Fall Gathering Update

Just wanted to touch base with everyone that will be able to make it to the fall gathering this year, October 24-26. Just two weeks to go! So far those that have expressed an interest are Tom Kennon (Saturday lunch), Aaron Szabo, John Moore, Rod Kissinger, Ed Cooley, and myself (Saturday brunch). We'll try to get a camping spot at Fairview, so if anyone is planning on going early Friday, that would improve our chances of getting a group camping area. If that doesn't work out, I think we could find a suitable place along Falling Water Creek Road.

If those folks mentioned above can confirm if they still plan on going, that would be great. That way, Tom and I will know how much grub to plan on bringing. And if anyone else wants to do a meal, we still have Friday dinner and maybe a Sunday brunch that's open...

Wayne, can you keep this thread near the top so it doesn't get pushed down as more threads are added? Thanks!

Bill, I wish I could attend but it's not meant to be. Looks like David beat me to it and got this message changed. Have a great time on the outing!

Sorry Bill, I won't be able to make it. I hope you guys have a great time and get some good light.

I have a great opportunity to do some photography in the Smoky Mountains with a local pro next week so the chances are good I will not be back in time to make the meet. (Unless the colors are flat but hopefully that won't be the case.)

Bill I want to join you guys it will probably be Sat night before I can make it.

I've changed by plans - count me in but tentatively. I'll be in on Friday unless I tell you otherwise. I'll bring something for Sunday breakfast.

Just FYI, I made a tour of Falling Water yesterday - quite a bit of color once you get down into the drainage, some water in the creek and in the falls - another week and some of the views will be very nice. The mud slide near Richland Campground has gotten worse and it swallowed up another section of the road about 100' south. I suspect this will remain closed for a good long while. They are done with the timber sale at Fairview Campground - in fact they opened up somewhat of a view to the west so you might get a sunset out over the wilderness - needs another couple of trees to come out for a really great view, but if you are just sitting around with nothing else to do it might be nice. The bathroom was open, but I don't know if there is water at the campground so you might plan to bring some just in case.

Most of the overall color in the area was green yesterday, with some good underbrush coming along nicely. Another week should bring much better color.

Bill I will be in the area with two other photographers Oct 22-26. We have a cabin in Snowball until the 24th, then we plan to camp out in the Richland Creek Area on the night of the 25th. What locations are you planning to photograph with the group?

Tim, as for the road closing is the road 1205 the one that is closed? If I'm coming from Snowball wanting to head to the Richland Creek Campground which route would your recommend to bypass the road closing? I do have a well built expedition truck so traversing the 4X4 forest roads is possible for me if needed to find an alternative route to RCC instead going all the around on the paved roads to the south access. Also I was in the same area last year at the same time and the area watershed was bone dry including Twin Falls. Should I expect the same conditions next week or is water flow going to be a bit better this year? I understand the area has had a wet year with above average rainfall but has been mostly dry in the past month so I was thinking that water flow might currently be low from the recent dry spell and was wondering if you could shed some more light on next weeks conditions.

Mark:

Richland Campground is closed - probably until at least next year and possibly forever. You can get close from Snowball (via Eula Ford, Dickey Junction), but I'm told the bridge just before the campground is washed out at either end - however it must be somewhat OK since the forest service opened the campground up last weekend for a big horse group (so your truck might make it), but the campground remains officially closed. The road closure is south of the campground.

Twin Falls is almost always dry at this time of the year, or at best a very low flow - this is true of most waterfalls in the Ozarks and that is just the normal flow in September-October, even when we have a wet summer. They will get up and running if we get a lot of rain (takes many inches over several days), but that is rare. The main creeks should still have pooled water in them, and Falling Water Falls actually does have somewhat of a "falls" but it is very low. The best waterfall season is the wintertime and early spring. When you see great waterfall photos with fall color here those photographers are just lucky! Of course, sometimes you make your own luck by going out year after year after year after year after year after year after year - you are bound to get lucky every now and then!

Thanks Tim for the closure information. I think if we do decide to do the Twin Falls hike we will come in from the Hill Cemetery access as we did that route last year and really enjoyed the hike.

As for water flow I was fortunately spoiled by the Fall 06 in the Buffalo Drainage when the area received eight inches of rain right before the last weekend of October and that was one of the most memorable photo experiences I have ever had, with the fall colors and everything flowing it was nothing but magical and in fact those images from that trip have been top favorites with my clients and also some of my personal favorites of my whole portfolio so I always have a little hope of everything falling in place again with my Fall trip to the Buffalo. Otherwise if the water flow part does not work out I still have great color to work with this year plus I love to keep exploring and getting familiar with the area so when epic conditions do arrive I can react accordingly.

Thanks again Tim for the info and also thanks for replacing my all important to me waterfall book last year after my dog ate my original :) I had the book out last night doing some planning and mapping and wanted to let you know that your location maps you have with each waterfall are very accurate and made it very helpful to match the locations on my National Forest maps and topo maps... I'm kinda of a map junkie so I always appreciate a good map

Yup, I'm still processing images from that fall season of two years ago! I've seen it like that three times in 34 years, so I guess about once every ten years, however it happened twice in about four years (I was up on Petit Jean Mountain for the other one - still processing images from that shoot too - in fact there is a brand new one in my new Arkansas Landscapes book that was a six-shot stitch with an OLD Canon 10d that I shot from behind the big waterfall).

My wife draws all the maps now so I will pass that onto her...

I can believe that was a once in a decade moment and can really appreciate being fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time!

I do have one more question on some photo locations. Since fall color should be around peak can you guys recommend some high overview spots or locations? For example like the shot Bill just posted? I also remember Tim and some others having some pretty neat compositions of Rourke Bluff from a high bluff vantage point and was wondering if you guys can give me some ideas on locations like that and are maybe near the RC area. Thanks!

As of now take this with a grain of salt and only guidance but the GFS paints a nice picture for Thursday for some moisture in the area:

http://www.meteo.psu.edu/~gadomski/AVN_0z/avn114.html

The UTC computer model is a bit different and predicts the moisture to enter the area on Friday instead of Thursday. Just something to keep in mind that we do have a possibility for some rain and if it does rain how much will be the question... maybe I'm just being too hopeful lol

It looks like I'm being forced to go out and shoot with my mother and brother this Sunday and Monday at Boxley Valley. If anyone else is out there and see us, please say hello. I hope to make the next gathering.

Unfortunately I'm tied up with home commitments this weekend. I hope you all enjoy the outing(s), and I'll be headed down there on Friday or Saturday.

Have fun!

Cheers,
Marc