Kevin Palmer

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  • There aren't very many waterfalls in the world that allow you to walk behind them and watch the sunset. But you can do just that at Seljalandsfoss on the southern coast of Iceland (foss is Icelandic for waterfall). This is only possible during the late summer and early fall, when the sun lines up and transform the curtain of water into liquid gold. A rain jacket or poncho is essential if you want to get behind the waterfall without getting soaked. The force of the water falling 200 feet and hitting the pool below almost seemed to create it's own wind, with the spray going everywhere. It only took a few seconds before my lens was covered with water droplets. To get this shot I huddled over my camera in a corner, waiting for just the right moment when the sun popped out and no one was walking in front of the falls. This is a popular tour bus stop along Iceland's Ring Road, so it can get very crowded at times.
    Liquid Gold
  • At the base of the 200' tall Skógafoss waterfall in Iceland I saw something I've never seen before: a 360° rainbow. Every rainbow is actually a full circle, but the lower part is almost always blocked by the horizon. There are only a few situations where a full 360° rainbow may become visible. One way is to have a very high vantage point, where you can clearly see below. A steep mountaintop or an airplane window would work under perfect weather conditions. But in this case, it was spray from the waterfall that caused the rare optical effect. The rainbow faded in and out depending on the wind and where I was standing. The amount of mist in the air had to be just right. The sun also needed to be low on the horizon, so that the light would be shining through the mist at just the right angle. The radius of a rainbow from the center (the antisolar point) to the outer edge is always 42°. Since my widest lens only had a field of view of 81°, I couldn't quite capture it in it's entirety.
    360° Rainbow
  • San Antonio Falls is a 100 foot high waterfall in the San Gabriel Mountains. It flows year round from springs higher up the mountain. I passed this waterfall on my hike up Mount Baldy.
    San Antonio Falls
  • Shining Cloud Falls is not an easy waterfall to get to. You can see it in the distance in the canyon below. But you have to make your way down a very steep hillside to get down to it. It's especially difficult while wearing a 40 pound backpack. But once you get down to it, there is a rock ledge that lets you move around easily enough to capture it at different angles. This is a panorama since it was shot at close range and I wanted to include the entire waterfall.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 9/30/14
    Shining Cloud Falls
  • In the northern Big Horn Mountains there is a waterfall called Paradise Falls. There are no signs for the trailhead and you won't find it on most maps, it's sort of a local secret. The waterfall is at least 120 feet high, but it's split into several drops and cascades.This is the lower part with the tallest drop. It's tricky to get down here and reach the base.
    Lower Paradise Falls
  • Tower Fall is a 132 foot high waterfall in Yellowstone National Park. The road there is closed in the winter so it requires a 5 mile roundtrip hike. The view of the waterfall is limited because there is no way to get closer or find a different perspective. There used to be a trail to the base but it is now closed.
    Frozen Tower Fall
  • The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River thunders over a cliff as seen from almost a mile away. At 309 feet high, this waterfall is nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls. It is the largest waterfall in the Rocky Mountains by volume, although the flow rate was a lot less in September when this was taken. The 24-mile long Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone starts here and in some places is over 1,000 feet deep. The canyon walls consist of a volcanic rock called rhyolite, and display a wide variety of colors. Hot springs and other geothermal features are scattered throughout the canyon along the river. If you look closely you can see a viewing platform just above the falls to the right.
    Falls of the Yellowstone
  • Aside from the graffiti, this place doesn't look like Orange County at all. Black Star Canyon Falls is a 65' high waterfall found in the Santa Ana Mountains. The waterfall only flows in the spring and winter, and can be reached by hiking 4 miles. The route becomes more difficult at the end and requires climbing up and around boulders.
    Black Star Canyon Falls
  • On the northwest side of the Bighorn Mountains are at least 6 named waterfalls. Some of these waterfalls are an easy hike. Crystal Creek Falls however was not. Located near the top of a valley at 8,000 feet, it's not the distance that made it hard to reach. There is no trail here, and the waterfall is surrounded by cliffs and steep terrain, dense forest, thorns, and large amounts of deadfall. While not as bad as many other areas, pine beetle damage was evident around here as well. Despite the scenic views, by the time I got back I vowed to never go this way again. The terrain and climate in this area varies significantly in a very short distance. About 35 inches of rain falls annually at this elevation, but the dry basin just 10 miles to the west sees only 1/5 of that amount.
