Tag: Adventure

A Trip to Northern Idaho – Part 7

by Michael

A day of waterfalls and “the story”. Everyone knows you “Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls” and after this day, I know why. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

It was my turn to search the internet for places to go today, I had read about Snow Creek Falls, up north of Sandpoint ID, so I followed the GPS and before you know it, we were on a dirt road going up the side of a mountain, but it got us to the right spot. Janice decided to wait in the car while Karen and I ventured into the woods following a clearly marked path. At this point I really had no idea how long the trail was but it wasn’t long until we were able to hear water in the distance.

Continuing on the trail we soon started going down a pretty steep slope, but the water was getting louder so I figured we were headed in the right direction. Soon we came to a wooden overlook and were treated to this sight.

Snow Creek – Upper Falls

I began to work the scene photographically, trying to get this beautiful sight from different angles. I loved how the beam of sunlight was filtering down through the trees and mist, highlighting the scene like a spotlight.

Snow Creek – Upper Falls

Unlike with the roadside waterfall earlier in the trip, this time I was prepared. I had carried my trusty tripod along with me on the trail since I knew what I was looking for this time. That allowed me to capture the standard “misty water” waterfall. Hey, everyone has to take the cliché shot occasionally when you get the chance.

Michael at water’s edge

While I was traipsing around next to the roaring river of snow-melt, Karen stayed up on the observation platform. I’ve always told her that if something ever happens to me while trying to get a shot, she had better get a shot of what happened to me. My hands are blurry because I was constantly putting them in front of the lens and removing them while taking shots to keep the water spray off.

Rushing River

As you can see from the above photo, that water was not messing around. The spring thaw was in full effect and the water was rushing down the mountain with much power! I had thought briefly about stepping into the water to get a cleaner shot of the fall, but eventually thought better of it.

After spending an adequate amount of time at the scene we headed back. But on our way I noticed a sign pointing to the “Lower Falls”! Double header!! I could tell from the sound that it couldn’t be very far from where we were so we headed down. Janice would understand.

Once we arrived I was in awe. I had thought that the upper falls were magnificent, but I think I liked the lower falls even more! Not as much of the sun beams, but the background glow and the green mossy rocks just made this scene.

Snow Creek – Lower Falls

Once more I was down at the water’s edge with my trusty tripod and this time there were some rocks out in the water. I was able to stand on them and here there were no naked tree branches or twigs in the way. Nice clean waterfall shot!

Snow Creek – Lower Falls

Now, with these two waterfalls under my belt, it was time to head back. I was pretty pleased with how this day had turned out.

We got back to the car and headed down the mountain. On the way down I noticed a guy standing next to his truck coming out of a gate next to the road. Remembering that I was on a dirt road I did the courteous thing and slowed way down so as to not cover him with dust. We waved as we passed.

When we got to the bottom of the mountain the road crossed over Snow Creek and I wanted to get a quick shot of the scene. I was instructed by the two women-folk in the vehicle to hurry because they had “needs” to be met at a station down the road. 😉 No problem, I can do this quick. I jump out of the car and run to the bridge.

Well, as it would happen, while I was there about to take a shot, the truck I passed earlier pulled up and this guy gets out and comes walking toward me. I’m thinking to myself that maybe I didn’t slow down enough and he was going to give me a “talkin’ to” for driving too fast down a mountainous dirt road. He approached me and asked if I lived in Coeur d’Alene. I responded “No, but our friend with us does. I’m from Texas!” We then chat a bit about my camera and such and then he says to me, “I’m going to give you an opportunity that not many people get. I own most of this land here around the river. Just a little ways up this creek is another waterfall that makes the two up top look puny. Are you interested?”

Well, now I have a predicament. I have a once in a lifetime chance to see something unique that is not available to just anyone, but my wife and friend need some facilities. I figure, surely this can’t take too long, and without another thought, I follow this stranger into the woods. I But then I remember thinking as I walked into the woods with this stranger that this is how many Criminal Minds episodes start out. I hope the shot is worth it.

