks

Self Portrait on the Bridge at Smith Creek

A new adventure awaited me recently.  A large amount of rain in at the same time that fall colors are appearing led me to leave the slightly elevated Crowley’s Ridge and journey over to the Buffalo River drainage in northwest Arkansas.

My plans were to camp out for a couple of nights in the back of my pickup that has a hard top on the bed.  This would give me several days of cheap shooting with near-perfect conditions of overcast days and some rain.  With waterfalls already flowing it just couldn’t get any better.

Indeed it couldn’t.  In fact, it could only get worse.  The first morning started well enough with me dropping down into the drainage at the start of the journey to Compton’s Double Falls(or as I like to call it Wyatts’ Folly in honor of my needing rescue from this spot earlier this year).  I came right onto Ambers’ Falls and began to take some images.  Within minutes I was in some of the hardest rain I ver seen.  Over 20 minutes of it before a bit of a let up.  Then the hard winds began with widowmakers hitting the ground all around me.  They were still in place from the ice storm this past spring.

This was all I needed to abort the day.  I drove to Little Rock and spent the night with my sister-in-law Linda.  I got dried out and did the drenched laundry.  After cleaning my gear I enjoyed a great home-made chicken-fried rice dinner and an early bedtime.

Three AM found me on the road with my chosen spot today of Smith Creek.  This gem of a spot is owned by the Nature Conservancy and is available for all to enjoy.  I spent most of the day here shooting the ample side drainage and the creek itself.  Not another soul was there and the light and weather was perfect for making images.  I even enjoyed a power nap after my lunch of tuna/crackers/pudding/and cookies.

Cascade Along Smith Creek

Then if was more shooting and on into Jasper for a pizza at the great pizza place on the town square.  It is owned by the same fine folks who give us the Ozark Cafe next door.  I topped off my pizza with a helping of fresh blackberry cobbler right from the oven!  I ate till I hurt and I haven’t done that in a long time.

Smith Creek Autumn Afternoon

Now onto Fairview Campground right next to the Ozark Highland Trail between the bustling cities of Pelsor and Lurton.  Total population between the two MIGHT be 20 hardy souls.  At the campground I found a couple of groups of ATV riders who were enjoying the cool and cloudy evening.  In fact the clouds were moving right thru the campground.  A late evening cup of hot soup and hot chocolate prepared on my JetBoil(www.jetboil.com ) stove(single use propane with self-starter..it RULES by boiling about 20 oz of water in about 3 minutes).  And off the sleep in the back of the truck.  The top protected me the intermittent drizzle and I could see the clouds rolling thru the campground.  A bottle to empty my bladder in during the night and I was set.  tomorrow was the day I was going to shoot at the Twin Falls of Richland.  A magical spot and one I had long wanted to visit.  It looked like something I could do with the help of a waterfall guidebook by Arkansan waterfall guru Tim Ernst.

The morning came quickly and with it a new set of problems.  My truck would not start.  Evidentially I used the ACC too much in the evening.  I could not take a chance that I did not have battery problems so I decided to run down to Russellville to get my battery checked.  The battery grade out perfect but now I was over two hours behind schedule.  Little did I realize how helpful this would actually be in the grand scheme of things.

Water Chute

Arriving at the parking spot above Smith Cemetary close to Iceledo Gap about 1200 I made the walk down the very rough road.  The was another car at my parking spot and a SUV/crossover at the cemetary.  So TWO photographers are in here now.  Great -I will have some company I thought.  Then I heard someone thrashing thru the brush and soon I meet Matt McCllellan-another photographer.  He told me it was not too bad a journey until the last half-mile or so close to Twin Falls.  That was a bugger he said.  He also said the owner of the crossover was Ed Cooley-another photographer I know by exchanging comments on a message board.Ed was shooting Twin Falls and would be in there awhile yet.  I bid Matt a good day and I started to head through the thick brush and briars to find the old logging road I needed.  After 10 minutes I gave up ever trying to find the logging road.  It was now 1230 and I decided to change the plan.  I am not so strong and brave of an adventurer to continue on myself so I decided to switch  locations once again for the evening.  Lo and behold but I find ANOTHER photographer locking his car at the cemetary as I struggle out of the woods.

