CB0553 231003 125604

CF9112 240929 153626

My daughter and I visited Matthiessen back in 2018, and we walked upstream that time. So this time, we visited the main waterfall area; then we walked downstream this time – all the way to the Vermilion River. The Devil’s Paintbox is right by the main stairs down to see the main waterfall area, and honestly, it’s not that exciting except for the copper colored stream that was very slowly flowing out of the alcove.

CB0549 231003 125548

CF9037 240924 130356

Not only did we find a waterfall in Dellwood Park along Fraction Run Creek, we found two! This waterfall is probably widely known – it’s right on the frisbee golf path; the other waterfall is a little harder to get to. There are likely more drops as well, but they would only be accessible by walking through the stream.

I’ve written a few times about “what is a waterfall”, so I would ask – Is this 1 cascade or 30+ individual falls? πŸ™‚

CB0541 241003 123908

CF9020 240929 125323

While I was visiting Sagawau in Cook County, one of the park employees mentioned that there may be a waterfall in Dellwood Park in Lockport. Β Since I have a client in Lockport, I already knew that there was a stream in a valley in Dellwood Park, and I was disappointed that it hadn’t occurred to me that there was likely to be a waterfall in that valley. Β So, the next available weekend, my oldest daughter and I went on a hike to see if we could find a waterfall along Fraction Run Creek…

Β 

CF8982 240922 182946

CB0537 231003 123108

CF9004 240922 192557

CF8973 240922 182706

CB0518 231003 112451

CF8998 240922 191020

CF8888 240922 175937

CB0531 231003 115907

CF8994 240922 190147

CF8778 240922 173816

Hans Zimmer Live

October 5th, 2024

film scores

Film Scores are meant to make you feel a movie scene more deeply, to tie you into a character, emotion, moment, or plot point in a way that facial expressions and dialogue may fail. The best film scores can stand on their own without the movie, and I listen to film scores as my background noise during work and often while I drive.
.
For years, I have wanted to travel to Europe to see Hans Zimmer conduct a concert live; he’s truly one of the best film composers of all time and perhaps can be compared to John Williams in influence.
.
When Hans Zimmer announced his North American tour, Sarah said “let’s go see him for your birthday this year!” He was performing in Chicago, but we both noticed that his Seattle performance was on my birthday – and Sarah has wanted to take me to Seattle because she has enjoyed that town so much.
.
I was giddy, and honestly, Seattle helped build my excitement; we had a fantastic time; I think I could spend a week in Pike Place Market just enjoying all of the vendors, and I could probably spend another two days photographing the Ghery designed Museum of Pop Culture. There’s no “opener” for Hans Zimmer, you sit in your seat waiting…
.
I loved all of it, from the opening vocals from House Atreides, to the Wonder Woman suite, to the Pirates suite and everything in between; Hans has 30-50 different musicians on stage at a time to perform the various pieces. It’s part symphony orchestra, part vocal virtuosos, and part rock band – and each musician has been selected by Hans.
.
…But as the Man of Steel suite played – it moved me. The intensity and build of that score and the climax was an emotional experience for me; I was almost in tears. It was simply incredible – in a way that I can only feel through music.
Oh, and the last performance (before the encore) is a Lion King medley. You have not experienced the Lion King until it is performed live by Lebo M with a chorus.
.
(No, I don’t have a photo, no photo could hold a candle to the concert.)

CB0509 231003 104720

Oh man, where to start? This was “the story” from this trip; I saw so many very cool waterfalls, but this one, this one was interesting to find. My only directions for this location were that you turned down this particular forestry/logging road, and then “when the road forks, take the right side; the left side is VERY muddy after it rains. Once you cross the bridge, there is a pull over on the right side…” Well, it had just rained, so as I started down the glorified two-tracker, I watched for the fork in the road.

As I drove along it got muddier and muddier, but my Traverse has all wheel drive, so I wasn’t too concerned. Then I crested a hill and there was a small pool of muddy water at the bottom. Since there were tire tracks through it already, I assumed that there wasn’t anything dangerous in the water and I proceeded down the hill, through the mud, and then up the hill. As I crested the other side, there was another depression with more mud but just a little bit wider with more mud. Over the next 3 or 4 hills, each mud hole was a bit deeper and a bit wider.

As I crossed the 6th or 7th hill, the valley below was less of a small pool or muddy water, and almost a pond. It was at this moment that it occurred to me; not only have I travelled farther then the guide indicated, but now I have to turn around and head back through all of those increasingly deep mud puddles that I just made ruts in. Using my genius intellect, I assumed that the best way to avoid being stuck was to go as fast as possible through the puddles. There was one puddle where I felt the rear wheels gripping, but not the front wheels; but in each mud puddle, the Traverse came through.

So how did I find the waterfall? As I drove back on the two-track, I saw the “bridge” … a series of railroad ties laid across the road that I’d missed because I was looking for the fork in the road first.

CB0515

And yes, my wonderful white Traverse was a bit of a mess for the remainder of the trip. πŸ™‚

CB0507

Β 

CF8922 240922 181758

CF8913 240922 181633

CB0501 231003 101834

I have 3 waterfall books that indicate that there is a waterfall or at least a larger rapids on this stream, and one of the books indicates that it is easy to reach. Without climbing down into the stream and then walking under the concrete culvert, I can’t tell if there is anything upstream. I also am VERY hesitant to walk upstream without knowing or seeing some indication that the land is still undeveloped at the least. So, this rapids/waterfall/something waits for another trip.

CF8867 240922 174845

CF9169 240929 160325

CF8843 240922 174542

CB0498 231003 095505

As I crested the hill so that I could see the rapids behind, I was literally awestruck by the view of Tyler Forks Dells Upper Falls. I gasped something like “that’s incredible!” as the scene came into view. The guide that I had stated “a series of small rapids forming an S curve”, but did NOT prepare me for how beautiful the Upper Falls are. The falls at the rear of the image are probably 200-250 feet away, which provides you with a sense of how expansive this view is. Although, you can’t tell it in this monochrome, the pops or orange leaves on the dark rocks, the yellow foaming water, and the sunlight illuminating the far side of the river added to beauty.

CF8794 240922 173910

CB0484 231003 094527

As I walked up from the lower falls which were not very impressive but were very easy to get to; I realized that the land was increasing in height but the river was not. And as this break in the stone cliff came into view, I could tell that Tyler Forks Dells might be quite the sight. But first I had to cross this rock wall that was maybe 15 or 20 feet high.

CF8763 240922 173627

CB0473 231003 093656

CF8752 240922 173509

Β 

BT8585 230807 172400

BZ4527 231003 084706

Upson Falls tumbles over the cascade of rocks and immediately makes a sharp right turn downriver. That sharp turn allows for this spectacular view with the sun rising “up river” and the wonderfully rich hues of morning.

BT8521 230807 171206

BT8491 240807 165005

CB0412 231002 170232

BT8489 230807 165004

BT8468 230807 164708

BZ4430 231002 145938

The Keweenaw Peninsula does not have much land area for large rivers to form, and this is reflected in some of the waterfalls. Manganese Falls is a very steep fall, but the stream is only 10-12 inches wide.