Deschutes Sunrise
It is a long two day drive from Rossland to Folsom. On the way back, we always stop overnight at Bend Oregon, about half way. Usually, I like to get up in the morning for sunrise photography in the Bend area, if I can.
This time … I got my family up as well. My idea was to drive up to Sparks Lake for sunrise. I did not realize, however, that the road to Sparks Lake is closed in the winter. This idea was just a last minute whim, and I did not do any research prior, so that is my excuse. I did know and have seen many beautiful photos from this lake, so I knew it was a place I wanted to shoot and I thought this would be a great time to do it. I got the family up very early, and we headed out, all the way up to Mt. Bachelor ski area. Then the road disappeared! What happened to it? I finally realized that the road that continued on to the lake was closed. Dang! So much for that great idea.
It was a bummer too because it was looking like a pretty wicked sunrise was coming on. Off in the distance to the east, I could see some amazing color starting to happen. But no place to shoot from. We turned around and instead of going back to Bend, we took the turnoff down to Sun River, which would be a short cut for us on our way back to California.
All the way down that road I looked for an opening through the trees where I could shoot sunrise. Nothing. Finally, at the bottom we came to a crossing of the Deschutes River, and I said “this is the spot”, slamming on the brakes and stopping the car on the side of the road, and then scrambling down to the edge of the river, just in time to get the last of the really nice sunrise color. Not too bad at all.
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