This time it is Glenn Wheeler.  I know Glen from his website(glennwheeler.com) and now I know him in person.  Glenn also planned to shoot Twin Falls and so we decide to try it together.  Glenn is experienced at backcountry travel and with two of us together we should be able to handle about anything.  did I mention that Glenn is an EMT and volunteer SAR who has extensive training?  He has participated in many extractions from the backcountry.  Little did we realize he was about to participate in another!

We could not find the logging road either but between the two of us and our GPS units we felt like we could get where we needed.  We also both carry the SPOT unit(findmespot.com).  This handy device will use GPS to find your position and report on your progress to a group of people whom you specify.  If will send text messages to cell phones and email also.  There are two other buttons on this device.  One is for Help…you need help but are not in danger.  The other is 911 and it sends a message to the Air Force who then gets in contact with the closest rescue squad to the reported position and starts a full-fledged rescue operation.  I had one of these since my adventure earlier this year getting lost going out of Compton’s Double Falls.  I needed just one person to get me out and he recommended this device highly and so I now have one.  This device would play a very important role for one the aforementioned photographers in the area.

Bushwhacking our way slowly and steadily to our objective we stopped about 3:30 and decided to abort the attempt today.  We were still at least 30 minutes from the falls and if we took only 30 minutes to shoot some images we would still be well after dark making our way out of this jungle.  We both had headlights and I also carried my trusty Surefire flashlight also light was not a problem.  But we were already tired starting to stumble a bit.  Within a short time Glenn found the logging road we had been searching for and even with the many lay-downs on it that had to be dodged our journey out was much quicker.  Within 30 minutes we were over halfway to our take-out spots.  Soon  we heard voices in front of us and soon coming our way is obviously a rescue squad carrying equipment including a spine board and a paramedic with a full  pre=”full “>medpak.  they noted out SPOTs and asked us if we had activated them.  We both checked ours for this and when we replied no the squad looked very disappointed.  I knew immediately it had to be Ed Cooley whom I also knew carried one of  the devices.

He had activated his device about 2 pm and his location was reported to be very close to Twin Falls.  Exactly where we had been going!  It was now about 4:30 pm.  Glenn and I sent the squad on ahead and we ran the last half mile out to our cars.  We switched out packs- Glenn donning a SARpak with high-angle extraction rope-pulley stuff and me putting on his large EMT medpak.  He has at least 4 more packs in his Jeep!  We head back down the trail and marked it with tape as we were going in as many more rescuers were on the way.  Over 35 to be exact!  About  6 pm we catch up with the first group and another group passes us.  Now there are at least three separate groups looking for Ed and trying to make their way to the Twin Falls.  By 6:30 PM we have to activate our headlights and press on.  By 7:30 PM the rescue squads are losing battery power for their radios and the squad with the paramedic is out of contact with everyone else.  they were not in the initial or second group to make contact with Ed due to location/navigation issues.  By 7PM the Air Force has advised us that the beacon appeared to have moved in a circle close to its first reported activation but now has been in the same spot for over two hours.  Due to communication issues and exhaustion the rescue squad leader is mulling over calling off the search for the night and starting again early in the AM.  Just at that time over the radio another squad of Forest Service personnel reported that they think they are seeing the SPOT’s blinking green LEDs in the distance and in just a few minutes later they report finding Ed.

By now it is now after 8:30 pm.  I am stumbling over everything and the squad leader Phillip is in the same boat.  We elect to hike out as we could not help with extraction anyway.  I pass my medpak to another willing soul and Phillip and make our way out.  After 10:30 pm we stumble to Smith Cemetary where a large group of support personnel feed and water us.  We learn that Glenn has reached Ed and he has an open fracture of his lower leg and other undetermined injuries.  He fell from near the top of one of the falls when a piece of rock gave way beneath his feet. He is in good spirits and the extraction process will now start. We also learn that he was found partially in the water, the temperature of which is no warmer than 60 degrees F.  So good for him that he was found tonight.  Several more hours in the water and no telling what the result might have been.  I wondered how they would get him out as there is no good close spot within half  a mile of these falls that a helicopter could land.  And to carry him out once he is extracted from the falls/bluffs will be tough as there is very few places even on the logging road that a group of people could carry another out without running into a tree every two feet or so.

I get back to my truck and start down to Russellville where I plan to spend the night in a soft bed.  And then onto home in the morning. I called my wife Susan and reported the events to her as there is hardly ever any cell phone service in that area of the Ozark National Forest and Richland Creek Wilderness.

