Country vs City

I'm very fortunate I live where I live. Some would say I live in the country with dairy farms within an easy drive, the Olympic Mountains almost in my backyard and of course the Olympic National Park just a stone's throw away. Well, maybe they'd be right. And I like that. But it wasn't always that way.

I grew up in Los Angeles during the 50 and 60's. It was the city. City life is much different than country life. At least it was back then. My dad made a decision that when he retired he would move his family away from the city and into the country. He grew up in Lake Stevens, Washington and decided to bring his family back to Washington. The place? Sequim. That was in 1971. He moved the family away from the city into an area that is so different today than it was back then. Those dairy farms were everywhere. Sequim was known for them. A lot has changed though. Sequim has become more like a city than ever before. We have the box stores now, Walmart, Costco, Home Depot and alike. The state is finally getting around to making Hwy 101 four lanes all the way to Port Angeles! I remember when 101 ran through the heart of Sequim. That was before the bypass.
And those dairy farms? Well, some are still here. But most have been sold as their owners passed away and their heirs decided there was more money in the land than in the hard work of raising cows for milk. Now the Dungeness area is dotted with two and three story monuments of success, built by retirees who come from all points of the compass looking to get away from the city and find a place in the country. Do I begrudge them for wanting to find a better place to live? Not at all. I can't really. We came looking for that same thing over 40 years ago. And the real settlers who came in the 1800's and homesteaded the area? They really are no different than those of the 21st century who are looking for a place in the country to call their own. It is just much easier to do these days than it was back then. But the drive to find a place in the country is evident in most of us I think. Not all of course. The city has its draw. Lot's of things to do. Bright lights. Fast pace. Oh yeah, and work. Unfortunately, that is what draws a lot of people to the city in the first place. Work and opportunity.
That is why you see so many retired folks coming to the Peninsula and not so many working types. The retirees come with money and the working folks come looking for work but find little unless it is to service those retirees with money. They will come to take less paying jobs just so their children can live in the country and have a quality of life not found in the city. I'm speaking in general of course. There are always exceptions both ways.
So what's the point of this blog? Well now I'm the retiree. Last year I retired from Clallam County Road Dept. I spent 20 years building and maintaining Clallam County's east end roads. It was a very good job with great people to work with and for. But times do change and now I'm heading in another direction. One that maybe I should have taken many moons ago.

You see I have loved art since sitting in front of the tube watching a program in the early 60's hosted by artist Jon Gnagy. Jon was a bohemian looking dude with a goatee with a love to share his talent with others. I bought his art kit and would sit with it on Saturday mornings, drawing along with Jon. It was my start in art, you might say. Through the decades I never lost my love of art, although it may have been put on a shelf occasionally. Now I find myself back in school 42 years after graduating Westerchester High School in LA. I'm taking an AAS degree in multimedia graphic design at Peninsula College in Port Angeles. Which includes my favorite subject .... photography. I want to get better and that is what aim to do.

And because I live on the Peninsula with the Olympic Mountains in my backyard and the Olympic National Park a stone's throw away I find great photo opportunities close to home. And as I have ran to and fro across the Olympic Peninsula and beyond, like Jon Gnagy, I want to share my experiences, photos, and tips that I have acquired in the last 15 years photographing this incredible area. So stay tuned and see what comes up week to week on this blog. I'll try to make it worth your while.

Things to do in May on the Peninsula

So what's up for the rest of May on or around the Peninsula?

On the southeastern part of the Peninsula we have two events that you might be interested in.
First is the Shrimp Fest on May 25th and 26th in Brinnon, along the Hood Canal. Craft and food booths, belt sander races, exhibits and of course lots of awesome, tasty fresh Hood Canal shrimp! Love that stuff!

The second is the 7th annual Olympic Art Festival. It too is held on the 25th of May in Quilcene, which is about another 15-25 minutes from the Shrimp Fest up Highway 101 on your way to Port Townsend. This is a free event that features local artists, photographers and wood workers. So you can make it a day and hit them both.

