I am taking my Boys up to Spokane on Saturday -- we'll leaving Saturday, anyway. Later in the week I thought I would drive the 100 miles east and check out Dry Falls over by Coulee City and that general area for a couple days with the 8x10. It will depend on my sister's schedules and plans.

Any suggests on where to camp (cheaply -- or even places just to park and sleep in the van)! Any place around there in particular that is especially nice? I have been checking the place out via google earth -- looks interesting, tho I'll probably be baking a bit!

Thanks!

vaughn

Vaughn,

If I remember the area correctly, you will be heading West out of Spokane on Highway 2. It should be about 2 hours from Airway Heights to Coolee City. You will be passing through the northernmost part of the Palouse country. The general area around Davenport is mostly dry land farming and the principal crop is wheat. It should be close to their harvest time this time of year.

I never spent much time around Coolee City. I had an Aunt and Uncle who lived near Hunters which is 50 miles north and east. As you go farther up the Columbia from Coolee City, you will run into more forest and greenery, as you go south and west, you hit country that turns into desert with sage brush. I think that the Burlington Northern Line also runs through the area.

I haven't spent much time in that part of the world in years. Hope you enjoy the trip.

Dave

I hope I am better at finding my way than I am writing about it! Yes, driving WEST from Spokane to Coulee City!

Driving to Spokane from the south on 395, which I have done countless times, it is always good to start to see the first trees -- that means I would only be 30 miles or so from Spokane. It has been years since I have been on Hwy 2 -- back when I had my VW bug and single...over 25 years ago! I just remember that the lava country out there was pretty amazing.

Lava country takes in a LOT of the state.

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWit...rk/Maps/map_columbia_river_flood_basalts.html

I'll be heading to Dry Falls on Sunday. I'll leave Spokane around 4am and get there when the park opens at 6:30. Photograph until it gets too hot or I get too tired, then take a break. Then return to photograph around sunset. Return to Spokane once it gets dark. That is the plan, but we'll see what happens!

Vaughn

I had a great day at Dry Falls -- we'll see if I actually have any good images. A bit warm -- 100+F once the the day got going. I did not get there until 7:30am. I planned to be there when it opened at 6:30am, but stopped to take a photo or two along HWY 2 on the way.

I photographed until 1pm in the Green Lake area, including a scramble over Umatilla Rock. There is a "trail" over the rock, but not much of one. I left my boots in CA, so the footing was not too secure. A few deer flies trying to bite me and I kept a eye out for rattlesnakes, but did not se any -- probably too hot for them! A bit of wind -- should have had some 400ASA film instead of the 125ASA.

I left the park at 1pm to get lunch in town and to rehydrate. Took a drive up the highway to Grand Coulee Dam and returned to Dry Falls at 6:30pm and photographed until just after the full moon came up.

Definitely worth returning to -- but will try to do so at some other time other than mid-summer!

Vaughn

This link will take you to two images from Dry Falls...

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum49/79971-dry-falls-washington.html#post1041239

I am also printing a third image in carbon this morning.

Vaughn

Vaughn ... let me know when you're planning to go back ... I'd love to photograph at Dry Falls, Coulee City and the Dam itself. Would make a great trip.

Sure thing!

Vaughn

Good morning, Vaughn;

I just went over on Monday to take a look at the Dry Falls Area. Interesting, yes. What time of the day were you considering? It almost looks like this is something that will require at least a day to do. The scene seems to change as the sun moves and shifts the shadows. Things that are quite prominent in the morning become just something in the background in the afternoon when the shadows are on them.

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

Except on this trip when the mid-afternoon of summer just got too hot, I tend to photograph though-out the day. Using B&W film especially, there is always light, so there is always photographs to make. I just never bought into the idea that there are better times to find good light. Even mid-day at Dry Falls there are cliffs in shadow -- great background for lit subjects in front of them. I have made a carbon print of an image of sun-lit dead branches against a dark cliffs (about 300 meters behind the branches) that I took around noon -- I'll try to scan the print (4x10) in the next couple of days.

But there are many days worth of images there. I really only photographed all around Umatilla Rock and Green Lake. The area just south of Deep Lake look interesting on Google Maps -- some large potholes, and an old road that works its way above the cliffs (a hiking trail now, I think). And there are some interesting roads in the area -- one going south out of Coulee City (paved) looks like a good one.

But I just tend to wander around -- being there is half the fun.

A recent carbon print from Dry Falls...

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum49/79971-dry-falls-washington-2.html#post1046380