We walk up the side of the creek a bit and the gentleman asks me several times if I’m agile because there will be some climbing involved. I respond “You bet I am!” knowing full well that I’m in probably the worst shape of my 55+ year life. He gives me directions–not far up the creek, but you have to climb up to the top of the bank (about 25 yards up), follow the ridge for a bit, and then climb back down (another 25 yards pretty much straight down. Again I say, “No problem.” I can’t let him thinks Texans are wimps. I thank him again and he turns to leave the woods. I’m alone.

So, I climb up the bank, camera strapped over my back, using my hands to claw my way up. I get to the top of the ridge and my heart is pounding, but I go on. I can hear the water and I keep looking down trying to see the waterfall, but the brush is very thick. I finally get to a point where it looks like a trail headed down the bank, so I climb down, again using my hands, holding on to small branches and roots sticking out of the ground to avoid falling to my death in the rushing water below.

About this time I start to wonder how long I have been gone from the car and remember my lovely wife and friend asking me to hurry because of their “need”. I think, “Well, I’m already out here now, I may as well keep going. Surely it can’t be much farther.” I think about using my cell phone to call Karen to let her know what I’m doing, but then I remember that because this was going to be a “quick shot”, the cell phone was left in the vehicle with her so… (Side note: this is not the first time this has happened)

Little do I know that back at the car, the gentleman who led me into the woods had returned to his truck and proceeded on his way. All Karen and Janice saw was this stranger lead me into the woods, and then this stranger come out of the woods alone, get in his truck, and begin to leave. As he passed our vehicle he stopped and Karen asked, “What did you do with my husband?” To which the nice gentleman replies “I put him in a box and floated him back to Texas.” LOL As I said to Karen later, “Oh those Idahoans and their wacky sense of humor.” So this is going on back at the vehicle while I’m trying to avoid getting myself killed for the sake of a photograph. They chatted for a bit and the gentleman drove away.

Now where was I? Oh yes, I had climbed down the bank, hand over hand, to get to the bottom where I saw this beautiful scene.

Private Land Waterfall–Just out of sight

Dang! I came down just a bit too soon. I look around, but there is no way to walk up the creek without a chance of the swift current taking me away, especially in my weakened condition. Now my heart is really pounding from all the climbing. But it is still a beautiful scene, so as long as I’m here, I might as well take a few shots. Of course, since I was supposed to be taking a “quick shot” of the creek at the bridge, my tripod was back in the car…with my wife and friend. Oh man, they are going to kill me!

I climb back up the bank. I slip a few times and figure I’m either going to die falling to the rocky bottom or my heart is going to explode before I get back to the top of the ridge. My eyesight is starting to get blurry and my heart is pounding in my head, but I make it to the top. I pull out my 360 camera to grab a shot, just in case I don’t make it.

Now, darn it, I’ve come this far, risked my life, risked the anger of my wife and friend, and I’m this close, I MUST get a shot of the waterfall. I catch my breath, slow my heart rate and move on up the creek another 30-40 yards. There, I begin another descent down the dirt wall of death. I don’t make it to the bottom this time because there is a tree and a massive drop-off down to the water. But, I can see the waterfall. I take a few shots, just because. I made it! Still alive…but wait, now I have to climb up again.

Private Land Waterfall – from a bit above

Once more, hand over hand, grabbing anything sticking out of the ground, and hoping that it will hold my weight without giving way and sending me tumbling backwards to a rocky and watery death. I make it to the top and once more must catch my breath, and slow my heart.

After a brief rest, I remember those lovely people waiting for me in the car once again. I being to wonder if they just took the car and went to take care of business (they didn’t). I feel bad, but somehow hope that they will understand that this was something I just had to do.

I slowly make my way back, stumbling along way way with noodle-legs and a dizzy head. I finally see the road once again and make my way out. As I’m crossing the bridge over the creek, I stop to take the original photo I wanted to take when this odyssey began.

