JimKied
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 p.1 #1 · Proxy Falls - A Cautionary Tale | |
We got up early in Bend and headed to Proxy Falls via the McKenzie Pass road. Those of you who have been up there know it, but the whole McKenzie Pass area is absolutely amazing. The lava fields are so vast and it really puts what the power of a volcano can do into perspective. But that is a whole 'nother story.
We arrived at the Proxy Falls trailhead and set about the hike. Before long we got to the "viewing" area and at that point my wife looked at the trail heading down to the base of the falls and let me know that she did not want to go down there (she has a bad knee and going down steep inclines really bothers it). So I set off alone. I got to the base and the view of the falls excited me so much that I eagerly set about trying to find decent compositions.
After about an hour of taking images, I knew I wanted to stay down there more, but I also knew my wife would start getting worried - remember, I am an OG (old guy) and most of you probably do not know this, but I am also hearing impaired. I must lip read (so I can't use a telephone - and it wouldn't have mattered since there was no reception there anyway), so I don't rely much on sound to guide my way. Anyways, I knew I wasn't far from where my wife was and I wanted to holler and let her know that I was fine. But I wouldn't know if she heard me so I decided to go back up and tell her and then return back down to take more pictures. So I packed up and headed out.
At this point I digress a little and shout out to you PNW photographers that I follow - I learned to really appreciate what it takes for some of the compositions that you get. Being there, and in the Columbia River Gorge later during my trip, I saw first hand what you had to do. I had come with my scuba booties and I was wading around in the creeks, but you guys got yourselves into some pretty serious locations to get those shots. Simply amazing. I could have used some chest waders, but I couldn't pack that much stuff. Just saying. And the mist. I was prepared for that, but having never had to deal with it the way you have to deal with it at Proxy, I was a little fumble fingered. Most of my shots were blurred. But I got a few.
So I was heading out. I got back to the clearing/trampled area where I had reached the base and set out on the trail. I knew almost immediately that I wasn't headed in the right direction. So I returned to the clearing area, and studied it. Mind you, I am known to have a great sense of direction and there was something nagging me, but I just couldn't place it and I decided that I just hadn't gone down the trail long enough. So I went further this time, all the while getting into more and more unfamiliar territory. After about a half mile, I turned around and went back.
I had recalled when I left my wife up above that I had seen some scramble trails headed down the side. And on the trail I was on, I saw several scramble trails headed up. I decided that since I couldn't find my trail, I would head up the scramble trail, intersect the main trail and all would be good. After heading up about 75 feet on the first one, I was sucking wind pretty well and the trail went green (meaning that it ended without getting to the top) and I didn't want to tear up any vegetation - especially since I couldn't see the main trail. Went back down, returned to the clearing and headed back to a different scramble trail. I did this 3 times. At which point about 2 hours had passed and I was getting pretty worn out and dehydrated. I had taken water with me, but it was long gone.
I decided to head back to the clearing area and just wait for someone to come down and I could see the way out.
In the meantime, my wife had gotten worried and headed back to the trail head where she just so happened to catch a ranger driving by. Also, there were some hikers just arriving and they developed a plan to look for me. He had called it in to park headquarters and they were getting a 6 man team ready to go search for me, calling in life flight, etc., etc.
When I got back to the clearing area, a couple of the hikers that were looking for me were there. I was pretty happy to see them, to say the least. Anyways they turned to go back up with me in tow and they started negotiating the downfall that obscured the trail that I came down. It was only then that I remembered climbing over and under the trees to get out into the clearing. After that I knew exactly how to get out, but the hikers stayed with me until we got back to the trail head.
All is well that ends well, but it could have been a lot worse. Lesson learned - when in unfamiliar places make sure that you can clearly see how to get out or mark it so that you can find your mark to get out. I usually follow this advice, but this time it got away from me.
Anyways, here are a few of the shots I took of Proxy that did come out. Please let me know your thoughts and constructive criticisms.
And just so that you know, I thoroughly enjoyed my time photographing the falls and I will never forget that exit for the rest of my life - even if I never make it back there.  But Proxy is such an awesome place and everyone who is able and gets the chance should go.
 © JimKied 2014
 © JimKied 2014
 © JimKied 2014
 © JimKied 2014
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You got some great shots. Love the vivid green on the covered rocks. I would love to see what the top of the fall looked like. Great scene and super capture.