The next morning I learn that Ed was not airlifted out until almost 10AM.  He was undergoing surgery that afternoon with other surgeries anticipated in the near future.

What a few days in the wilderness!  I got a a newfound appreciation for the thousands of volunteer SAR people over all the United States and certainly the ones in NW Arkansas.  Spending their own money for training and equipment-not to mention gasoline!  they can not be appreciated more.  I can only hope if I am ever injuring in the backcountry I get the opportunity to have dedicated folks like these trying to help me.  That day was one of the hardest physically I have every endured and I can not imagine how those that stayed did it.

Smith Mossy Cascade

Colorado in the Summer!

Time for another edition of Wyatts’ trips.  This one is special.  After going snow-skiing for several years I decided to try Colorado in the summer.  I have really been missing the beauty out there.  Along with Xander and Christian(my two teen-aged sons) I went to Salida and Ouray (Colorado) a few days ago.

Leaving Jonesboro in the early evening we drove all night arriving in Salida(south central Colorado-the Arkansas River runs right thru downtown!).  Having three drivers in a car really helps for those long nights thru Kansas where there is nothing, sometimes not even car lights on I-70!

Setting up camp in the Silver Ridge Motel in Salida we took the rest of day one to check out the town and get an awesome meal at Moonlight Pizza in downtown Salida.  Salida is a small town dependant upon outdoor recreation for it’s livelihood.  You can see mountains from any vantage point in this town.  Our motel was a small family-owned establishment that was very clean, well-run, and had beautiful gardens and flowers all over.

The next day we did ziplines with Captain Zipline(captainzipline.com).  Very fun and very well organized and quite safe.  There were a total of 6 ziplines that we got to take. They are in the process of adding two more.  The next two will both be over 1000 feeet long!  I was told the longest zipline in the world is in Costa Rica and it is over 3000 feet long!  You fly that one face forward like SuperMan.  I think Costa Rica is on my list!

Arkansas River Cascade detail.

Next on the list is a one day float trip on the Arkansas River thru Browns’ Canyon.  This had several Class III rapids and perhaps one Class IV.  Water levels in late July are not best for lots of white water but we got all we wanted on our one day trip.  Shore lunch prepared by our guides was a very good sandwich buffet(roast beef, salami, and chicken) with all the fixins including olives, pickles, chips, crackers and peanut butter, and cookies.  All the tomatoes and onions were cut fresh right there on the river making everything very fresh and tasty.  We floated with Wildnerness Aware(inaraft.com) and were very happy with all levels of service from these outfitters.  Their base facility outside of Buena Vista was large, clean, modern.  All the staff were very friendly.  Equipment was clean and well-maintained.  Our trip even included continental breaksfast. Everyone should do this at least once.  I will go again in higher water.  I almost fell out once-and that water is COLD!  As an interesting aside our guide told us that the highest concentration of mountain lions in the U.S is right in this area.  Even so, they are seldom seen.

After getting off the river about 4 pm we headed to Ouray, about 4 hours west of Salida.  Arriving about 9 pm(dinner dontcha know!) we hit the bed because the next day would be two jeep tours.  One to Yankee boy Basin and another thru Corkscrew Gulch and Hurricane Pass.

Velocity Basin

Taking it Easy on Corkscrew Gulch

Could you belive I could not interest either boy the next morning at 7:30 and so it was lonesome me who made my way to the Historic Western Hotel just off Main Street in Ouray.  Since Ouray is about 7 blocks wide and 12 blocks long it is vey easy to find everything in Ouray!  My first tour was to Yankee Boy Basin, just south and west of the town of Ouray. 

A moderate 4 WD road led to a beautiful spot known for its wildflowers and they were at their peak.  Yankee Basin in July must be seen to be believed!

Flowers Everywhere!

 Along the way our guide Bernard would stop and point out animals(marmots!), old abandoned structures, and natural features.  Arriving back in town at 12:30 we were schduled to go again at 1:30.  Christian came with me this time and we had a great time with Keith(Mel Gibson look-alike!). Corkscrew Gulch was much tougher than Yankee Boy.  Sometimes Keith would drive our large truck with nine open-air seats backwards up a narrow trail to put us in good position to drive thru a hairpin turn.  One the way back down we got a flat tire and Keith really earned his tips by changing the tire in less than 2o minutes.