    Crystal Creek Falls
  • Matthiessen State Park is located in North Central Illinois. There are at least 6 waterfalls located throughout the park with several creeks cutting through the gorges. The creek in this shot flows from Matthiessen Lake down to the Vermillion River. The trails alongside the creek are only accessible when the water level isn't too high. Giant's Bathtub is the name of this waterfall and it's located in the upper dells area, not far from Lake Falls.
    Giants Bathtub
  • Fallen leaves accumulate around a small waterfall in Pewit's Nest State Natural Area, Wisconsin. This is the first of 3 waterfalls on Skillet Creek as it flows through this deep and narrow gorge.
    Creekside Leaves
  • At 90 feet high, Wildcat Falls is the tallest waterfall in Starved Rock State Park. Starved Rock is located in North Central Illinois and contains 17 canyons, many of which have waterfalls. Each canyon flows into the Illinois River to the north.
    Wildcat Falls
  • Skógafoss is a 60 meter high waterfall in southern Iceland. In the evening it is positioned perfectly for vivid rainbows to appear in the mist. I got here at the perfect time, once I made it to the top and back the rainbow was already gone.
    Rainbow of Skógafoss
  • This 20 foot high waterfall in Matthiessen State Park doesn't even have a name. You have to hop across a creek and hike up a canyon to find it. The pollen on the surface of the water was continually swirling around the small pool.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 10, 2013
    Swirling Falls
  • Bridal Veil Falls is found in the northern Black Hills just outside of Spearfish. The waterfall cascades about 50 feet down a granite cliff in Spearfish Canyon. The cloudy weather was perfect for shooting with longer exposures.
    Black Hills Cascade
  • A waterfall is illuminated under the moonlit sky. The peak in the background is the 8,760 foot Clements Mountain.
    Glacier Moonlight
  • Bridal Veil Falls is found in the northern Black Hills just outside of Spearfish. The waterfall cascades about 50 feet down a granite cliff in Spearfish Canyon. The cloudy weather was perfect for shooting with longer exposures.
    Bridal Veil Falls
  • Ever since I saw the strange name (Leaky Mountain) on a map, I was intrigued by it. Located in the northern Bighorn Mountains, I could find little information about this waterfall online and no pictures. But I soon realized the reason: there's no easy way here. On the last weekend of April I took advantage of the warm weather and set out to find it. From the trailhead on the MT/WY border it's a 19 mile roundtrip hike, and I camped downstream. The next morning I climbed to the base, but there was no trail to follow, with steep terrain and thick vegetation lying between me and the falls. Numerous thorns, snowbanks, loose talus, water crossings and mud all had to be navigated around as I followed my ears to the source of the stream. Snowmelt and groundwater seeps into the limestone cliffs from above. Cold, pure spring water gushes out of the side of the mountain in multiple cascades. Behind me stretched out a panoramic view of Little Horn Canyon and the higher snowcapped peaks. With all the difficulty in reaching this place, once I finally got here I didn't want to leave.
    Leaky Mountain Falls
  • Kirkjufellsfoss is one of the most iconic scenes in Iceland. Just Google "Iceland" and see how many times it shows up. The name translates to "church mountain waterfall" because of the peak's nearly perfect symmetrical shape. There is a trail (if it can be called that) leading to the top of Kirkjufell which is one of the steepest I've ever hiked. In the evening, tour buses stop here and this small spot is filled with hordes of tourists and photographers lined up tripod to tripod to capture the sunset. But I wanted to avoid that so I came back in the morning when it was much quieter. There was a storm moving in and the sunrise didn't look very promising. But the eastern sky took on an orange glow for a short time.
    Kirkjufellsfoss Sunrise
  • Öxarárfoss is a small waterfall in Þingvellir National Park (pronounced Thingvellir). Morning is the perfect time to look for rainbows in the mist if it's sunny.
