Apukuni Creek Falls

Description

Apikuni Falls is a must see when you visit Glacier National State Park. Apikuni is the Indian name given to James Willard Schultz, a white man, author, explorer, guide, fur trader and Blackfoot Indian historian who married an Indian woman and lived with her tribe. Depending on who you ask, Apikuni (or Appekunny) means Far-Away Robe, Far Off White Robe, White-spotted Robe or Scabby Robe, referring to one who is tanned with many hard spots; not the most complimentary name for such a stunning waterfall, mountain and stream.

I hiked the two-mile round-trip trail on a warm August day. The hike begins in a meadow of wildflower and grasses known as Apikuni Flat. Two miles doesn’t sound like much, unless the last half climbs 500 feet in a half mile. It’s a beautiful, rugged hike in a wooded area so the rest stops gave me time to appreciate my surroundings. It’s hard to imagine living year-round in such an awe-inspiring place; magnificent beauty coupled with crushing winter weather.

You don’t see any sign of the waterfall until you are close to the end of the hike. This was the most difficult part for me. My camera gear adds another 30 pounds, making the climbing more arduous but I trudged upward and onward chasing waterfalls! Luckily, I passed several people who reassured me I was on the right path and gave me an idea of how much further I had to go.

Finally, reaching site of Apikuni, I stopped to take it all in. It was amazing! But, I wasn’t there yet. I still had to cross a small stretch of dirt and small rocks on a steep incline. Honestly, I was a bit concerned about slipping with all the extra equipment weight I was carrying. If I lost my balance or something shifted, it would be extremely difficult to climb up the dirt and loose rocks. After watching a few people cross, I loaded up my gear and forged ahead.

I was so glad that I didn’t give up and turn around. I would have missed shooting Apikuni Falls at a closer range and would not have discover the two smaller waterfalls on Apikuni Creek.

Apikuni Falls drops 100 feet. First, it’s a ribbon spilling from Natahki Lake, then it cascades as it hit the rock ledges. At the base it becomes Apikuni Creek, flowing on to become the two waterfalls. Both views a spell-binding.

It is easy to see why George Bird Grinnell worked for twenty years convincing Congress that Glacier needed to be a National Park. I would strongly encourage you to visit our 10th National Park while you can still see glaciers in the lower 48.  The glaciers are receding at a rapid rate. NASA’s Earth Observatory and many others who study glaciers predict they will be gone by 2030.

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I prefer realism as opposed to significant edits through the use of digital editing tools. The vignette is added to accentuate the beauty of the cedar. The colors, tones and shades you see are true to what she witnessed at the time of the photo. It takes more time, patience and planning to capture the vibrant colors that you see in her photographs, but the end result is worth it. When you look at my work, you know that the colors you see are authentic. I hope my dedication to realism and authenticity in my work set me apart from the many photographers you see today. The medium, metal, enhances the clarity and contrast of the image, making it feel as though you could step into the scene.

All images are protected by a scratch-resistant coating and a stand-out hanger with bumpers to ease hanging and protect your wall. Secure packing ensures safe transportation. Measurements given are the outside dimensions.

Product Specifications

• Scratch Resistant Coating
• High-definition art
• Vibrant color and detail
• Floating stand-out Wall Mount with protective bumpers
• Handcrafted in the USA