The French Broad River: Before Helene

The French Broad River, late May, 2025. Minolta X7A, RETO Amber T800

It's been almost exactly a year since Western North Carolina was battered by days of rain and then Hurricane Helene. That anniversary is this coming Saturday, Sept. 27.  The amount of destruction has been told by many, and still, it touched everyone differently. Some lost everything, including family members.  Others lost a job, their business, their home, a few trees, a lot of trees, their car, and a sense of security that they once had.  Many people, myself included, didn't suffer much damage, but we were impacted by no running water for nearly a month, and several weeks of no electricity, no internet, no cell service, and we were the lucky ones.  But beyond the comforts that we lost, the natural world was also torn asunder with flooding, landslides, widespread tree blow-downs and changes to watersheds from the walls of water that swept so much away.

Near Reems Creek

Barnardsville, along Ivy Creek

River Arts District

Since moving to Weaverville NC in 2019, I enjoyed photographing along the French Broad River, which is just about 2 miles from where I live.  Riversides can be many things, and the curves of the French Broad River created some beautiful scenes.  The lovely overhanging trees, stretches of River Cane, whitewater sections, and picturesque rocks and water were a creative tonic that drew me to the shores of the river. I had planned a lengthy time period to photograph along the French Broad and the tributaries that feed into it.  However, that all changed a year ago, and those plans were literally swept away.  

at my house

My little bit of recovery therapy from the storm was to do what I know - photograph my personal view of the aftermath, while also staying away from areas that were so destroyed that anyone there not involved in cleanup and rebuilding would be a hindrance. So I stayed away from Marshall, and certainly did not visit the areas near the Swannanoa River which looked like a post-apocalyptic scene.  I had been to Chimney Rock a week before the storm, and a lot of it, and the road to it were destroyed by the storm.  If you want to see something about that area, I highly recommend Peter Santenello's YouTube episode where he visited Bat Cave and Chimney Rock in May of this year.  It's very sobering - and that was 8 months after Helene.

River Arts District, November 2024

Water distribution point, October, 2024. Holga 135

Verizon mobile access, downtown Asheville, Oct. 2024
Holga 135

Riverside Drive, October 2024. Nikon FE, Acros 100

Lyman Street, River Arts District, October, 2024. Horizon 202

Most of the places that I liked to visit and photograph are forever changed, and while nature does heal, it often takes a different timeline than what humans experience.  So, knowing that my long-term project was kaput, I decided to make a zine showing my experiences with the French Broad River before Helene.  My zine measures 6x9 inches, is 52 pages including covers, and is perfect bound.  It shows my interpretation of the river, and in black and white.  It's a testament to what was lost, and hopefully may be again, long after I'm not around.  

You can purchase it at my Etsy store for $10 + postage (US only). - https://www.etsy.com/shop/mfophotos

A few sample pages

In some good news, the Blue Ridge Parkway opened up new sections, so a few days ago I visited the Craggy Gardens area. It felt good to be able to drive there once again from my house, which is 9 miles from the Parkway.  More businesses along the French Broad have reopened, including some breweries, such as Hi-Wire and Zillicoah. 

Ledges Whitewater Park, July, 2025. So much damage.

I see more work being done in the River Arts District to remove rubble and restore/rebuild what was there a year ago.  I'd prefer that some properties get let go to become greenspace and natural areas.  

Riverlink Office in the RAD

Hi-Wire is open again

Many places are still in need of restoration, Sept. 2025

That half-buried SUV is still there. Sept. 2025

Wilma Dykeman Greenway, Sept. 2025

Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, 09/17/25

Things can change in the blink of an eye, and it will take some time before the region gets back to whatever is considered normal.  If we have learned anything from Helene is we are in this together, and compassion, cooperation, and community are important.  

It's been over a year since I have had this view. So nice to experience it again.