I was on the trail at 4:30 a.m. with a flashlight in order to reach Ramona Falls by daylight so that the falls would still be...

Blue Cascades

Ramona Falls, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon

I was on the trail at 4:30 a.m. with a flashlight in order to reach Ramona Falls by daylight so that the falls would still be in the shade -- I wanted even illumination without "hotspots" from the sun. I had seen a photograph of this waterfall tumbling down a basalt cliff, and I knew I had to experience it for myself. I arrived later than planned -- there were too many photos to take along the way. However, I had the place entirely to myself for the whole morning, and it was a wonderful experience. The water stair-steps down the basalt columns, and moss grows on top of some of the columns. It's one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen, and this is one of my favorite photographs. Photo © copyright by Stephen Penland.