Edge of the Fire

Felta Creek originates in the highlands of the coastal range in Sonoma County, California.  Over the eons, it’s carved out a small canyon as it rushes downstream to join Mill Creek and then the Russian River.  The canyon is home to towering redwoods which, although not technically old growth, have been there long enough to get big and tall.  You have to really crane your neck to see the top of them.  Felta Creek is also one of the few wild coho and chinook salmon spawning grounds left in the Russian River watershed. 

A one lane dirt road twists and turns up the canyon following the creek.  It opens into upland grassland with scattered oaks before ending at heavy forest.  The road provides access to a small community of people and their residences — linked by their love of the land, wildlife and the creek.

In the summer of 2020, the Walbridge wildfire, starting deep in the forest, was driven by high winds and bone dry fuel into the Felta Creek watershed and right up to the edge of the canyon.  Residents were ordered to evacuate.  

The fire coincided with me starting to do film photography again with some 1970’s Nikon gear that I had inherited from my father.  I live near the canyon and walked up the road several days each week to find solace during the pandemic.  I started taking photographs on these walks and then photographed the area as soon as the evacuation order was lifted.