Snow Creek

Now I see the car and I see the faces in the car. It has now been about 40-50 minutes or so since I stepped out for a “quick shot”. I know I’m in trouble. But the adventure…

Thankfully, I have a very loving wife and wonderful friend. Once I got them to the station and their needs were met (I also bribed them with sodas and snacks) they were understanding. We traded stories about what happened on each side and we all decided the gentleman from Idaho was a pretty cool guy. I have his card and will be sending him a print of one of the photos I took on his land to thank him for showing this Texas boy a good time, and providing us with a great story!

One day of vacation left…

Michael
Sharing God’s Creation, One Click at a Time

All words and photos copyright 2019 MHampton Photography
Equipment used: Canon 5DS-R, Canon 1DX II, Canon T6S, and various Canon lenses and Insta360 One X

Great Texas Balloon Race: Special Shapes

by Michael

It is that time of year. Once again, the Great Texas Balloon Race comes to the local area! I’ve missed it the last two years but not this year!

I woke up early this morning and headed to Longview to get some shots of the special shape Yoda balloon. Being a long time Star Wars fan (let’s not talk about the latest ones), I looked forward to getting some pictures of the venerable old Jedi Master.

I arrived just in time and the balloon crew arrived soon afterwards. They first stretched the balloon out across the field and all you could see was green material. It didn’t take long using a regular fan to start pumping air into the material and then came the fire!

As the hot air from the fire was pumped into the balloon the material began to lift up and no longer needed to be held up by hands.

Soon, the hot air in the balloon began pulling upward enough that the basket was set upright, almost as if by some hidden “force” was at work.  🙂

Soon, Master Yoda was awake and looking over the crowd of those who came to pay homage.

While I was there, one lucky young man got a quick ride off the ground. I’m not sure if he was happy or scared.

As I left, Yoda looked down and gave me an approving smile. At least I think it was a smile.

Then, just as I thought I was done, I looked up to see that there were many more of the “regular” balloons that were flying over Longview, so I had to make a couple of stops to catch them.

And I wasn’t the only one taking photos of the colorful balloons in the sky.

Tomorrow I’ll be getting up extra early as the balloonists will be competing for their accuracy challenge. Stay tuned for more photos!

All words and photos copyright 2018 MHampton Photography 
Equipment used: Canon 1DX Mark II, Canon 24-70L 2.8

An Eventful Trip to LLELA!

by Michael

Saturday was a beautiful day!  Temperature in the low 80s, no rain, no clouds.  So with schoolwork for the week done, I decided to head over for a hike and see what birds were around.  With all the rain lately, surely there would be plenty out and about, especially in the mark area.  I was really looking forward to this.

The first thing I see as I’m getting my equipment together is a 4-wheeler carrying my new friends Owen and Lynn Richards.  Owen was nice enough to pose for me, but by the time I got the camera pointed in the right direction, he was seated back down.  Smile

As I begin my trek toward the Bittern Marsh area, I hit my first obstacle.  With lots of rain, comes lots of water.  The lake is full and they are letting out a lot of water into the river.  Consequently, the west side of the trial heading to the marsh was flooded.  No problem, I’ll just take the high ground and take the east side of the loop.  Perhaps I can find another way past the flood on the way back on the west side.

As I enter the wooded area, I realize that I’m not seeing a lot of wildlife today.  I also notice that in the woods, the breeze is not blowing and the humidity is pretty high.  No problem, I brought along three bottles of water.

Finally, I spot a Hairy Woodpecker up in the trees, just on the north side of the marsh.  The trail doesn’t go near the tree it is in, but I still manage to get a few semi-obscured shots with the 600.

I continue on, around the east side of the marsh, and then realize the trail on the south side is flooded as well.  No problem though as there is an alternate path on a higher piece of ground, so I take it.  In the mean time, I’m realizing that I’m really glad I wore my water-resistant hiking boots because by now, my tennis shoes would be soaked!

