Flooding in the Hudson Valley

 

 Last week we were hit by a few powerful rain storms, which also had the effect of melting most of the remaining snow. There has been a fair amount of flooding in the region as a result of these recent rain events and warm weather. 

After work, Friday I made sure to take advantage of the warm weather and went for a walk with my camera to check out the flooding in part the 'lowlands' of the Cary Institute, the area west of Fowler Road, which Wappinger Creek flows through. 

Wappinger Creek from Fowler Road

Southern end of the flooded area west of Fowler Rd.

The lowlands as seen from Fowler Rd, flooded. It looks like a small lake or reservoir.

The lowlands at the Cary Institute, off of Fowler Rd, under a foot or more of fast-moving water.

I love winter

The ash-frame snowshoes I weaved

My snowshoe tracks next to more modern style snowshoes tracks worn by Jacqui.

Me during my last visit home. There was  thick crust on the 2.5 ft of snow, with my snowshoes I was often able to remain on the very top layer of snow. I'm wearing a wool hat my Memere knitted, wool pants, mukluks, a wool sweater and a down vest.

It is my humble opinion that winter is the least appreciated season.

I've spent most of my life living in the northeast, specifically New Hampshire, where winter is often considered to be"long". I constantly meet or talk to people in NH or now here in NY that generally have nothing positive to say about the great white season, except for maybe taking a trip to Florida or the tropics to avoid it for a bit. When I was a kid it was always adults telling me why winter sucked: snow to shovel, a car to scrap or clear-off, slippery ice, the cost of heating, achy bones and cold steering wheels or a million other things. But I also know people in their 60's, 70's, and even 80's who still enjoy winter, and not just from their windows. I know I will never get tired of putting on my snowshoes and mittens to go for a winter walk in the woods, or a hike up a mountain, and I actually enjoy shoveling snow! My love for winter has only evolved and increased since I was a kid, from snowball fights to snowshoeing and winter photography.

Often it seems people are unable to enjoy winter because they are ill-equipped and/or ill-informed to handle the adverse weather conditions. It is impossible to enjoy winter if you can't feel your toes or fingers. Once this basic issue is overcome, winter can open up a new world of outdoor possibilities, there is no reason to be shut inside during such a magnificent time of year!

For me winter means great sleeping weather, crackling fires and wood smoke, the sound of a snow plow grating across the road, annoying frost heaves, naked trees, slow driving, SNOW, crazy black-capped chickadees flying around during snow storms, SNOW, animal tracks, snow covered trees, snow men, icicles, sledding, ice-skating, SNOW, photography, and of course snowshoeing!

Why do I love to snowshoe? This unique and ancient form of travel allows one to venture out quietly into the woods under your own power in conditions that would otherwise make it far too difficult or at least very slow and challenging.

Being out in the woods in winter is one of my favorite experiences. Winter travel offers many great thrills, the forest has a strange and unique feel  in January, it seems more quiet and dormant, animal track and sign is bountiful and easy to spot, and the inherent beauty of a snow-covered forest never gets old.

The rain we have been receiving this week in the northeast leaves me with mixed feelings. I can't deny the slight thrill I get when the mercury gets up to the high 40s, however, I am disappointed to see the snow melt away. Ultimately I am still not quite ready to give up on winter!

Hopefully next week we'll get a cold-snap, and I can once again walk outside in the morning and fill my lungs with refreshingly cold air.

Enjoy winter while it lasts! 

Twig bundle fire

Back to NYC

Jacqui came down before Christmas and we went back to NYC, specifically Times Square and over to the Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. Times Square was as close to opposite I could imagine to the tranquil feeling one has during  a nice walk in the woods. It was insane, people jammed together on sidewalks as wide a road, billboards, logos, tickers, flashing lights, movie trailers and commercials playing on screens everywhere, it was a commercial madhouse. I didn't get to take any photos while we were in Times Square itself, but a block or two away, near St Patrick's Cathedral, and the Rockefeller Center I did take a few photos. Despite the craziness and the windy weather, it was a really fun trip, and I am looking forward to going back with Jacqui, there are still many places I want to visit.

Cary Institute in March issue of Roll Magazine

There is a great article about the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the March issue of Roll Magazine, a local Hudson Valley magazine. Check it out HERE
Also on page 2, there is a photo of an egret I took on the campus a few months back. Read the article, check it out!

Ice Forest

During my drive back from NH yesterday, I watched the powerful rain storm melt away most of the snow, especially here in the hudson valley. When I left Manchester there was still around two feet. But I was disappointed when I arrived in Millbrook and much of the snow we accumulated this winter was washed away. But then the storm became crazier over night turning into a windy sleet/rain/snow storm, knocking out power and covering everything in a thick sheet of ice!

Despite the inherent damage to property and trees such storms can cause, they are also magnificent! Ice-covered forests have a unique, breath-taking beauty. I didn't get a chance to take any photos until later in the afternoon during lunch break, but the trees outside the Cary Institute remained covered in ice.

Dog sitting

A few weeks ago I went back home to Springfield NH to take care of the dogs while my parents were away for the weekend.


Abby is the old lady, but she still has the spirit of a puppy! She has spent countless hours running around the woods with me and my twin brother, on all sorts of crazy adventures. Despite her aching bones she still loves to be outside playing in the snow, looking for rocks she can carry around. She was a real pain to bring camping because if you moved at all while trying to fall asleep she would jump up and expect you to play with her, which usually meant dropping or rolling a rock onto you.


