After the trip to Lindsey Creek Falls yesterday, there was plenty of time left to revisit Lancaster Falls and scout a bushwhack to the upper tier. I have poked around a number of times, but never had the time or desire to find hand-holds amid poison oak..! But as it turned out, it was largely a poison-oak free scramble through sword ferns on steep cobbles to a fine viewpoint of the upper falls.
This photo shows approximately the bottom 1/4 of the upper tier -- and there is also a long slide below this section that leads to the top of the lower tier that can be seen from the trail. The most magnificent feature of the upper tier is that the wind blows the initial horsetail around, ala Mist Falls, so that it dances across a very wide, moss-covered lower portion. Not a typical Gorge falls.
Here is a vertical composition from the same spot that shows the contact point where the upper horsetail hits the cliff, as well as the full sweep of the lower cliff. The entire moss-covered area was white with falling water at various points, depending on the wind. Sort of a waterfall pendulum.
Comments and suggestions appreciated, as always! Lost a bit more color in compressing these than I would have liked, but you get the idea: it's very green up there! Could have stayed much longer, but had to return to civilization... unfortunately...
Olympus E-510, 11-22 mm lens at 11mm, f22, 1/2 second, polarizer
Beautiful shot. The mist creates great atmosphere and the moss looks like velvet. Perfect time for your exploration and thanks for all of the information. Great capture.
I'm not in love with it but I like it. I like the diagonal log, I like the ferns on the left, I like the falls and moss but for some reason I feel the comp needs a little more work, a little more exploring.
I think the area has tons of potential but the log across the FG of the image is more obstacle than enhancement of the falls. Really cool looking falls !!
Be kind to your elders, Bryan! If you haven't already scrambled this one, it's about one-third the vertical distance of Upper Bridal Veil, and less steep -- piece of cake! The only poison oak was at the viewpoint (where I started to drop my pack), so very manageable to avoid. Look for a large, diagonal log below the viewpoint to guide you across the last 75 yards or so, where it gets a bit steeper.
Well now I wish I went out there on tuesday. Trevor and I shot at Starvation Creek and discussed coming back later to do Lancaster but we wound up elsewhere. I'm probably done with the gorge for the year so guess it gets relegated to next spring.
VERY nice Tom. Its like the lovechild of Cabin Creek and Summit Creek Falls (er, Camp Benson Falls as I believe it is actually known). Definitely a top priority now.
Yes, I definitely see the comparison to Cabin Creek - haven't been to Camp Benson Falls (yet). What I wish I would have captured with video is how the water swings back and forth across the lower apron when the wind catches the upper horsetail. Absolutely mesmerizing. I could have watched that for hours... but civilization beckoned, as it always does.
Discussion
12 repliesThis photo shows approximately the bottom 1/4 of the upper tier -- and there is also a long slide below this section that leads to the top of the lower tier that can be seen from the trail. The most magnificent feature of the upper tier is that the wind blows the initial horsetail around, ala Mist Falls, so that it dances across a very wide, moss-covered lower portion. Not a typical Gorge falls.
Here is a vertical composition from the same spot that shows the contact point where the upper horsetail hits the cliff, as well as the full sweep of the lower cliff. The entire moss-covered area was white with falling water at various points, depending on the wind. Sort of a waterfall pendulum.
Comments and suggestions appreciated, as always! Lost a bit more color in compressing these than I would have liked, but you get the idea: it's very green up there! Could have stayed much longer, but had to return to civilization... unfortunately...
Olympus E-510, 11-22 mm lens at 11mm, f22, 1/2 second, polarizer