Cucumber Falls in Ohiopyle State Park draws many visitors throughout the year. It’s a magical little waterfall nestled away in a stone amphitheater easily accessible within a few minutes of the car. Winter can be an especially beautiful time to experience the loud roar and often mesmerizing view of this relatively small waterfall as it snakes it’s way down to the Youghiogheny River several hundred yards below the falls. At the base of the falls is a pool of water that can hold a rare personality in winter. Commonly ice builds up to create a cone at the base of the falls and if cold enough for a prolonged period of time the entire falls freeze. When the timing is right, conditions can be favorable for the kind of backgrounds that appeal to me.  The kind that create stunning photos which highlight my stone balances properly. On January 13th I visited the park to create some stone balance art as happens on many occasions. Most of the streams were fully frozen offering nothing in the way of stones to balance. As a last resort, I ventured to Cucumber falls and found that the pool below the falls was open enough for me to work. Stone selection was minimal, but through experience and out of necessity I found what was needed to show a different view of this often visited area. Throughout my time working the melting snow and ice caused a rapid rise in the creek as well as rather hazardous work conditions. Large chunks of ice were coming over the falls and landing very close to where I was working. Between that and the increase of spray from the falls my photography session was complete. I stayed to observe/study the location and environment for future adventures. It wasn’t long before the rising water collapsed my creations and erased the location to as it was before my arrival.

Pennsylvania glaciers? Not really… Ice formations at the base of the falls in the background