I can only imagine what the fires have done to this spectacular place. R.I.P. George Atiyeh, you helped protect a precious piece of wilderness for future generations. You will be deeply missed.
I surveyed this watershed for the Forest Service in 1980 when it was proposed as wilderness. My biggest fear of this being wilderness would be the number of people trampling the creeks to death since these are fragile moss covered bedrock channels. This video reinforces my fear. Opal creek is so clear and clean because of the lake at the head of its watershed supplying a more stable waterflow through the year as well as its geology. It is one of a few streams that are thickly carpeted with moss over a bedrock channel. Larger groups of people really need to stay out of the stream to protect this sensitive habitat. One day I do need to walk the entire stream again to note how it has changed. Grant, thanks for doing this piece!
That was the romantic version. The water clarity here is much more dictated by the geology and geography, but my answer does not fit political agendas very well.
I can only imagine what the fires have done to this spectacular place.
R.I.P. George Atiyeh, you helped protect a precious piece of wilderness for future generations.
You will be deeply missed.
I surveyed this watershed for the Forest Service in 1980 when it was proposed as wilderness. My biggest fear of this being wilderness would be the number of people trampling the creeks to death since these are fragile moss covered bedrock channels. This video reinforces my fear.
Opal creek is so clear and clean because of the lake at the head of its watershed supplying a more stable waterflow through the year as well as its geology. It is one of a few streams that are thickly carpeted with moss over a bedrock channel. Larger groups of people really need to stay out of the stream to protect this sensitive habitat.
One day I do need to walk the entire stream again to note how it has changed. Grant, thanks for doing this piece!
Dude I teared up when I say Atiyeah
thanks for the great video! :) hope to go back and hike this soon
I go to this area every year
Interesting point about the water clarity.
Never thought about before.
That was the romantic version. The water clarity here is much more dictated by the geology and geography, but my answer does not fit political agendas very well.
And now its burning :(
So sad 😭😢😭😩😫
i have an underwater gopro video of this place if you want to see it check it out.
HomemadeGoPro Vids
opal creek is one of my favorite places in the world.. there is a natural waterslide a few miles up the trail but woth it