Photographic Memory

[AlanLichty]

This is an image of Eagle Creek taken in the fall of 2015. The location of this capture is a couple hundred yards downstream from ground zero of the 2017 Eagle Creek fire. It is not clear whether much of what is visible in this scene has survived besides the rocks and water.

Eagle Creek

• AlanLichty
• Dec 16, 2017

A photograph of a memory.

C&C always welcome.

 

[Kyle Jones]

That's a nice scene that definitely reminds me of my hikes there. I like the reflected glow on the water.

I choose to be optimistic that in a few years we'll have some new scenes to explore in the Gorge, just as beautiful as our old favorites. I much prefer optimism to just being sad.

 

[AlanLichty]

That's a nice scene that definitely reminds me of my hikes there. I like the reflected glow on the water.

I choose to be optimistic that in a few years we'll have some new scenes to explore in the Gorge, just as beautiful as our old favorites. I much prefer optimism to just being sad.

It's a given that things will grow - hard not to when you have as much rainfall as the Gorge gets each year. The sadness for me is how long we will have to wait to even get back on the trails to see any of it. All of the old highway between Bridal Veil Falls and Ainsworth State Park is closed to the public and all the trails are closed.

 

[JimFox]

A very cool shot Alan. I don't think I ever got down along the creek in that area to shoot.

As for future shooting, I am actually hoping to get in there and since there was a fire to hopefully capture some different and unique looks that within a few years will be hidden once again by the forest growth. I was very saddened by the fire and wish it hadn't happened, but now I wouldn't use the word excited, but I would say I am looking forward to capturing some different looks. Of course as you mentioned there will be an issue with the trails, and just how much access we will actually have. It might be well into summer next year before the land has dried a bit and settled that the trails could be safe?

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I know how you feel about changes in the places you love to photograph. Places I used to love to photograph have changed over time too. It is just the way nature works. Think of Yellowstone, the Snake River Overlook in the Tetons, Wawona view in Yosemite because of bark beetle infestation, Mt. St. Helen's, the best overlook in the San Juan Mountains, and Navajo Falls in Havasu Canyon to name a few. People tend to think that over their relatively short lifespans that things should never change but they do of course and it can be disappointing. So I am going to start a thread of images that no longer exist as a means of remembering them. I hope it is a bit cathartic.

BTW, Alan, nice image.

 

[AlanLichty]

A very cool shot Alan. I don't think I ever got down along the creek in that area to shoot.

As for future shooting, I am actually hoping to get in there and since there was a fire to hopefully capture some different and unique looks that within a few years will be hidden once again by the forest growth. I was very saddened by the fire and wish it hadn't happened, but now I wouldn't use the word excited, but I would say I am looking forward to capturing some different looks. Of course as you mentioned there will be an issue with the trails, and just how much access we will actually have. It might be well into summer next year before the land has dried a bit and settled that the trails could be safe?

Stability of the rocks above the trails is the primary concern. From what we can see in aerial images the fire went up to the ridge lines and then skipped around up on top. Not all of the creek bottoms were impacted since the fire stayed mostly up high. Oneonta is the exception and is basically naked right now. Trail bridges will need to be replaced as most of them are gone and most of the trails will require some rehab work. We are not having an overly wet winter like last year so far which may help a bit.

I know how you feel about changes in the places you love to photograph. Places I used to love to photograph have changed over time too. It is just the way nature works. Think of Yellowstone, the Snake River Overlook in the Tetons, Wawona view in Yosemite because of bark beetle infestation, Mt. St. Helen's, the best overlook in the San Juan Mountains, and Navajo Falls in Havasu Canyon to name a few. People tend to think that over their relatively short lifespans that things should never change but they do of course and it can be disappointing. So I am going to start a thread of images that no longer exist as a means of remembering them. I hope it is a bit cathartic.

BTW, Alan, nice image.

It could be interesting to see what happens next. While our NW forests on the west side of the Cascades are primarily evergreens it is the case that deciduous plants tend to be some of the first vegetation in a disturbed area like this. In the long run the firs and pines will choke them out since they can grow year round and the deciduous plants only grow in the summer. This could mean more colorful fall leaves for a while.