The RAW file languished in my old folders, never processed, forgotten - until this week when I stumbled upon it while looking for something else. Can't believe I missed this one and it sat there for fourteen years.
The Sooke River pours out of the mountains and empties into Juan de Fuca Strait. A few miles upstream from the town of Sooke is Sooke Potholes Regional Park, where I shot this (and yesterday's American Dipper). The potholes are circular depressions in the bedrock created about 14,000 years ago when the glaciers retreated. Heavy outflow moved large rocks in circles and carved out depressions in the limestone. They aren't visible in this shot - water levels were still high in May from winter snowmelt.
Locals and visitors alike come here in summer for a cooling swim in the crystal clear fresh water, but I always liked this place in winter and spring. Few people around then, and there are many vantage points along the river and atop the cliffs for interesting landscape work. Not a hotbed for wildlife, but I have photographed river otters here, and various birds. In April and May the wildflower displays in some spots are wonderful.
Everything was wet and slippery that day, and there were no guard rails or fences in 2010 - I don't know if that has changed, but I appreciate being able to judge for myself what is safe and what is not. I used a tripod and moved slowly and was not at risk. One more shot from this location tomorrow, then on to another of my favourite parks...
Photographed in Sooke Potholes Regional Park, Vancouver Island, BC (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2010 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: landscape vertical river cliffs high water lush forest spring runoff snowmelt moss green wild nature Sooke Potholes Sooke River Vancouver Island BC British Columbia Canada copyrighted James R. Page 2010
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