Rise and Flow
by Nicolaus Wegner
First...HOLY CRAP MONKEYS! Some of the best photography I have seen on this site lately...man, everyone has really stepped up their game. Amazing work to all. I've been browsing the past couple of pages since returning home and wow...just flipping wow.
Photo story time. yay.
This was taken during a six day, 30 mile pack trip into Cloud Peak Wilderness that ended, unfortunately, today. Deep in the heart of the Bighorns, far off the beaten path, lie some of the most amazing and rugged waterfalls/cascades I have seen in Wyoming (no Sasquatch though). Pictured here is just a small 10 foot cascade, but it's part of a 1/4 mile section of down hill rushing water which ends in a fairly large 100+ foot waterfall. I plan on returning to this area again and again, year after year, in an attempt to capture as many of these cascades as I can. The photo opportunities in this single valley practically dwarf all other photo ops in the entire range...no kidding. It's just that amazing. 12 lakes, countless falls, and some pretty epic views of the major peaks.
By the way, if any photogs in good shape with some backpacking/wilderness experience and off trail adventurousness are interested in venturing back here next year (probably August to avoid the mosquito death clouds), I'd be happy to take you...free of charge (gasp!). I'm assuming you already know how to use a camera. ;]
Thanks for looking and please let me know if anything can be improved.
Larger Nifty Vision Version attached.
Comments
30 commentsNick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
aF
Bruce, I took my mother who is almost 50 years old up here with us. It took a little longer, but it was more than worth it seeing her smile. She loves this area, and I hope to get her up there a few more times if she is able. You're never too old if you can carry a pack and do a bit of bush whacking and boulder hopping. Outside of the basin, back on trail, we ran into a gentleman in his 60s or 70s who was making an attempt at Cloud Peak. He did not make the summit but was enjoying the area. I can only hope to be so lucky as to experience the wilderness for so many years if my eyes and legs hold up.
love it
Chris
Ed
But at least you got this awesome pic! Looks terrific--wouldnt change a thing...
I'll take you up on your offer--I'll even throw in an impression of 'Opera Man' on the trail free of charge
speed looks right for the falls and what a beautiful sky. The larger version
tells me that this will make a gorgeous print.
Just as a question, to get into that area, what is the elevation and how high
do you ascend from the beginning of the trailhead? If I never get to make
the trip, your lovely image makes me feel as if I'm there. Thanks for the
posting.
Stan, I'll drop you an email soon. It will be next August that we go again, so plenty of time to get an exact date set. Hmm...singing...as long as it is not beiber or gaga, I should be able to handle it.
Robert, total elevation gain is not much. Maybe 2400 feet at the most (trailhead 9000' to destinations between 10500-11400'). I'd guess around 12 or so miles one way but it can be broken up into a couple of days depending on physical needs and schedules. It goes up and down a bit just as we head off the trail a little over halfway in.
Dean, I know what you mean about Spear Lake. That's near where I wanted to drop over and up into Sawtooth Lakes, but my current routes either involved super long 4 wheel deathness or a 20+ one way hike in, so I'm holding off on that for a year or so. This area is more sceninc anyways...although I will get into the Sawtooth basin eventually..if only to see it. There is a huge 500+ foot cascade that drops out of that valley, so it's going to be interesting finding a way in.