    Öxarárfoss Rainbow
  • This scenic waterfall is near the beginning of the Lost Twin Lakes Trail in the Cloud Peak Wilderness.
    Middle Tensleep Falls
  • This is the view from the end of the Piney Creek trail. I tried to get a little closer to the small frozen waterfall, but I stopped in my tracks once the ice started creaking. Despite the subzero temperatures, the ice was never solid all the way across the creek.
    Frozen Piney Creek Falls
  • This small waterfall is just beyond the grove of palm trees in Borrego Palm Canyon.
    Flowers and Hidden Falls
  • This is the biggest and last waterfall on Skillet Creek as it flows through Pewit's Nest State Natural Area. The fall colors were at their peak and the orange leaves were contrasting with the green moss on the sandstone walls. This deep and narrow gorge is located just outside of Baraboo, Wisconsin.
    Colorful Gorge
  • In the northwest corner of Washington state is one of the wettest places in the US. Up to 10 feet of rain falls here annually, which creates a lush rain forest. The dense canopy blocks out the sun, and the forest floor is covered with moss and ferns. When the massive trees do fall, many of the logs end up in rivers and are carried out to sea, where they become piled up along the beaches. Marymere Falls is a 90 foot high waterfall found not far from the shore of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. This hot August day was the perfect time to photograph the rain forest, since thick wildfire smoke was blocking out all of the big views.
    Falls and Ferns
  • In between the upper and lower Lost Twin Lakes, there is a waterfall. After raining all morning, the sun finally came out at 1PM.
    Lost Twin Falls
  • In between the upper and lower Lost Twin Lakes, there is a waterfall. After raining all morning, the sun finally came out at 1PM.
    Top of the Cirque
  • This is Missouri's highest waterfall, Mina Sauk Falls. The total height is 132 feet although it is split into several sections. It's a little tricky to get down to it, but it's a great place to cool off on a hot day.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 6, 2014
    Mina Sauk Falls
  • This is one of many small cascades above Mina Sauk Falls. The waterfall below this is the tallest in Missouri at 132 feet.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 6, 2014
    Above Mina Sauk
  • Lake Falls is a 45 foot high waterfall that flows from Matthiessen Lake in a state park with the same name. There was mist in the air the closer you get to the falls, making it challenging to photograph without getting my camera wet.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 10, 2013
    Lake Falls Mist
  • Paradise Falls is a scenic waterfall in the northern Bighorn Mountains. There are no signs for the trailhead, and you won't find it on most maps, it's sort of a local secret.
    Beaver Creek Canyon
  • Granite Falls is a scenic waterfall next to Granite Creek Campground in the Gros Ventre Mountains.
    Granite Falls
  • The waterfall in Ottawa Canyon had frozen halfway to the ground on this cold 10 degree day. An ultrawide 10mm lens gave a unique perspective looking up from the end of the canyon.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 6, 2015
    Halfway There
  • ome of the best parts of Iceland are the unexpected spots that aren't on a map. I saw this waterfall in the distance near Rif and followed a gravel road to get closer. But the main overlook was still a ways away, and it looked like I couldn't get any closer without crossing the river. But I watched another group of people make it to the top of the falls, so I followed their tracks. It was worth the effort since the view was much better up close. Svödufoss flows over moss-covered basalt columns below the slopes of Snaefellsjokull volcano.
    Svödufoss
  • Porcupine Falls is a scenic 100+ feet high waterfall in the Bighorn Mountains.
    Above Porcupine Falls
  • Spray Falls is a 354 feet high waterfall found on the northwest side of Mt Rainier. You can hear it from far away and as the name implies, I kept having to wipe the water droplets off of my lens.
    Spray Falls
  • Shell Falls is a beautiful waterfall right by Highway 14 above Shell Canyon.
    Shell Falls Autumn
  • There are many waterfalls and rapids along the trail to Elk Lake in the Beartooth Mountains. This one was the biggest.
    Rosebud Falls
  • Of the 3 waterfalls I stopped at, I liked the foliage around Spearfish Falls the best. The upper viewing platform can be seen at the top.
