I feel compelled to find new places to look at our river because we rarely get to see it in such a turbulent, powerful state. I found some new vantage points this weekend, and the river didn’t disappoint. The last clip was the hardest to get and involved me trespassing on farmland, climbing over barbed wire, and sinking in ankle-deep mud, but it was definitely worth it.
There’s something elemental and primitive about this river. I get what local environmentalists have said about it now. It’s really a wild, untamed river, something unique and untouched in an otherwise urban and concrete society. The raging water carries debris all the way from our local mountains through narrow canyons and wide flood plains. It’s not civilized, it’s not predictable, and it’s so refreshing to see it flow, as it’s flowed for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years.
I’m left to wonder how the Tataviam Indians, who lived along its banks hundreds of years ago, dealt with a raging river like this.
Who knows how it’s going to look after Newhall Ranch is built?
It’s certainly been an interesting few months for extreme weather in Santa Clarita (fire, wind and water, earth next?). Hope you enjoy.
Check out this picture I took of the river (also from forbidden farm land) in August, a “dry” month.