Happy day

This photo showed up in my cell phone's memories of February 2018. This was one of the last times he was able to use his beloved skid steer. 

His smile was infectious. Plus he was a an awesome plow guy!

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So Monday my friend Pat said she was ready to go with me on a snowshoe adventure. Off we went. 

 Charlie led on the trail below the caves.

It was quite a feat climbing the steep hill in snowshoes, but it would have been worse without the extra traction.

The warm weather last week did do a number on the ice sheets, but I am always impressed by them. I never fail to think Wow when I see them.

I convinced Pat to climb up into them with me. It took a little coaxing, but she was brave and did it.

Here she is taking a picture of me while I am taking a picture of her. 

Her photo gives one a clue as to how large these formations actually are. You can barely see me behind some of the ice.

We trekked some more in the area and then headed back to the parking area. I then took her to the biggest Ice Cave in the area at Wildcat State Park. It was only a few minutes away.

Again, the warm weather last week didn't make the ice formation look as beautiful, but it was still quite impressive.

I nabbed the following shots from Pat's FB post. I had no idea she was taking shots of me.
Apparently this is my best side. 

Here is Charlie and I going around to the back of the ice at the large ice formation at Wildcat. I look positively tiny!

This is what I found with my camera on the backside. The sunlight coming through the ice gives off oddly beautiful shades of green and blue I assume from the minerals in the ice.

I was hooked on looking for ice in the winter the very first time I saw these strange colors and beautiful shapes.

Multicolored ice is more common than one would think.  Here is a photo from two years ago in another location. Note the colors in the ice. 

I imagine it is from the clay, the limestone, and the dirt the ice absorbed? 

I know there is a lot of crap going on in the world today. But I had to choose nature to go out and find the joy that it brings me. And I got to share it with a friend.

So it was a happy day.

Winter Discovery

 Serendipity is an incredible thing. 
The shot above was just that.
I turned around and saw this
incredible light while hiking.

So, on Wednesday Charlie was not going to let me go alone again on a hike. So I picked a place close to home once more and took a trail I have never taken in the winter time.

I wanted to change things up a bit. I always go to the same spots in the winter to look for ice formations.

I thought I'd try something different.

Boy, 
am I glad I did!

I took this trail which I only visit in the spring time as it is full of Virginia Bluebells and this is one of the finest places to listen to the Spring Peepers sing.

Spring view ... 

Below, not a great shot, because I used my little pocket camera....
Winter view.. [sorry it is such an awful shot the white balance was completely blown away!]

It was quite frozen. By next week, when it warms up for another thaw, the view will be quite different. 

Below is a view from the other side of that little bluff.

Charlie and I followed another trail I've never done in the winter. I had an idea that I'd see more 'ice caves' on this particular trail. I did. 

I counted 6 rock shelters and deep ravines. They all have water that seeps out of the rocks. This drains down into a valley and out into the river. 

It isn't so noticeable the rest of the year, because the water is just gently oozes out of the rocks and follows the ravine down through the thick woods.

The winter temperatures change that and freeze the water as it gently comes out. 

I wanted to see what the wetland looked like in the winter. Part of the trail goes through a large steep valley that is quite soggy.

Summer view:

Winter view:

In the spring, this portion of the valley is full of one of the very first spring plants that flowers. The Skunk Cabbage. 

This is where I stopped hiking for the day and just did a bit of exploring. The icy valley is huge and begs to be explored. 

We spent some time walking around. Charlie did his dog thing of sniffing and following tracks and I just fell in love with the lighting and atmosphere of this particular place.

Here Charlie just checking things out.

In the first shot he is looking down the valley
where the water eventually goes to 

reach the Kickapoo River.

The steep hillsides with the noon sun shining through the trees created

a magical atmosphere.

This is the valley to 
the North.

Cellphone shot attempt at a panorama view 

of the valley to the west.

I think I found my 'new' favorite place to go in the winter at least until I explore it more.

Last days of January

I needed to get out with Charlie as we were both going 'nuts'. It warmed up just enough to feel sort of okay with a face mask.

I drove the short distance to the local DNR land at Tainter Creek. My big surprise when I got there was that the DNR had mowed the flats down. The tiny bushy trails were gone and the area was cleaned up. I imagine it was time so that when Trout Season opened, the anglers [and people like me] could walk along the stream and enjoy its beauty.

