My Favorite Photo of 2019

Rhododendron petals floated gently to earth on the breeze creating a blanket of white on the forest floor. The smell of evergreen hung in the morning air. Every leaf, flower and twig sparkled with dew as the first rays of morning light filtered through the treetops. The scene was magical, yet I was paralyzed with fear. I stood on the steep ledge, clinging tightly to a tree and hoping my strength would last.

As I clung to the huge maple, my son Jake set ropes for our descent down the second of three steep drops. He then persuaded me to release the tree and trust his knot tying abilities. My son Jake, an avid outdoorsman, is a certified wilderness first responder and is the person I would most want with me in this frightening situation.

Our destination was English Falls - A hidden jewel in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest. It’s less than a mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway, yet the difficulty in getting there deters most photographers and adds to its mystique and allure. There is no trail and to find it, one must decipher vague clues and descend over 350 feet of steep, muddy terrain.

Not wanting sunlight to interfere with my planned long exposure shot, our slow cautious descent began before sunrise. At 7:30am we arrived and were rewarded by a magnificent scene. The roar of water crashing down the jagged rockface was deafening. The wind created by the waterfall’s 50’ drop blew wildly through the moss-covered canyon. The vision was even more glorious than we could have imagined.

I photographed the scene from every vantage point I could safely access and as I did Jake sat patiently nearby reading “The Mountains of California” by John Muir. After about an hour, we left the enchantment behind, and cautiously retraced our path back up the rockface, arriving at the car by 10:30am. Exhilarated by our adventure and thankful to have witnessed something rarely seen, we headed south on the BRP - top off the jeep and Kanye loudly rapping about how much he loved his “Mommy”.

Our 24-hour round trip excursion was unforgettable. My son Jake is one of the most fascinating and entertaining people I have ever known. His head is full of interesting trivia and his heart is full of pure goodness. He challenges everyone around him to think outside the box and he inspires everyone around him to live a full and meaningful life. Time spent with Jake is guaranteed to deliver nonstop laughter, happiness and introspection.

Just three days later I again sat in my jeep but this time however I was not so jubilant.  Through the dirty windshield and my misty eyes, I watched my baby boy walk into the airport, one-way ticket to California in hand – a bittersweet moment.  I am thankful however, that in the height of his very busy time of packing and preparing to move cross country, that he prioritized one last east coast adventure with me…and I know that many exhilarating adventures await us on the west coast!

So…my photo of English Falls…..it is imperfect. The wind at the base of the falls is hurricane force and some of my foreground foliage is blurry. It was impossible to keep the water droplets off of my lens. But the experience of getting there and witnessing such a magical place with my son Jake was perfect. And if I take another 10 million photos in my lifetime none will be more special to me that this one of English Falls.