The Secret Clubb Waterfall

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have the Clubb family request that I got up a canyon for a photoshoot. I have been up this particular canyon many times, so I thought that the shoot would be pretty typical. However, as it turns out, this shoot had a few surprises that left me scratching me head.

When I first arrived at entrance to the canyon trail, I saw a small Toyota pickup coming pretty quickly towards me. To my surprise, it was my clients, who said "Hop in! We'll drive you to our spot." Sitting with three adults leg to leg in a little pickup might have been uncomfortable for most, but the Clubbs are the kind of people who just go with the flow and make you feel right at home. Within minutes I was at ease, and thinking to myself how a Toyota off-roading pickup wasn't a bad thing to have. I was also happy that I wasn't driving, as the Clubb man of the house was much better acquainted with the roads, and drove more efficiently than I could have. He drove the long road like he'd been there countless times before. While we drove he shared with me how he started teaching his boys to ride trails on snow machines by putting them in packs with safety gear on his chest. From babies they learned to turn the right way, and get the natural intuition of riding. I felt pretty safe in that pickup!

After what seemed like a few short minutes, we got to "the spot". To the left of the trail there was an opening in the bushes. I wondered if we were going to get out and hike, since I do that for many of my photoshoots. Nope! Up the mountain trail we drove! The truck barely fit into the trail surrounded by overhanging trees and thick bushes. Branches scratching the pickup was no problem. (See why I need a Toyota off-roading pickup?!!)

At the top, we got out an began to hear a loud thundering of water. I walked over the side of a small downward trail and saw IT! The shocking surprise was a beautiful waterfall that scored all the way up the mountainside. The rocks were surrounding the water in such a way, that you could climb almost to the top while staying right next to the water spray. The lighting was perfect, the rocks created a perfect hue for contrast. I mean I feel like they showed me a gold mine, not just some water and rocks!

The family climbed up and down the waterfall while I opened my backpack, set up my camera and stepped into the little pools with my xtra tuffs. We were able to get a lot of photos in a small amount of time. The shoot was perfect! But something kept bothering me....

How could I have never seen or heard of this waterfall!?? There are countless waterfalls in the city limits of Valdez. If you want to see a waterfall, point your finger in any given direction and you'll accidently align with one. However, none of them can compare with the perfection that was my "IT" waterfall. Even with the many people traveling through this particular canyon, I have never seen this spot online, or even heard about it through word of mouth! I don't know if it even has a name!

But that is ok, because I named it myself. The Secret Clubb waterfall. Fitting, isn't it? I felt like this little place is somewhere very special. The location left such an impression that I took my kids there the next week. They thought it was spectacular, too.

I will be forever grateful to the Clubbs for letting me into this little sanctuary.

Thank you!