Petit Jean

Having an addiction to waterfall photography has some strange side effects. For example, everyone at work was complaining about the week of heavy rain we just had. Comments sent across the cubicle walls included complaints about traffic, the way it messes up ones hair, and the fact that people are forgetting what the sun looks like. But I was more than thrilled about it, since we had waterfalls again. I was tempted to say that I loved this weather, but hesitated since my co-workers would just look at me like I was a crazy person. Which, come to think about it, is the look they probably give me most of the time anyways...

But we almost never have waterfalls this time of the year in Arkansas. Usually summers are dry here, and any rain is quickly soaked up by all of the vegetation. The only time we've had waterfalls this month happened was when Hurricane Gustav parked over the state last year.

So with rivers and creeks running high, it was perfect time to get some waterfall shots. So plans were made and it was another early morning as I drove to Conway to meet Zack Andrews again. This time we went to Petit Jean Mountain, where the waterfalls were spectacular.

Our first stop is the small waterfall on the old rock dam that forms Lake Bailey.

It was amazing to see that much water going over the falls...

From there we went down the Boy Scout trail that follows the creek. There were a few little cascades there, but my best shot was this fern growing on the side of lichen-covered rock.


Walking back towards the bridge I stopped and got the traditional shot of the waterfall under the historic Davies Bridge (built in 1934). Now it's just about a requirement that one must get this shot. But it looks cool, so here's another one to add onto the pile of pictures taken of this view...


I went looking through my old photos and this is actually the third time this year that I've taken this sort of picture. The first was in January:


And again in April:


On this visit, we left here and drove over to the lodge to begin the trek down into Cedar Falls....