“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!!!
Lazy Day
Snow is falling
White flakes accumulate
Like quiet memories lost in
A sugar coated fantasy
Waiting for warmth and time
To erase them
Lazy day
Sunset
Red streaks stain an
Icy canvas, orange
Hues slide slowly between the trees,
Frosty limbs masking the death of
Each weary day, waiting
For destinies
New dawn
Canada geese fleeing the scene the day before a storm.
Escape
The coming storm,
Wings beating a hasty
Retreat, winters wrath the next stop?
A pledge made, subliminal path
Helping the flock to flee
Avoiding strife
Relief
A crisp, beautiful early December sunset in Mahopac, NY.
“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
-Rabindranath Tagore
“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.”
― Jo Walton
“Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”
-Hans Christian Andersen
“If you want to relax, watch the clouds pass by if you’re laying on the grass, or sit in front of the creek; just doing nothing and having those still moments is what really rejuvenates the body.”
-Miranda Kerr
As an avid hiker I am on an endless search for places or views that promote my inner peace and give me a chance to relax. I believe this photo speaks for itself!!!!
“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” William S. Burroughs
A country pond, sitting serene under a cool blue sky, waits and wonders.
The surface, ripples forming in protest as the cool October breeze works its way across the quickly changing landscape, trees bowing and swaying in almost silent objection of the coming winter.
Soon, the placid surface, cold and lifeless, will carry the weight of the razors edge, pushing off and gliding in ever widening circles as the flakes of winter slowly fall.
The Zen Hiker 