Well, over the past five years I've been going back to this spot. However, I've always longed to get the view from the west side alas it was just not possible...until now. Thanks to the miracle of drone technology and a very generous spouse who bought me a Phantom 4 at the start of the summer it finally became a reality.
On Monday the 19th of September 2016 the final Hurricane Turn of the season made it's trek north from Talkeetna to its namesake bridge to turn back for the last time until next May. The fall colors were spectacular so I made the long trip from Anchorage, hiked in my secret trail a mile off the highway, and then sent the drone another 3,000 feet out and up over the bridge. Here is just one of many of the shots it yielded. I've been shooting trains in Alaska for nine years and this shot is truly a dream come true! It just all came together this day.
Additional commentary:
The Hurricane Gulch Bridge was my personal "holy grail" of photography in Alaska. After finally finding the spot and carving a trail in I continued to return over the intervening five years and really got all kinds of trains in different seasons. But, the problem with my secret spot is that it is only a morning shot since you are shooting due west toward the the bridge. Getting to one of the ridges west of the bridge was simply impossible. There was no trail and to bushwhack that far and find an open spot (that may not even exist) was something that I knew I could never accomplish.
But as the years passed technology developed and "drones" started to become more and more common among my fellow photographers and railfans. In the early summer of 2016 a generous spouse surprised we with a Phantom 4. I took the time to learn how to use and and grow more and more confident and by the end of the summer I finally had the courage to risk it and try for the "THE" shot.
On Monday the 19th of September the final Hurricane Turn of the season made it's trek north from Talkeetna to its namesake bridge to turn back for the last time until the following May. The fall colors were spectacular so I made the long trip from Anchorage, hiked in my secret trail a mile off the highway, and waited. The train was late this day and I had no cell service so couldn't call the chief dispatcher and radio chatter was light.
But just before packing up I heard them on the radio and go the drone ready. Taking off from my secret camp site on the ridge was a bit challenging given the small hole in the trees above, and the flight to the other side of the bridge was a rather long and nerve wracking 2/3 of a mile. But the flight was a success and this is just one of many of shots it yielded....but unquestionably my favorite.
I had been shooting trains in Alaska for nine years at this time, and this shot was truly a dream come true! It just all came together this day. I honestly only wanted a drone for this shot.....and I pulled it off!
A large shimmering metal print hangs proudly in my house. A reminder of a day for the ages!