Frozen tree branches after a January nor’easter.
Icy tentacles
Reach out from a prison of
Frigid dismay and
Sway in a collective dance,
Keeping the madness at bay
Haiku-The Icy Woods
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Tag Archives: Nature Photography
January Snow…
“A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky—unbidden—and seems like a thing of wonder.”
-Susan Orlean
“A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things.”
— George R.R. Martin
Our dog Jase’s favorite soccer ball.
A snowy day waiting for my daughters hockey game to start in South Kent, CT.
Snow falling.
South Kent, CT.
A Rare Rainbow in January
If you look closely just to the left of the telephone pole on the right, you can see a rare January rainbow. I apologize for the bad cell phone photo but I didn’t have my other camera!!!
The First Hike Of 2017!
“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.”
-Frank Herbert
“Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
-Walt Whitman
It’s been awhile since I was able to get out for a hike on the last day of the old year and the first day of the new. Since both days were beautiful, I really had no excuse not to get out into the woods. Sunday January 1st was a clear crisp day in the low to mid 40’s. Compared to my hike on 12/31, the trail here was not covered with ice, which made it much easier to get around.
Starting on a side road just north of the Appalachian Market at the split of Route 9 and 403, we hiked back south on Route 403 for a few hundred yards where the AT crosses the highway and the goes south.
The AT moving steadily uphill. The picture was taken about 1 mile from where it crosses Route 9.
Looking back down th AT.
Once you get to the top of the hill after a steady 1.5 mile climb, make a left on the AT and proceed south on the now white marked AT and blue blazed Osborne Loop Trail. About 200 yards farther south, you will see a well worn trail off to the right. This leads to lookout over the Hudson.
The Hudson River looking south.
The Hudson River looking north.
After spending some time at the view point, we got back on the trail and headed north on the AT/Osborne Loop back to where the AT heads north and the Osborne Loop continues moving downhill. After another mile, the Osborne Loop tuns left and keeps heading downhill. After walking for five minutes you come upon this wooden gazebo. It has been there for many years and was restored in 1996.
The Osborne Loop headed towards Sugarloaf. Notice the gazebo on the right.
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The ceiling of the gazebo.
Photo taken from the gazebo.
After you spend some time at the gazebo, keep heading down the trail, you will see red blazes marking the Sugarloaf Hill trail. Make the left onto this trail and head steadily uphill. The trail here is pretty difficult but the climb is worth it.
As you look south on the Hudson, you can see Anthony’s Nose on the left.
After descending the hill, you will go back the way you came on the blue trail for a short period of time. Instead of turning right and heading back uphill on the blue trail, you will continue on the yellow blazed carriage connector trail. You will stay on this trail until it intersects with the AT. Follow the AT out to Route 9 and you are finished!
The rest of the photos here and below were taken on the yellow blazed carriage connector trail.
Needless to say this was a great way to start not only the calendar year, but the hiking new year as well! Six and half miles with a couple of pretty intense climbs and some great views make it al worthwhile!
Happy hiking everyone!!!
Good morning 2017!!!
“New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change.”
-Sarah Ban Breathnach
The sun coming up over the hill behind my house on a beautiful New Year’s Day.
A New Years Special
“Days of high temperature are almost disposable. Time gets pureed in the swelter of it all. Cold-weather hours drags, days and nights become small epics. I welcome the bleakness!”
~Henry Rollins
“While I relish our warm months, winter forms our character and brings out our best.”
-Tom Allen
“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.”
-Anamika Mishra
The last hike of 2016!!!! Since it was already 2:30 by the time I got to the trailhead, I decided to go ahead and do the quick loop in Fahnestock State Park.The loop ensured that I would get a good work out and more importantly, that I would be out of the woods before it got dark.
As soon as I came down off of Route 301, the sound of cars passing quickly disappeared and I was quickly embraced by the silence of the woods. I was lucky enough to be alone in my endeavor and I relished every minute I was out there. The sound of my hiking poles mixed with the crunch of the ice under my boots made for an interesting soundtrack as I made my way through the woods.
Although it was cold and the wind was blowing, the solitude was bliss!
Enjoy the photos!!!
Happy New Year and Happy Hiking in 2017!
Lake Mahopac in B & W
“Black and white are the colors of photography. To me they symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair to which mankind is forever subjected.”
-Robert Frank
Renewal (3)
Rushing into the house just a few minutes ago after walking our elderly neighbors dogs, my daughter exclaimed, “Dad, quick, you have to get a picture of the sunset.” Walking to the front door, I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the sunset that I saw before me. Most people think of sunrises as being a period of renewal, but after a morning of snow that turned to a drenching rain that lasted more than seven hours, the sunset today was amazing and a great way to end the day. To me, a period of renewal.
Finding Your Place-Anthony’s Nose
Over the years, whenever I have had to think something through or have had a particularly bad day, I’ll head to Anthony’s Nose. The Nose has proven to be a special place for me because it gives me the chance to get away from everything and do what I need to do to get back on track. The soft earth under my feet, the wind blowing around me and the warmth of the sun has been incredibly therapeutic for me.
Although I have made my way to the Nose during every season of the year, the winter months are a special time to hike there. Even though it isn’t that warm and snow or ice may cover the trail, it offers many more views than the other seasons. After spending some time at the top, I know that I can head back to real life refreshed and ready to move on.
In good times and bad-I have found my place.
New Horizon-A Rivers Promise
“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
The Zen Hiker 