Sahalie Falls is an impressive waterfall that drops more than a hundred feet over a lava wall into a lush green gorge. The water thunders into the valley sending off a blast of mist for hundreds of feet. The McKenzie River seems hell-bent on its surge downstream, making for an intense experience.

I arrived at the trailhead with light rain falling and scrambled down the slippery bank to find a composition along the river. The swirling mist created by the falls kept me at bay and forced me further downstream. I had to go a ways to even find a spot that was protected enough to get my gear out. That proved to be the least of my troubles as I found a composition and setup. Keeping the lens free of spray and raindrops was a challenge. I must have been something to watch as I juggled an umbrella, my hat, and a Rocket blower. I swear I spent more time doing this dance than actually tripping the shutter. Somehow I managed a few clear frames in almost an hour of shooting, so obviously it was worth it. What the heck, I could have had bright sunshine and not come away with anything!

Oh, and keeping with the struggles of this trip, for some reason I had my sunglasses on top of my head while doing all this dancing around (it was raining remember!). I was standing right on the edge and at one point they slipped off and fell into the river. I watched in slow motion as they took one bounce and plopped in the rushing water never to be seen again.

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