You’re lying in that warm bed in the darkness. It’s close to the time that alarm is going to go off. The wheels are churning inside your head, trying so hard to find a reason why you should get up at that ungodly hour. And, why you shouldn’t.
The conditions might be a bust. After all, Canada’s version of ‘fake news’ is the Weather Network. This is a 24 hour weather channel that has a hard time predicting when the sun will rise and set, let alone if the sky’s going to be clear or cloudy.
But, you convince yourself. Why? Because you know that no matter the weather conditions, you’re going to find something to photograph. It might not be what you planned but you will. And, the peace and quiet of the morning with it’s lack of human life is rehabilitating to the body and soul.
Why the philosophical crap? Because, on the morning of December 27, 2018, I dragged myself out of bed and photographed something completely different than what was planned. And, I think I came out better for it.
More on that below. It should be noted that where the images and video was taken from is indeed a forbidden area. Was I in the wrong for going there? Yes, and no. I truly believe that I entered the site from a direction where the warning signs weren’t visible to me. Poor excuse, but I’m sticking to it. More on my feelings about this below, as well.
Cataract Falls Image Gallery
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About The Day
My intention on that morning of December 27, 2018 was to photograph the Credit River valley with the sun rising directly behind it. When I arrived, my calculations were a bit off. I was hoping to set up camp at a view point along the Cataract Elora Rail Trail, high above the river.
Despite being on this trail many, many times before, my memory failed me when it came to the position of the one only really good viewing point above the river. It was further to the east than necessary, putting the sunrise behind the steep embankment on the opposite side of the river.
Then there was the ‘fake news’ provided by the Weather Network. The sky was not partly cloudy. The sky was full-on overcast. This meant that even if the vantage point was in the right position, it didn’t matter because the likelihood of a visible sunrise was next to nil.
So, I scrambled. I crossed the river, climbed the staircase up the other side of the river and hiked out into the meadow, hoping for some kind of light. What I got was a brief moment of red tinged clouds then blah. I had a little better look a week or so before here at Forks Of The Credit Provincial Park.
On my way back toward the car, I followed a bit of a hidden trail along the riverbank and ended up in the historical ruins of a hydro-electric power station that once provided electricity to the surrounding area.
Was I Breaking The Law?
Probably. Despite my lame excuse of entering at a spot where the signs were not visible to me, I have visited this site enough over the past 20 plus years to know that the MNR has tried in vain to close the area around the ruins off to visitors.
Do I feel it was okay for me to do this? Yes. I have visited this site many, many times before, dating back to the days when it wasn’t so securely blockaded. I visit sites with similar or more dangerous conditions on a regular basis (that are free of barriers).
I wear proper footwear and clothing. Every step I take is calculated. My camera kit contains several items that can be used in the case of an emergency.
I DO NOT CARRY A CAN OF SPRAY PAINT. After all, that’s what the barriers are really about, isn’t it? They’re partly about safety. They’re also partly about keeping out vandals that consistently deface the walls of this local historic landmark. Vandals draw attention to the fact that there might indeed be a problem.
And, isn’t it these same spray paint toting visitors that have total disregard for personal safety as they try to capture a ‘selfie’ in more and more precarious positions? While they’re doing this, are they not better dressed for the night club than a historic building being reclaimed by nature?
Of course, Devil’s Advocate states that it’s people like me that are actually the problem. It’s people like me that have explored this location safely enough but then exploit it on the internet through articles, images and videos like you see here.
The Solution: If I Was Running The Show
For the past handful of years, the trail that provides a view of the ruins and adjacent waterfall has been closed off. The viewing platform is at risk of sliding down into the Credit River due to erosion.
Everyone wants to see the waterfall. After all, it’s the feature of this provincial park. Everyone wants to see the ruins. It’s the unofficial feature of the park. As of right now, visitors can see neither.
The erosion won’t stop so building a new viewing platform isn’t the answer. The walls of the power plant are crumbling but the foundation is solid. Why not stop trying to swim against the riptide and build a new viewing anchored into the foundation of the power plant. Just a thought.
Cataract Falls Video
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