If your a photgrapher, you'll find an abundance of rich subjects along the Hood Canal. Highway 101 runs like a serpent around the canal and you have many small towns with unusual names like, Hamma Hamma, Potlatch, and Lilliwaup. There are three state parks to check out. And if you like to photograph waterfalls there are two. One is the 229 foot Rocky Brook Falls. It is also just outside of Brinnon. Take the Dosewallips Road and go three miles to the Rocky Brook Bridge, pull over and a short (but sometimes a slippery) hike will take you to the falls.
The other is outside of Eldon at the south end of the canal. I wouldn't recommend this fall's if your not in a 4x4, as the road is horrendous. It is called the Hamma Hamma River waterfall. It is off the Forest Service road #25.

The Hood Canal is the only fjord in the lower 48. Kayakers will love all the spots to explore by water, along with divers and hikers. And of course bring a camera. Check it out!

Elwha Dam Removal and the Elwha River Valley

Have you been following Elwha Dam Removal project? I try to, as it affects many species of fish and wildlife, as well as fresh water to the city of Port Angeles.

The Elwha River Valley in the Olympic National Park is one of the most pristine places on planet earth. The river flows forth from the Elwha Snowfinger, a snowfield high in the Olympic Range where when the snow melts it splits into two rivers, one the Queets to the south and the Elwha to the north and then into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

For you fellow photographers, this area is one of the must see stops when exploring the Olympic Peninsula and the National park. I have been photographing the area for about 15 years now and watched as seasonal rains and floods have reshaped the river over and over as they have done for millennium.

One of my favorite places to go, especially when I have visitors from out of town is Madison Falls. It is about 50 foot high and right at the entrance to the park's Elwha River Valley. There is a asphalt path that winds about 300 feet from the parking lot to a viewing area at the base of the falls. Easy walk for any age and hiking ability. It is wheel chair accessible.






Madison Falls, Elwha River Valley



 

You can spend a great deal of time exploring the Elwha River Valley. One of my favorite times to visit is in the fall when the leaves start to turn. Maples trees fill the valley with color in October and the weather is crisp. Here is an image that was taken a few years ago near the Altaire campground:

Elwha Maples, Elwha River Valley

So if your visiting the area, it is about 11 miles west of Port Angeles. You turn left onto the Hot Springs road off Highway 101 just before you cross the Elwha River on 101. The Hot Springs road will take you to the entrance of the Olympic National Park and the Elwha River Valley. Of course there is a fee to enter the park. But it is well worth the price of admission. Don't miss it!

So what about the dam removal? Well things are not going too well with the project at the moment. Apparently, someone misjudged the amount of sediment behind the two dams that have come down and the silt has clogged the fresh water treatment plant that will eventually feed Port Angeles with fresh water. Not only that, salmon smolts released from the Elwha hatchery have been killed by the sediment in the water. Not good. We'll be keeping an eye on the project and hope it can cleaned up quickly and those 100 pound King salmon will return to the river.

You can read some of the latest news from the Peninsual Daily News in Port Angeles right here:  Dam Removal News
If you want more information on the dam removal check this National Park Service blog out: Dam Removal Blog.
Pat Neal is a North Olympic Peninsula fishing guide, local historian and humorist. He wrote a column on the history of the Elwha, including the dams and it is quite interesting to read. I include it here: Pat Neal Blog 

First Post

Welcome to the first blog of Christopher Enges Photography!

My purpose in creating this blog is share the awesome beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and especially the North Olympic Peninsula, along with the Olympic National Park. This would include local news, seasonal photography and unusual tidbits from the area.

For example, May on the Peninsula brings the Sequim Irrigation Festival. This year was the 118th festival. It ran from the 3rd to the 12th. The Sequim Irrigation Festival is the oldest festival in the state of Washington. The image of the parade was taken on Saturday the 11th of May across from the old Clallam Co-op building. Thousands of visitors pack the sidewalks from one end of town to the other. The Logging show, Street Fair, and Carnival are just some of the many festivities available to visitors of the festival.

So I hope you'll join me and check in to see what's up for the future events, local news and awesome photos here on the Olympic Peninsula!