+-+-+ Final Sunset of 2018 From the Molalla River Forests+-+-+ Message for Prints and Services or visit: www.steffenwade.com We finishing the last of the 52 hike challenge @hannahshike took on last year. It was getting dark quickly already by 4pm, earlier we hit a snow covered road that had kept us from getting to the original hike at Table Rock trailhead. We stopped to let the dogs roll in snow, worth it, but now we needed to hurry. Heading back the way we came, there was an old logging road trail heading steeply up into the woods. I thought if we could follow it up high enough, fast enough, I might be able to race the disappearing light, hopefully find a clearing to shoot through in time. This turned out to be very old logging road and after about 100 yards up, it dead ended in a wall of trees and thick brush full of vicious blackberry thorns taller than me. I still really wanted to make this work, get the last sunset, and have just one more successful shoot to wrap 2018. We turned around again, finding yet another old road heading up, this one entirely overgrown with brush, thorns, and slippery moss sitting on mud. It was a steep push, pulling my way up grabbing trees for support. Pushing about 10 minutes further into the dense and now very dark, old growth forestry, I spotted the smallest glimpse of golden light hitting trees ahead which suggested there had to be some clearing. It came down to the last 5 minutes of light, the sun had already tucked away behind the distant hills, washing everything in its finale. Being here, making it just in time, but leaving with what I came for, all the hurry, struggle climbing the muddy hillside, turned to satisfaction. The final shutter clicked, we turned on our headlamps and started the pitch black climb back to the car. Goodbye 2018. +-+-+Steffen+-+-+ #Newyear #Newyearseve #Newyears #Newyearsresolution #Newyears2018 #Goodbye2018 #Hello2019 #Happynewyear #Celebrate #Happynewyears #Cold #Happynewyearseve #Fireworks #Family #Holidays #pnw #photooftheday #hike #hiking #outdoors #hdr #pano #nature #molalla #sunset #forest #optoutside #nationalforest #publiclands #steffenwade (at Molalla River Corridor) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsHO--XhvTB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l5oegji3zc7h