Finally make it around the south side and up to the marsh, when I realize that with the exception of about 4 or 5 American Coots and another couple who were headed out to the boardwalk over the marsh, the marsh is empty today.

Drats!  Okay, I’ll admit it.  By now, the tripod, 7d with the 600 attached, and the 5d2 with the 24-105 attached were starting to get a little heavy.  But hey, that’s one reason I’m out here, for exercise and staying in enough shape to lug all my equipment around.  So, time to head up the west side of the trail back to the parking lot.

Hmm, where’s all that water come from?  Yep, the western path to and from the marsh is flooded all the way down to here.  Can’t even make it to the boardwalk without some serious wading.  I’m scouring the trees, but still no sign of egrets or herons, or much of anything for that matter.

Resigned to the fact that the path is blocked, I head back the way I came.  Of course, this hike just got about 1.6 time longer than I had expected, but hey, like I said, that’s one reason I’m out here.

On the way back, I decide to take a few environmental shots.  May as well use the time I’m having in nature to enjoy the scenery.  I stop at a footbridge and notice this very peaceful scene, and down a half a bottle of water.

A little farther up the path, and I see this barbed wire, looped and hanging on a tree branch.  Reminds me of something out of an old western, so I take a photo.

Back the way I came.  By now, I’m through two bottles of water and my shoulders are really feeling the weight of the equipment.  As I approach the area where I had seen the woodpecker earlier, I’m searching the trees to see if it is still around, and if it has any friends.  I stop and set the tripod down to scan the trees and reset my shoulder.  It sure is peaceful… and quiet… except for a strange rustling noise.  That’s strange.  I wonder what that could be.  I listen again.  Surely that’s not a rattle snake.  I start looking out in the woods beside the trail, searching for anything that might be slithering along the leaves.  Then I look straight down… and my heart stops… if only for a brief second.  I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but I was suddenly about 10 feet away looking at this, right where my foot was just seconds before!

Well, it took a bit, but I slowly calmed down enough to gather my thoughts, even though I was still shaking a bit.  But then I noticed that it wasn’t moving.  Had I stepped on it without knowing?  It’s head was all thrown back and it’s mouth was side open, so I slowly approached.  As I got closer, nope, it was still alive.  It’s mouth opened even farther and it tail began to vibrate.  I didn’t see any rattles, and I’m admittedly not real familiar with snakes so I’m thinking maybe this was a young rattle snake that just hadn’t grown its rattle yet.  So I get my shot, and realize just how close my foot was to this thing.  I spend about 10 minutes there wondering if I should do anything or not when I hear voices approaching.  The couple from the boardwalk.

As they approach, I holler and let them know that there is a snake on the trail.  To my surprise (and relief actually), the gentleman tells me that he is the ex-president of the North Texas Herpetological Society (they study reptiles) and he slowly approaches the snake.  I told him I thought it was a rattle snake because it was shaking its tail, but he informs me that it is “just a water moccasin.”  I’m thinking to myself, “and that’s supposed to make me feel better?”  But knowing that there was someone present that knew about snake was a great relief.  (It is funny how God can orchestrate things so that needs are met at just the right time.)

Long story short (I know, too late), we talk a bit and then I follow my new friend and his girlfriend out of the woods like scared school-boy hiding from a bully behind the teacher.  As we are walking, I find out that his name is Jeff Justice and he is the staff photographer at a local hospital!  So not only did he know about he snake, he could have given me first aid if needed!

We finally make it out (alive) and exchange information.  While I didn’t get the shots I went in looking for, I came out with a new friend and a shot I never thought I would take.  You just never know how your day is going to turn out, so be prepared for anything.

Keep shooting (and be careful)

All shots made with the Canon 7D & Canon 600 f/4 IS + 1.4x and the Canon 5d2 & Canon 24-105 f/4