Jake is no longer a puppy (6 or 7 I forget) but he is obsessed with playing catch or fetch with tennis balls, snow balls, sticks, leaves, really whatever you can throw and he can pick up or catch. He is also the fastest little dog I have ever seen. He is also completely obsessed with catching snowballs.



Molly has always behaved as if she was an old tired dog, even when she was a puppy she preferred to lay outside on the porch rather than run around in the muddy driveway with Jake and Abby. However, Jake does get her up and running around sometimes. She also likes to chase my cat, Zena, around the house, which is good for both of them. Growing up me and my twin brother would take the dogs out for long walks through the woods, and she was notorious for just getting bored or tired and randomly turning around and walking home, which is both surprising and impressive since it often meant a mile or two, or more, of random bushwhacking all the way home.

Rock Rimmon Park

While visiting Jacqui in Manchester NH for the weekend, I took some time explore the nearest patch of forest-- Rock Rimmon Park. It is a small hill covered in a oak forest with a rocky outcropping at the top which is dominated by an uncommon species in NH, the scraggly pitch pine.

The trails up were very packed but snowshoes were helpful off the trail. The snow pack was very crusty.
Looking east, the top provides a beautiful panoramic view of most of Manchester.

The Uncanoonucs to the west are also visible.

winter hay bales

The field outside Smith House, on the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies campus

Kanape Brook Trail to Ashokan High Point

I've been cooped up in a lab a lot lately, and I've been really itching to get out on a nice winter hike.

I have wanted to check out the rest of the Kanape Brook trail, to the Ashokan High Point for a while. We have some red oak research plots about a mile up the trail, but I had never been any further. (To the right is Kanape Brook, as seen in the afternoon on the walk back down. )

A friend I met during the Hubbard Brook REU program in 2009 drove up from Long Island Saturday morning. We got to the trail head around 9:30am, signed in at the registry box and started up the trail. It snowed the night before, along with some sleet, and we were the first ones on the trail! The snow was still very packed so snow shoes weren't needed, although if we wanted to do any serious bushwhacking they would be essential.

The Kanape Brook trail is an old abandoned carriage road. The forest along the road had been burned periodically for blueberries, which were picked by the locals during the Great Depression and sold to NYC markets. The trail follows a very gradual incline up and has flat stretches passing through some thick mountain laurel patches and a small (and very beautiful but odd/out-of-place) planted norway spruce grove. The trail for the most part is pretty rocky, but it is not noticeable with the winter snow pack, and it seems to be a popular cross country ski route.
As we gained elevation the forest gradually became blanketed in a thick sheet of ice. Every branch of every tree and shrub was encased in a layer of glistening ice.

I was checking out some ice damage.

Towards the high point the trail begins to get steep, then flat, and then several short steep sections before arriving at an opening in the trail providing a beautiful view (below).


Despite the cloudy day there was still a beautiful view from the summit (below), which is covered in stunted oaks and mountain laurel.

While at the top I noticed movement in the corner of my eye from up in a tree, and I discovered we were actually intruding upon someone else who was already there enjoying a meal and the great view.

Around the lab

Stissing Mtn

I needed a break from everything and I was getting a bit antsy from being inside so much lately, so last Saturday morning I finally made it over to Stissing Mountain in Pine Plains (NY). It is a short and easy drive from Millbrook up 82.

Stissing Mtn is part of a 500-acre preserve run by the Nature Conservancy, their blurb about it is available here.

The hike up is short and a bit steep. The trail starts across the street from a small parking area and leads through an old fence and up an incline and gradually levels out a little bit before it comes to a fork. The trail on the left, according to two different people I spoke to, is shorter but steeper, but they both lead to the fire tower. I was already in a t-shirt and I wanted something more challenging so I continued up the left trail.

Although the snow was up to my knees, the trail was very packed and I didn't need the snowshoes I brought.

Not the best panoramic image, but it gives you an idea of the wonderful view from the fire tower. All of the Hudson Valley that I have seen is a patchwork of forest and fields, it is a perfect example of forest fragmentation.

Before I left I made a little snowman!

On my way out I found a Nikon lens cap in the snow. . Maybe the owner will read this? Unlikely, but I put it on the fence post at the beginning of the trail, below the snowman.

Portsmouth, NH

I have a huge backlog of posts to finish and put up. Most of my free time as of late has been consumed by other things (such as applying to graduate school) But I hope to get back on track this month.

On new year's day, me and Jacqui went to one of our favorite places on the seacoast, Portsmouth.

two views of the the Veteran Memorial Bridge

You can take a look at some of Jacqui's photos from the day here- Wreaths and Pigeons

Paradise below zero

I have not given up on the blog, it's just been on a bit of a hiatus as I've been very busy lately. I have a significant backlog of photos to post though, so check back again soon!

The title of this entry actually comes from the famous outdoors-man, Calvin Rustrum's book, Paradise Below Zero. From around Christmas time to New Years, I was in NH visiting family and friends. While I was home I had some time to get out with my snowshoes (above). The temperature was hovering around 0, but with the windchill it was around -9 F. I actually find it easier to dress for this weather, because the temperature is low enough and I don't need to constantly remove or add layers. Although it can make photography a challenging process.


Jake, our adventurous and tough little westie ventured out with me, despite the combination of the low temperatures, his small stature, and the depth of the snow. When the snow is this deep (in this case it was just over my knees without snowshoes) he stays right in my snowshoe tracks, jumping from track to track.




At the end of my walk, back home in Springfield NH (above).


The silhouette shot of my snowshoe (which I weaved!) was the last photo I was able to take before my camera batteries succumbed to the cold and died.