Cascade Springs

Last Saturday, after weeks of putting it off, a buddy (Ryan) and I headed up Provo Canyon to Cascade Springs, a little natural spring with cascading falls and pools full of brown trout nestled into the Wasatch mountains near Heber. We passed by Aspen Grove, a sea of aspens glowing in the dimming daylight. However, they had no leaves. They were still pretty, though. Dang, I'll bet it's gorgeous when it's not all barren trees. I thought, "If we'd only come when we originally talked about it, I probably could've gotten some Fall foliage." I was tempted to take a pic or two, but when I thought about what they must look like full of leaves, it seemed silly to take pictures of them now and try to justify it by naming the photo something pseudo-deep, like "We Were Beautiful Once".

As we arrived at the upper parking lot adjacent to Cascade Springs, we looked over the desolate expanse. I had brought my camera to take pictures of this little oasis, but seeing the stark lack of contrast or color, I almost left it in the car. But I thought, "Nah, I brought it all the way, might as well take it for the walk. There might be something down there to photograph."



Being a natural spring, the water is supposedly warmer than it otherwise would be. But it's still fargin' cold.

Not having much in the way of photogenic scenery, I resorted to snapping a shot or two of the only available human subject. BORING. At least he smiled.



Sometimes, all you need is a good challenge to get the more creative juices flowing. I mean, how boring would it be if it were just a paradise of gorgeously photogenic scenes...OK, maybe not so boring. But I enjoy a challenge.




But I also grabbed a couple of shots that I hoped would maximize the beauty of the place with its monochromatic landscape and wintered vegetation.







On the drive out, some deer ran off the side off the road as we rounded a corner and peered back up from hillside below the road. We stopped to get a better look, and off ran a small family of mule deer, what looked like a doe and three good-sized fawns.



In this one, the mother is seemingly coaxing the little one as it timidly looks through the brush at the strange visitors.