    Fall at Spearfish Falls
  • Borrego Palm Canyon is found where the San Ysidro Mountains meet the Sonoran Desert. This arid region of San Diego County receives only 6 inches of rain annually. But this place is vastly different than the surrounding terrain. Fed by underground springs coming to the surface, lush plants fill the canyon and colorful wildflowers are found around every corner. Even though the water flows year round, it disappears a short ways downstream. Numerous waterfalls tumble over the boulders and I had to be careful not to step on the many frogs hopping around. The dozens of fan palms that grow here are some of the last remaining naturally occurring palms left in California. This cool and shady oasis is the perfect place to visit on a hot afternoon and it's the most popular hike in Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
    Borrego Palm Canyon
  • Greenstone Falls is one of the bigger waterfalls on the Little Carp River. It is located in the backcountry of the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 10/1/14
    Greenstone Falls
  • Mission Falls drops hundreds of feet to the valley below as the sun sets. Golden Larch and Aspen trees fill the valley as the seasons change. The 250 square mile Mission Mountain Wilderness contains many snowcapped peaks, alpine lakes, 1,000 foot waterfalls, and numerous wildlife. There are few hiking trails and most are steep and hard to follow. Because of this, it doesn't attract many visitors. Half of the range lies within the Flathead Indian Reservation and the mountains weren't explored by white men until 1922.
    Mission Falls Sunset
  • Starved Rock State Park is a beautiful place to visit any time of year. During the winter when the conditions are right, you can see frozen waterfalls. La Salle falls, where this was taken, is unique because you can walk behind it in a miniature cave. It was hard to find any liquid water on this day as the temperatures slowly rose above zero.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/24/13
    Frozen Drip
  • This is the lower view of Kirkjufellsfoss. The light had already gone flat by the time I made it down here.
    Cloudy Kirkjufellsfoss
  • I spotted this icefall while driving through Ten Sleep Canyon. The north-facing side of the canyon does not see any sunlight all winter.
    Ten Sleep Icefall
  • Big Timber Falls flows through a narrow gorge in the Crazy Mountains not far from Half Moon Campground. The roar of the water can be heard from far away.
    Big Timber Falls
  • Since I was camping near Seljalandsfoss, I went over to get a few shots of the aurora above the falls. I wished I could have turned off the spotlights, since they were a bit too bright. The moon was positioned at the top of the falls.
    Seljalandsfoss Aurora
  • I walked the loop around Seljalandsfoss about 3 times, capturing the different angles as the light changed. I was glad I had my rain jacket with me.
    Seljalandsfoss Evening
  • The 60 meter tall Seljalandsfoss tumbles over a cliff in the evening sunlight.
    Mist in the Air
  • On Thanksgiving I went for a hike up Layout Canyon on the east side of the Pryor Mountains. The trail ends at this interesting spring. Most of the Pryors are arid, but this place is an exception. Water gushes out of the side of the cliffs and flows over this mossy domed rock. The shady spring with a backdrop of sunlit cliffs made this a challenge to capture, it's a 5-shot HDR.
    Layout Springs
  • This rainbow appeared above Yellowstone Falls seen from the brink.
    Rainbow at the Brink
  • Water gushes over the top of Manido Falls right before the larger drop. The wooden overlook can been on the other side of the river.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 10/3/14
    Manido Falls
  • I came back to shoot these icefalls in Abisko Canyon again since the light was better than the day before.
    Icefalls of Abisko
  • It was interesting seeing the contrasts of black lava, verdant moss, and glacial ice on Snæfellsjökull.
    Glacier and Moss
  • Vibrant fall colors were above the Bonanza Falls on the Big Iron River.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 10/2/14
    Below Bonanza Falls
  • I liked the pattern the water made as the Big Carp River flowed toward Lake Superior.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 9/30/14
    Flowing Over
  • The Big Carp River flows through a colorful part of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 9/30/14
    Big Carp Rapids
  • This is one of many amazing views you'll see when driving Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park.. If you look closely under the glacier you can see Bird Woman Falls which drops 560 feet. It has a much higher flow in the spring and is a lot harder to see in the fall.
