Turbulent Flow

My captivation with Trail Creek began in January 2024. I was looking for action. Anything moving interests me, and Trail Creek, despite the frigid winter temperatures, was still in constant motion, surging within its icy edges. 

This small but mighty channel begins high above Wyoming’s Teton Pass. Trail Creek then accompanies and welcomes you across the Idaho state line and into Teton Valley. From there, it journeys on to join the Teton River.

As Trail Creek wends its way through Victor, life abounds. I found eighteen bird species feeding and mating to the music of moving water. In spring, the creek roared to life with blooming flowers and shrubs sipping from the banks. Autumn showed off red and golden leaves reflected in the blue stream. There is an allure in every season, but winter’s delicate, lacy ice might suit it best. 

The beauty is unmistakable. Trail Creek and her constancy deserve a closer look.

The motion of the water can be described as turbulent flow. This phenomenon occurs when a fluid moves irregularly and chaotically. Rather than a calm waterway flowing in one direction, the fluid particles collide and mix, creating eddies and vortices within the streambanks.

I soon became hooked on looking for it. An art example of turbulent flow is Van Gogh’s painting Starry Night. The iconic painting is celebrated for depicting Kolmogorov’s theory of turbulence in the swirls of the sky lines. The flowing water of Trail Creek is a real life example. See for yourself.