Winter in the Gorge

[AlanLichty]

From a cold snap a few years back that left the Columbia River Gorge below freezing for over a week. This type of situation isn't really that uncommon as cold air from east of the Cascades can rip down the Gorge when there is high pressure over eastern Washington and leave I-84 almost impassable for days at a time. Once things start to break up there is a rush of photographers heading up the Gorge to capture the icy magic around the falls.

This is the base of Latourell Falls which shows off what happens when the spray from the 249' drop freezes on everything in sight. This also shows why I carry YakTrax with my camera gear so I can access the scene. The trail has several inches of ice on it at the base.

Latourell in Ice

• AlanLichty
• Dec 24, 2017

Latourell Falls covered in ice during a cold snap in the Columbia River Gorge.

C&C always welcome.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Man that's a lot of ice. I have driven I-84 in an ice storm so I know how difficult conditions can be.

 

[JimFox]

Now that's some ice! Very cool Alan.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Excellent! I get a real zen feeling from this, Alan. Very cool!

 

[MonikaC]

Wow! Not what I think of when I think of Columbia River Gorge!

 

[AlanLichty]

Just for grins here is a wider view of the scene to add a bit more context to the original image above:

There was a pretty steady stream of photographers coming and going. It was entertaining to watch the ones without ice traction on their shoes/boots try to come down to my vantage point. Even more entertaining was watching them trying to get back up to the main trail.

 

[Guy Schmickle]

Interesting to see the gorge without its neon green coat! Very nice.