    Crown of the Continent
  • The trail back from Mina Sauk Falls passes many small cascades as this stream flows down the canyon. There are many beautiful scenes around here, especially if the water level is higher.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 6, 2014
    Shady Cascade
  • La Salle Canyon is a 2 mile hike one way in Starved Rock State Park. There was hardly any water flowing on this frigid morning. The early morning light was shining on the canyon walls.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: 12/24/13
    Frozen La Salle Canyon
  • A small cascade on Beaver Creek flows through a verdant valley in the northern Bighorn Mountains.
    Beaver Creek Cascade
  • Willow Creek wraps around the Palisades Campground outside of Red Lodge, Montana.
    Willow Creek
  • It's difficult to find a village with a more beautiful view than that of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Set in a deep valley in the Bernese Alps, the name of the town means "many fountains." There are said to be 72 waterfalls cascading over the sheer cliffs into the valley, and it seems the sound of falling water is never out of earshot. The largest waterfall is Staubbach Falls (on the right) and at 300 meters, it's one of the highest unbroken waterfalls in Europe. At the head of the valley is Grosshorn which was covered by a fresh snowfall the day before.
    Lauterbrunnen
  • It's difficult to find a village with a more beautiful view than that of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Set in a deep valley in the Bernese Alps, the name of the town means "many fountains." There are said to be 72 waterfalls cascading over the sheer cliffs into the valley, and it seems the sound of falling water is never out of earshot. At the head of the valley is Grosshorn which was covered by a fresh snowfall the day before.
    Valley of 72 Waterfalls
  • There are at least a dozen waterfalls flowing down Baronette Peak in Yellowstone National Park.
    Mountain of Waterfalls
  • La Salle Falls tumbles over a small cave in Starved Rock State Park. With all the rain Illinois received in June the waterfalls here were flowing quite a bit. The cool shady canyons provide a relief from the summer heat.
    Behind the Waterfall
  • After shooting the sunrise I returned to my campsite at Setburg. This was the view looking across the bay at the mountains above Grundarfjörður.
    The Fjords of Grundar
  • Patapsco Waterfall
  • Located just 8 miles west of downtown Baltimore, Patapsco Valley State Park is a suprisingly scenic place. The Cascade Falls Trail goes up a ravine filled with numerous small waterfalls and cascades. This mossy waterfall was the biggest, about 20 feet high. It wasn't a very nice day with thick clouds and rain. But that kind of weather is actually the best for pictures like this. The clouds helped to diffuse and even out the light and allowed me to use a longer shutter speed, making the water look like milk. The rain also made the foliage look even more vibrant.
    Cascade Falls
  • This tornado near Broadwater, Nebraska, developed almost on top of me while I was attempting to core punch the storm. At the intersection of Rd 78 and Hwy 385 I was close enough to hear the roaring waterfall sound and feel the intense RFD winds. But I couldn't see it because the storm had become HP (high precipitation) and visibility was horrible. As I fled south on Hwy 385 debris started flying past me including sheet metal hitting my car. A semi truck that I passed would be flipped over on it's side and all the sign posts at the nearest intersection snapped in half. Once I made it a safe distance away (about 5 miles) I stopped and took this picture looking north. Visibility was still bad, I couldn't see the tornado and I even missed it the first time after reviewing my pictures. But after enhancing the contrast the twister became visible in the rain shaft on the left.
    Broadwater Tornado
  • I’ve always liked this particular road on the west side of the Bighorn Mountains. With plenty of steep twists and sharp turns, switchbacks and hairpins, it ascends to a waterfall and campground. The poor maintenance, few guardrails, and occasional rockfall add to the thrill. If the snow were any deeper I couldn't have made it to the top. Before it got dark I found the perfect viewpoint so I could return later. The bright moon illuminated the beautiful landscape and clouds, I just had to wait for it to move off to the side. At 10PM Orion rose directly above the peak in the middle. Then all I needed was a car to paint the road with its headlights. So I left my camera perched on the side of the mountain to shoot automatically while I slowly drove to the bottom and back up. After combining all the car trail images with a single image of the sky this was the result. Highway 14A is the road on the right and the lights in the distance are from Greybull I think.
