“Keep your rivers flowing as they will, and you will continue to know the most important of all freedoms—the boundless scope of the human mind to contemplate wonders, and to begin to understand their meaning.”
—David Brower
“Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.”
-Wallace Stevens
My daughter and I just got back frrom taking our dog Jase for his extra long Christmas ride and took these pictures of Lake Mahopac. Although it is beautiful all year long, the winter season brings out something special. I have walked the 6 miles around this lake during every season of the year and enjoyed every mile. Enjoy the photographs!!!!
“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.”
-Paul Theroux
“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter.”
-John Burroughs
“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.”
-Pietro Aretino
You know it’s going to be a good hike when your long time hiking buddy shows up at the trail head and after a good twelve hours of snow, freezing rain and rain, it all just stops! Ten minutes later the sun is out. You couldn’t ask for anything better.
Yes, I headed back up to Anthony’s Nose on a day that started off slushy, icy and nasty. As I looked up the trail, I have to admit that I was a little worried noticing that it was all a sheet of ice. With that said, after about 200 yards, the trail became more slushy which made it much more manageable.
12/24/16-The start of the climb to Anthony’s Nose.
12/24/16-A quick 180 degree turn from the picture above looking back towards the start.
Since I have not been up to the Nose this late in December for a couple of years, I really forgot about how the views drastically change now that the trees are bare. You get an entirely different perspective on winter hiking.
12/24/16-A view you would never get during the summer!
12/24/16-The Nose in the distance as seen from the Appalachian Trail. This is the only time of year you get this view of the Nose.
Once I got to the top I was pleasantly surprised with the awesome views that were waiting. for me! The difference between pictures during the summer and now are incredible. Once again, this is why I love this hike!
12/24/16-Iona Island to the lower left and Bear Mt. to the right.
Dunderberg Mt.
Bear Mt. and the Bear Mt. bridge to the right.
Bear Mt.
Another viewpoint, just off of the Nose looking North towards West Point.
Sugarloaf as seen from the alternate viewpoint.
A tighter view looking North on the Hudson.
A small pond, now frozen, that you see on the way up and down from th Nose.
As always, any hike to the Nose is a good one. If you want to, go back to my posts in July and August to get a good look at the differences in the terrain depending on the season.
Happy Hiking!!!
Imagine a day
Where love passes as truth and
Serenity falls
From the sky like the golden
Rays of the sun-We can dream…
The inspiration for this tanka came from a painting done by a friend at work. It hangs on her office wall and when I saw it today I knew that I had to write something! I love the painting! It tells so many stories.
I walked to the freezer with a pizza in mind,
Ripped from its box, a mighty nice find.
I opened the oven, the pie on a tray,
Twenty short minutes, I’d then have my say.
So I sat and I waited, and as the pizza was cooking,
Two pot holders I searched for, all the time looking.
As the clock winded down and it smelled almost done,
I was in a pot holder dilemma, I could only find one!
So I opened the door, and as I reached in with my right,
The pan started slipping and I got a big fright.
The pizza was loose, the pizza was falling,
It couldn’t be wasted, my stomach was calling.
So the brave soul I am, not caring about pain,
I reached out with my left, completely insane.
My fingers touched heat and they started to swell,
I don’t know what happened and I just had to yell.
Expletives here and expletives there,
I threw them around without any care.
But the pain was so great, and I wanted no glory,
Just a pizza to eat and a hell of a story.
Feel better Barb!!!!
Check out the inspiration for this poem here:
https://saneteachers.com/2016/12/20/give-it-to-myself-aka-frankenhand/
The long day is done,
Brain drain, cerebral stain, done
Going nowhere, done
The night is still young
Christened by the wilderness,
Celestial grace
A foggy day, exactly twenty four hours after we got 6 inches of snow!
Melting snow watches,
Empty fog transforms each soul,
A misty blanket
Of warm rain falls, envelopes
Protects, hides and forgives all
Windswept angry eyes,
An icy veneer softly
Moves against the tide
Of knowing what was passing
In time through my yesterday
Snowy splendor sends
Shivering signs to
Help affirm the truth
The Zen Hiker 