After getting back into town about 6 pm I went to Ouray Riverside Inn Jeep Rentals to pick up our rental jeep for our next days adventure.Excellent service, late model Jeeps, and a through orientation for someone like me who has little 4WD experience.

Twin Falls-Yankee Boy Basin

The alarm rang about 4:30 the next morning as I pulled on my clothes and headed back up to Yankee Boy Basin for a morning of photography.  I really just muddled thru this adventure.  I got some reasonable images but nothing that I am really proud of.  Even so they certainly give you an idea of the great natural beauty of this area of the U.S.

Sneffels Creek

Returning to our base at the Comfort Inn I picked up Xander and Christian for our next excursion.  A 4WD drive to the ghost mining town of Animas Forks.  We headed about 20 miles south of Ouray on 550 and just east and north of Silverton we hit the dirt trail to Animas Forks.  Evidence of old and not-so-old mining activity is constantly visible.  I let both boys do some driving on this road.  They pronounced this excursion their favorite part of the trip except for the food.  Animus Forks contains about 10 buildings in various stages of collapse.  One of the building has a bay-window in it and I am sure at the turn of the centruty it was the talk of the town!

Leaf/Stem

Returning the jeep after gassing it up and washing it we went to the Ouray Hot Springs Pools.  For $10 you can choose from 5 pools of varying temperature- cold, and then all the way up to 105 degrees F.  Very relaxing after a long day for Bob and the boys.

While in Ouray we ate at Bon Ton and the Outlaw.  Both times we chose Italian and we found it good but not slap yo mamma good.  Service was OUTSTANDING at both places.  In the morning I had coffee, bagels, and some pastry at Back Street Bagel and Deli.  VERY GOOD with reasonable prices.

Columbine

Next day it is time to leave and head back to the flatlands.  Even though the trip out was tough on the boys they both decided to make the trip home without an overnight stop!  We stopped in Durango for an outstanding sushi lunch.  Durango is a very upscale town with lots of fine dining and services.  Both Ouray and Silverton are very small mountain towns.  Except for food they close up about 6 pm.  One other thing, the hummingbirds are everywhere out there.  In front of our Comfort Inn during the day I never saw less than 7-8 at any one time hitting the feeders and chirpping away.

Everyone take a trip out to Colorado in the summer-it’s a BLAST!

Falling Water Creek

This past Saturday(June 6, 2009) my son Christian and I made the trek from Jonesboro over to Falling Water Creek.  This is close to Ben Hur(a wide spot in the road really).  After an early wake up of about 12:30 AM we got on the road about 1:30 AM.  The trip is about 4 hours.  Since I had went to bed about 7PM I had 5 hours sleep-but still felt a bit sleepy on the trip over.  Number two son did what any sane person would have done and was soon snoring.  This trip would mark my first with two new toys- a TomTom XL330 GPS and the S.P.O.T Beacon/locator.  Those who read my earlier post know that I have gotten lost in the past and wanted a abit more security.  S.P.O.T. worked as advertised and sent messages to my contacts throughout the day showing my location on a Google map.  TomTom was very nice also.  EVERY road I was on was identified correctly to the best of my knowledge.

Arrival in the Falling Water area revealed that there was indeed water flow in this creek and there were lots of locals camped close to the big local falls, Falling Water Falls.  I was not interested in these falls for this trip so those people did not hamper me in any way. Nor I them;).

Continuing down the road I came to Six Finger Falls.  Water levels revealed lots of the stacked rock and stair-step effect of these falls.  Even so there were opportunities and I was soon thigh deep in fast and cold water.  I had Christian wade out to some rocks and clear some debris to make the image a bit nicer.  Wouldn’t you know it- he fell in about 10 inches of water!  Luckily I had extra clothes so he was soon right as rain in a warm pickup and I was still shooting away.

Six Finger Falls along Falling Wter Creek

Another view of Six Finger Falls

Finishing here we moved downstream to the narrow side canyon containng Fuzzybutt Falls.  This is a truly magical place, narrow, high walls, layered rock, and good flow in the waterfall.  The shape of the canyon prevented morning light from getting in there until very late and so I was able to spend some time here also.  Lots of horse tracks all around.

Fuzzybutt Falls-you will need to investiage to find out where the name came from.(Hint-cloudland.net is a good place to start!)

