Battling the icy currents at Columbia River Gorge’s enchanting ‘Weeping Walls’

Connecting with other landscape photographers often exposes me to little-known locations and it was this that led me to be tipped off about the so-called ‘Weeping Walls’, set deep within the Columbia River Gorge. Along a section of, steep sided walls, draped in wet moss and ferns, tower over the creek bed with a small cascade nestled at their base. After heavy rains, water pours over the gorge walls and creates the beautiful impression of them weeping. I had never heard of it before and while I scanned the internet looking for images, I realized few photographers had ventured there. Not only did you need perfect conditions to pull it off, it was also notoriously difficult to access.

This was made clear on my first attempt to scout the falls. High water levels and sweeping currents in the creek made it far too difficult and dangerous to cross. I returned two weeks later with a couple of fellow male photographers and with water waist-deep and currents pulling strongly against me, I managed to negotiate back and forth along a kayaker’s trail, surviving it’s freezing waters in the warmth of a rented wetsuit. A couple of times I was lucky to not get swept away, and while my independent spirit is fierce, to have the support of the guys there was definitely a lifesaver! [Read more…] about One of the hardest waterfalls to get to in Oregon