Our photo group went to Devil’s Falls in the Auburn Recreational Area Monday. What I time we had! After shooting the falls in the “normal” manner I choose to slip and slide my way across the water, get into the falls, and take a pic.
Needless to mention – I and my boots were a tad wet from this point on.
We came across an opening to a tunnel maybe from the mining days maybe natural? I had a small flashlight that immediately died of old age when we entered the dark tunnel. Out everyone went. I found my little 1/4 inch round by 4 inch long red infra micro light that I use at night to see my camera dials if need be and set back inside. The tiny light really did not illuminate much of anything but it acted as a security blanket for me. I made my way slowly into the tunnel using my camera’s modeling flash to catch a glimpse of where I was heading or not heading into LOL. After a few turns I was successfully confused enough to wonder if I would find my way back out. I probably only went a few hundred feet but it seemed like miles in the dark.
Farther along the tunnel there was a split a tunnel to the left and a tunnel to the right. I would love to tell you that I remembered which choice I made so I could find my way back out – but not! I did note while taking a picture a bright orange arrow that lite up with the flash – this turned out to be a very good thing.
I proceeded like this, model flash, step forward, snap a shot, model flash, forward etc. until . … from somewhere much deeper into the tunnels than I -I heard strange voices. I noticed the used beer cans were getting thicker too. Emmm … I guess I should turn around and work my way back out. Turning around I discovered that – DUH – GASP – it all looked the same – there in the dark! Suddenly my little infra red micro light and my modeling flash method – well – for a second I thought Ugh oh – I might have to do the hug the tree thing here. But while flashing away I noticed the arrow – I have never seen such a fine arrow before LOL. I zipped through the pics I had already shot and figured out that arrow did indeed point the way out to the main tunnel. Whew.
And for all you graffitti lovers or haters – down one tunnel but of course – graffiti and some more garbage.
Later on some of us drove down miles of more bumpy dirt roads to the Grouse Falls.
But that is another story.