The whole point of my cross-country journey was for me to get, ultimately, to Pennsylvania. So, after leaving my buddy Mark's house in Louisville, I did just that. I made my way from my hotel to my cousin's house in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. The drive wasn't bad and, thankfully, the weather was nice for the majority of the trip.
My cousin also happens to be a photographer, so she'd already planned a few stops for us to make. I'd never been in this part of Pennsylvania, so I was eager to get out with my camera.
For our first day out, we didn't really ave a "plan", per se. It was more of a "wait and see comes around" sort of approach, and it actually worked pretty well.
I'm a big fan of not having to pay to get a good photo op. Sometimes it's unavoidable, such as at places like Mt. Rushmore but, for the most part, free is better.
"Free" certainly describes the two photo filled days I spent in Pennsylvania.
Our first stop was Bear Creek Falls. We almost missed it, but I happened to be looking out the driver's window as we went by. Had I not, I don't know that we would've seen it. We doubled back and got out of the car.
While these were nowhere near the highest falls I've shot (that distinction goes to Multnomah Falls), these were pretty cool. In fact, in the grand scheme of grand waterfalls, these are pretty small. But these were still very cool, and they were easily accessible, requiring only a short walk from where we parked.
After Bear Creek Falls, we drove over to what was just one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Boulder Field, in Hickory Run State Park, is a National Natural Landmark. It's roughly 17 acres in size, and it's awesome.
The boulder field was created some 20,000 years ago during the most recent glacial period. It was created as a result of the continual freeze and thaw process in the ridges southwest of the field. As the ridges broke apart into boulders, they accumulated on the clay, sand and ice at the base of the ridges. During summer months, the ice in the mass would melt and carry the boulders and finer sediment down the valley to the location of the boulder field today. The boulder field itself is actually about 12 feet deep.
You know, it's things like Bear Creek Falls and Boulder Field which make life with a camera in your hand so enjoyable. When I was first told of Boulder Field, for instance, my initial reaction was "Great, we're going to see a bunch of rocks". But it's really nothing like that, at all. It's a geological feature which you're just not going to find anywhere.
If you happen to find yourself in eastern Pennsylvania, both Bear Creek Falls and Boulder Field are recommended stops. Be forewarned, though. If there hasn't been much rain and/or, the falls can be virtually barren. Recent photos I've seen show a mere trickle.
Boulder Field is pretty much there all the time, though...
My cousin also happens to be a photographer, so she'd already planned a few stops for us to make. I'd never been in this part of Pennsylvania, so I was eager to get out with my camera.
For our first day out, we didn't really ave a "plan", per se. It was more of a "wait and see comes around" sort of approach, and it actually worked pretty well.
I'm a big fan of not having to pay to get a good photo op. Sometimes it's unavoidable, such as at places like Mt. Rushmore but, for the most part, free is better.
"Free" certainly describes the two photo filled days I spent in Pennsylvania.
Our first stop was Bear Creek Falls. We almost missed it, but I happened to be looking out the driver's window as we went by. Had I not, I don't know that we would've seen it. We doubled back and got out of the car.
While these were nowhere near the highest falls I've shot (that distinction goes to Multnomah Falls), these were pretty cool. In fact, in the grand scheme of grand waterfalls, these are pretty small. But these were still very cool, and they were easily accessible, requiring only a short walk from where we parked.
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| Bear Creek Falls... |
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| Bear Creek Falls at 1/4 of a second... |
After Bear Creek Falls, we drove over to what was just one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Boulder Field, in Hickory Run State Park, is a National Natural Landmark. It's roughly 17 acres in size, and it's awesome.
The boulder field was created some 20,000 years ago during the most recent glacial period. It was created as a result of the continual freeze and thaw process in the ridges southwest of the field. As the ridges broke apart into boulders, they accumulated on the clay, sand and ice at the base of the ridges. During summer months, the ice in the mass would melt and carry the boulders and finer sediment down the valley to the location of the boulder field today. The boulder field itself is actually about 12 feet deep.
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| Boulder Field... |
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| Some of these boulders were extremely large. The one at the forefront of this photo, just to the left of center, was about three feet in length. |
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| Boulders, boulders everywhere... |
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| Okay, so it's not a boulder, but it is an example of the local wildlife... |
You know, it's things like Bear Creek Falls and Boulder Field which make life with a camera in your hand so enjoyable. When I was first told of Boulder Field, for instance, my initial reaction was "Great, we're going to see a bunch of rocks". But it's really nothing like that, at all. It's a geological feature which you're just not going to find anywhere.
If you happen to find yourself in eastern Pennsylvania, both Bear Creek Falls and Boulder Field are recommended stops. Be forewarned, though. If there hasn't been much rain and/or, the falls can be virtually barren. Recent photos I've seen show a mere trickle.
Boulder Field is pretty much there all the time, though...
Love it! And miss you soooo much. Always have you near me and in my thoughts when I'm out shooting something! ;)
ReplyDeleteLisa
P.S. I chuckled at your thought of "oh great, we're going to see a bunch of rocks"
And alllll the rivers, falls and streams are trickling right now. We went at a great time.
Always look forward to your blogs.