Then we hightailed it to Longpool Rec Area on the Big Piney River about 30 miles south.  Big Piney had lots of nice water but the signature waterfall had very little flow, just a trickle really.  This will be a spot for another time.   These falls are very high and the hike in is not long but it is a boulder scramble most of the way.  Even so there was a nice secondary falls with a bit of flow in it that I can tease you with just a bit.

Secondary falls below Longpool Falls

 

And for the ending of the day we went on to Conway and ate at the Marketplace Grill.  My meal of Crab Cakes, baked potatoe, and salad hit the spot perfectly.  Then about a three hour drive home and hit the bed again that evening about 7 pm where I slept until time for church on Sunday morning.  Waterfall season in Arkansas is over now.  Future posts will show some treks that I took earlier this year in pursuit of moving water in the Natural State.

A Long Day on Whittaker Creek with a Short Ride with Friends at the End

 I decided that Saturday was my day for Compton’s Twin Falls. My start was bit late, parking at the the signs on Cave Mountain Road that generally mark an approach to these falls about 8:15. Following Tims Ernst’ directions I dropped right down onto Amber Falls and began to make my way on the left side of Whittaker Creek. I never really figured out the bench and so spent most of my time close to the creek bank. This was a tough slog and if this is a “medium bushwhack” I want no part of a tough one. LOTS of ups and downs due to fallen trees and no room on the bank.

Finally made it to the spot above the falls and checked that out for a moment and wondered how the hell I was going to get down to the falls.

Arrival just above Compton's Twin Falls

Looking Down from the top of Compton's Twin Falls

 

Looked easier to the left and about 75 yard below the falls found a good way down. By this time it is 10:30 or so.

Neil Compton's Twin Falls

For about an hour I shot images and then it was time to book. Thinking that I would be smart this time I got up way high on my way out and started back along the course of the creek. I got the drainage that I thought would lead to Amber Falls and then I got too smart for my own good. I decided to just head up the hill on my right. That should take me right to the road. Unbeknownst to me I started bearing slightly right up this hill and found myself topped out and another hill in front of me instead of the road. Here is where I should have just dropped right back down to the last drainage and follow it up to the truck. Instead I kept trying to get my way out from there. Suddenly I found a logging road. Followed it for about 10 minutes in each direction with no clues that I was closer to getting out. By this time it is 2 pm or so. Having read every horror story about getting lost I was determined to sit on that logging road until somebody found me. I took out my stuff and prepared a little sleeping site. On a whim I took out my cell phone(never a signal up here) and texted my wife Susan back in Jonesboro -often the texts go through. I told her to call Tim and see if he could help me out of here.  Oh, did I mention that he lives just a few miles from this wilderness site.

About 4 pm my phone RANG! Susan was calling and she had Tim on the other phone. Tim told me to follow the road uphill and I would be out. Since I was on a flat area that did not work for me. Tim said he would drive to where my truck was and honk at 4:30. Susan and I stayed on the phone and at 4:30 I head the honking..sounds about 1/4 mile away. While I am packing up my stuff here comes Tim on the road. So he gets me back out and he and Pam drive me to my truck. Tim tells me he had a worse day that I did in the outdoors with some equipment problems.   In fact he dropped a lens into thye water during a shoot of his own.  Value of said lens-$1800!!

Thanks to Tim and Pam for making my afternoon much better than I thought it was going to be. Lucky the text worked, lucky they were home,and even luckier that the PHONE worked up on that mountain!

Images? They look pretty good.  You readers can decide.

Looking upstream to Compton's Twin Falls

 

Debriefing:
* Did I have a compass and or a GPS? Yes but could I use them–not so much. My older GPS did not even show Cave Mountain Road.. It does not have any topo. After the fact Tim remarked that he could have just asked me my co-ords and he could have talked Susan and me out.
* Was I prepped for an overnighter? Shelter -I was good and had a great lighter so would have had fire. But only one granola bar and no water (cause I thought this would be an easy 4 hour journey.
* Until my finding where I am skills are much better stick with what I know even if it is hard.
* Thanks for AT&T getting a text through and even finding a spot where my phone would work.
* This was the most sustained physical activity I have had in a long time. I started getting inner thigh muscle cramps that were very uncomfortable and when I got home in the bath tub they came back with the most pain I have ever had in my life! Screaming pain! GatorAde, calcium, and lots of hard massage!
* New GPS with topo and roads is on the short list with lots of PRACTICE!