    Switchbacks and Car Trails
  • In mid-September I went backpacking at Crystal Lake. This small lake is located at the edge of treeline at nearly 10,000 feet in the Bighorn Mountains. It was a chilly night with frost forming on my tent immediately after sunset. But soon after that the full moon began to rise out of sight to the east, illuminating the peaks to the west. Across the lake a waterfall tumbled down the cliffs and an early snow lingered above a rockfall of massive boulders. I left my wider lens behind, so I had to shoot a panorama to capture everything.
    Crystal Clear
  • Kaskaskia Canyon contains a 20 foot high waterfall, with several dead trees that fell down and became stuck. Behind it is this cave. The ice in the cave was just barely thick enough to support my weight and I could see fish swimming underneath. I liked the way the light was reflecting on the ice.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: January 6, 2015
    Cold Cavern
  • It was the first time I've hiked to Solitude Falls and it was flowing pretty good. This was the start of a very hot day and it felt great to be standing here in the mist of the waterfall.
    Solitude Falls
  • Nearly 2 miles high in the Cloud Peak Wilderness is a place called Highland Park. Ever since someone told me about it last fall I've been wanting to visit. But it is not easy to reach. The trailhead starts at the end of a long and rough dirt road. After hiking 7 miles, deep snow drifts covered the last mile of trail. With lots of post-holing, my shoes were soon soaked through. But it was worth the effort to get here. The highest peaks of the Bighorn Mountains towered to to the south providing an incredible panoramic view. From left to right is Penrose Peak, Sawtooth Ridge, Mount Woolsey, and Blacktooth Mountain. With over 50 elk grazing in the meadow below I opted to setup camp a little higher instead. Other than the sound of a distant waterfall and the occasional elk call, it was perfectly silent. This was the view of the alpenglow at sunrise the next morning.
    Highland Park Sunrise
  • The peaceful Black River winds its way through the Saint Francois Mountains before it reached a series of waterfalls. These waterfalls are known as shut-ins.<br />
<br />
Date Taken: May 7, 2014
    Black River Falls
  • Iceland has no shortage of scenic waterfalls. This one is called Hraunfossar (meaning Lava Falls) and it's located near Húsafell in the western interior. The water splits into numerous cascades as it trickles through the mossy lava field and flows into the Hvítá River. Volcanic activity still heats the many hot springs found in this valley, which includes the most powerful one in Europe. The river is fed by the Langjökull Glacier, the 2nd largest in Iceland. Glacial silt suspended in the water gives it the beautiful turquoise color. A forest of short but colorful birch trees grew around the river, an unusual sight in this mostly treeless country.
    Hraunfossar
  • Iceland has no shortage of scenic waterfalls. This one is called Hraunfossar (meaning Lava Falls) and it's located near Húsafell in the western interior. The water splits into numerous cascades as it trickles through the mossy lava field and flows into the Hvítá River. Volcanic activity still heats the many hot springs found in this valley, which includes the most powerful one in Europe. The river is fed by the Langjökull Glacier, the 2nd largest in Iceland. Glacial silt suspended in the water gives it the beautiful turquoise color. A forest of short but colorful birch trees grew around the river, an unusual sight in this mostly treeless country.
    Lava Falls
  • It rained most of the morning at my campsite on Lost Twin Lake in the Cloud Peak Wilderness. The cold rain was at times accompanied by thunder and lightning, gusty winds, and graupel (snow pellets). Nearby waterfalls grew louder and the sound of a distant rock slide echoed across the lake. My plan of summiting Darton Peak would have to wait for another day. After the last rain shower, the clouds descended and obscured the highest peaks. I took this picture while enjoying a cup of hot coffee as the rain finally stopped. It's difficult to convey just how massive these cliffs are. The sheer granite walls rise 1-2 thousand feet above the lake. If you can see the white speck at the base of the cliff on the right, that is a tent. The top of this bowl-shaped valley, known as a cirque, was carved out by glaciers long ago.
    Clouds Descended
  • Clouds swirl around Barronette Peak on a cold February evening after sunset. This peak in the northeast corner of Yellowstone is known for the many waterfalls which tumble down the mountain, all of which were frozen.
