On this fairly warm Sunday, I was once again able to get some free time to go for a hike through Ohiopyle.  The sky was clear, the sun was bright and the trails were mostly empty, which made it all the more peaceful.  We’ve had a good amount of rain in the past week, so the river and falls were flowing more than usual.  The roar of the water could be heard all along the trails.

I started from the visitor’s center and made my way over to Great Gorge Trail.  This would take me along the river and put me right above Cucumber Fall’s.  It is basically a loop around the Ferncliff Peninsula.  Then I could just pick up 381 and walk back to the main Falls before heading to my car.  Not a very long hike, but one full of good views.  The rocky outcroppings are full of interesting detail and textures, if you look carefully.

With all the leaves down and the sun high in the sky, it was tough to find anything very scenic or expansive to photograph.  The lighting was awful and the color wasn’t much better.  This harsh lighting did give me a change to really push a raw file and “HDR” it to see what I could get out of it.  I am pleasantly surprised with this.

Of course, a trip to Ohiopyle isn’t complete without at least one picture of Cucumber Falls.  I love this waterfall because every time I’ve been there, it’s been different.

Further on down the trail in the shade, some puddles were still iced over.  The ice was closer to melting, which gave it a nice sheen and texture.

After this, it was time to walk back to the car.  The hike only lasted for an hour and half, but it was a perfect time to reflect on things and forget about all the struggles we face daily.  I need to do it more often.