...through the years.
I went hiking on PeeWee's. The large tract of land next 'door' on Saturday. I wanted to check out one of the first ice formations I discovered.
The hike to there is done through two valleys and a ridge and across a large field that used to be pasture for cattle. It is now cropland that is rented out.
The hike to this spot is 1.5 miles. To get an idea of how remote this spot is...
well there are no houses or roads anywhere nearby or within sight.
The guys that inherited this land call the area below this dry run... The Lost Valley.
The valley is very remote. It is steep and narrow. More on that in another post.
The valley is very remote. It is steep and narrow. More on that in another post.
This is another favorite spot of mine. It starts at the top of the ridge and drops about 150 or so feet down into the Lost Valley.
Some years this part of the dry run gets an ice sheet over the opening of the rock shelter. Racoons, love to use the 'cave' as shelter in the winter.
This black and white shot is from 2019 when I was brave enough to take a rope and climb down into the gully.
Close up to the jaws of ice...
[The reason I now take a rope if I am going over the side.]
The edges of this dry run in the spring have the most amazing spring flowers. I also visit this area in the spring to see all the Hepatica, Trillium, Skunk Cabbage, Spring Beauties, and more.
And when spring arrives...the ice loses its beauty.
I shot this shot last year leaning against the same tree as I did for the second photo.
This next shot was taken in November of 2001.
I climbed up the dry run from the creek in the valley wondering where it went. I had a Pentax K1000 with a broken light meter but I was able to guess at the exposure.
This shot may have been the very beginning of my love for Ice Caves, Falls, and Ice Formations.
If we get moisture in the form of snow and rain, this may develop into a more spectacular ice formation by late February or early March.
The hike took me to the west side of this ridge and a newer ice falls. During the huge and devastating flash floods of 2016 and 2018, the small dry run turned into a huge ravine.
To my utter amazement and delight, this too had ice formations. I'll have to check out a safe way to get down into the area, but color me happy to find more ice.
It was a long and satisfying hike. The ice falls/caves are doing well but need more moisture!
15 comments:
You are an intrepid explorer!
Well, I've explored this land for 29 years now, so I know it more intimately than the current landowners do. :)
You are brave! It is starkly beautiful where you live.
Fun! Be careful, hope your cell phone gets a signal out there!
There is no cell coverage once you get into any of the valleys. I do carry a PLB with me on any hike which is a personal locator beam which will send my location to a NOAA satellite for emergency use only.
I've had that for about 2 years now.
I came from an area not so incredible and fell deeply in love with the land. Thank you.
I haven't had the opportunity to go ice climbing before, but I've done a lot of backpacking in the cold during hunting season. This makes me want to get back out there if work will slow down some. Thank so much for sharing!
What a cool hike, love the frozen waterfalls!
Thanks so much, it is such a wonder!
Great exploring. That b&w from 2019 is The One. 👍
Yes it is. I think I'll be going back later this winter and climb up from the bottom again. Going over the side is too dangerous.
Thank you!
Outdoors in the winter is always amazing.
You are welcome!
You are absolutely amazing. And yes, I'll bet Intrepid is your middle name. What fascinating place though.
I used to be very frightened of exploring on my own, but not anymore.
I married a man who had a lot of woodland knowledge and he taught me so much in our years of marriage.
LD...The ice formations are just as fascinating as waterfalls are. It is nice you have the collection from the years.
Post a Comment