    Barronette Peak
  • Lost Valley in Arkansas is full of wonders such as towering cliffs, massive boulders, caves, and, waterfalls. This picture was taken inside a natural bridge, looking out at the colorful forest. During the dry season Clark Creek flows underground. The water comes to the surface at the other side of this natural bridge. It flows through and then ends in this pool where it seeps back under the earth. Even though it was raining quite a bit on this evening it didn't make the creek rise any higher.
    Under the Bridge
  • American Alps. With countless towering peaks, alpine lakes, verdant meadows, and waterfalls, there are a lot of similarities. The mountains aren't as high, but it's more wild than the European Alps, since the majority of this rarely visited national park in northern Washington is pure wilderness. 312, or 1/3 of all the glaciers in the lower US are found within it's borders, although many of them are shrinking. While passing through in August I only had enough time for one hike. So I climbed a ridge up and around Ann Lake, which is a small, round tarn with it's own island. Sunlight began to disappear as a storm was moving in. But I should have expected to get wet, the trail started from Rainy Pass.
    Ann Lake Wildflowers
  • In a cirque at 10,000 feet in the Cloud Peak Wilderness during the middle of summer, it's pretty much paradise. There are no trails here, visitors must navigate their own route on steep boulder fields. Not knowing exactly what to expect is what makes it an adventure. At this elevation it never gets hot and some snowfields stay year round. Waterfalls and wildflowers abound under towering granite walls. 9 named lakes fill this high valley, plus countless unnamed tarns like this one. Each lake is different. One of them was still partially frozen, another had islands, and one a sandy beach perfect for swimming. It's the only place I've ever caught a fish with my bare hands. This was the easiest of the 3 creeks I waded through that day. The puffy cumulus clouds were a precursor to the thunderstorms that pop up most summer afternoons. Up here above treeline it's very exposed to the weather. I made it down to the protection of the forest before the first rumbles of thunder, but didn't escape getting rained on.
    Frozen Lake Falls
  • In early September I spent some time exploring central Montana. One of my stops was Lost Lake, which I only discovered by accident. As it's name implies, the lake is hard to find and information about it is scarce. Among the rolling hills north of the Highwood Mountains you would never guess there's a lake hidden away here. It's not until you walk right up to the edge of the cliffs that you can see the water. According to geologists, this lake formed during the last ice age. An ice sheet dammed up an ancient channel of the Missouri River. When the water eventually broke through the blockage, the floodwaters formed massive waterfalls over these cliffs. I was standing on top of Dry Falls, where the flow would have once exceeded that of Niagara Falls. Now the flow is only a trickle, and the water hundreds of feet below is mostly stagnant with algae at the edges. Lost Lake is located on a private ranch, but the landowner allows access if you can find it.
    Pillar of Lost Lake
  • It rained most of the morning at my campsite on Lost Twin Lake in the Cloud Peak Wilderness. The cold rain was at times accompanied by thunder and lightning, gusty winds, and graupel (snow pellets). Nearby waterfalls grew louder and the sound of a distant rock slide echoed across the lake. My plan of summiting Darton Peak would have to wait for another day. After the last rain shower, the clouds descended and obscured the highest peaks. I took this picture while enjoying a cup of hot coffee as the rain finally stopped. It's difficult to convey just how massive these cliffs are. The sheer granite walls rise 1-2 thousand feet above the lake. If you can see the white speck at the base of the cliff on the right, that is a tent. The top of this bowl-shaped valley, known as a cirque, was carved out by glaciers long ago.
    Clouds Descended B&W
  • Hawksbill Crag is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Arkansas. After driving a rough dirt road up Cave Mountain, the trailhead sits at the edge of the Upper Buffalo Wilderness. The trail passes several creekbeds and waterfalls, but they were all dry this time of year. This rocky overhang which is also known as Whitaker Point, is bigger than it looks. Sunrise is a great time to watch the valley fill with golden sunlight. But I only had minutes to take pictures on this morning since the sun soon went behind a cloud deck and the light went flat.
    Hawksbill Crag