Tainter Creek is in one of the most steepest valleys in our area. If we get a flood, this place is under water. 

Roads quickly get washed out and slowly get repaired.

2018 Washout:

But all is good now. We got there on the 30th when the sun was disappearing over the southwest hillsides. Part of the valley was sunny, the other half was in deep shadow.

Sign for this area

Most of this first walk was in shadows and between the shadows and the stream and a light breeze, things got pretty chilly.

We didn't make it all of the way around because 'someone' got cold. Probably from me stopping and taking so many photos of the ice and water.

And this little guy sat in the cold and ice to watch a squirrel tease him on the other side of the deep stream. 

I went back the next morning and left Chilly Willy Charlie at home to recover. This way the only feet that would get cold would be my own.

The warmth could be felt from the sunlight in the morning and the glow from the hillsides were reflected in any open spots.

It was simply stunning.

My feet did get a bit cold while standing in the deeper snow and squatting next to the stream. But it was all worth it.

Tainter Creek DNR land is worth the look.

In the spring the ephemerals are all over this valley. Blood Root, Virginia Bluebells, Dutchman's Breeches, anemones, Trout Lily's and so much more.

I've rarely ever visited this valley so close to home in the winter. I am glad I did.

My feet did warm up once I got to the road and walked back to the parking area. 

I'll go again once the weather makes another change.

Charlie?

He said he'd wait for the next big adventure which we had planned for Sunday.

Take a hike

~~~

After a few days of staying indoors except for chores ---> which I did with my wonderful get up of goggles, mask, insulated coveralls, and insulted boots...and pasture checks in said sub freezing temps....

I decided that 18 F [-7.77 in C] was a really warm day and a good one to go exploring. Even Charlie wasn't going to let me outside without his permission.

He does have the bossy characteristics of a Dachshund when he really wants something.

Off we went. As soon as we hit the road, it started snowing. Well, I do have a Subaru and it is meant to deal with my steep driveway and poor weather, so we just continued on. 

We had ice to explore [the good kind that Mother Nature makes].

We went looking for some familiar ice formations.

I took my Infrared Camera so that I could photo the ice and it would show up better against the snowy background.

For anyone interested, this was shot in IR Chrome. Chrome was used during WWII to differentiate between camouflage and real foliage. The filter was developed to make anything with chlorophyll to show up as red or hot pink. Any 'fake' camo would show up easily.

The Infrared filters are for more creative photography. I like to use it in the winter to separate the ice formations from the snow surrounding them.

Here is the view on the last part of the trail through Hemlock trees.

Below is a glimpse of the Kickapoo River which still has a bit of open water showing. I imagine by Saturday or Sunday that will be all ice. However, the river still flows underneath. 

I've walked this trail more times than I can count. Each time I go, I seem to discover something different.

What I discovered this time is that the 'pines' I was walking through are actually Hemlocks. Frankly, I never thought of what kind of pine tree it might be until I was fascinated by the snow falling on the little needles and then the tiny pine cones that reminded me of Tamarack trees.

Chippy accompanied us, however, Charlie wouldn't sit with him at the end of the trail. He was more interested in the coyote tracks in the snow.

Still, the scene was quite beautiful with the falling snow making everything look soft.

The roads were snow covered by the time I drove home. 

Wyalusing ice and Chippy

Mr. McCool and I went adventuring again today. It seems that I feel quite driven this winter to keep busy and keep at it. [I added the cool sunglasses with AI.]

I am thinking of how I can get out each day and plan an adventurous hike. I feel driven to go find ice formations. The house is too quiet. The logged forest that used to bring me peace and solitude has been destroyed [my words].

Thursday morning broke with sunny skies and temps that were to get up to 20 F. The WNW winds were to be light.

Perfect.

I put my sidekick in his car seat and we headed out. 

I wanted to check out Wyalusing's ice caves. I knew they wouldn't be spectacular after all the rain and warm temps we had, but I don't like to compete with the crowds that would come on the weekends. Week days seem perfect for exploring State Park trails.

This formation is called the painted cave because of all the colors in the rocks. I couldn't believe how brilliant the pink and the yellowish orange colors were on this visit.

We did go down inside of it. The size of this formation is tremendous, larger than any rock shelter I've ever been in before. It looked like someone had dumped blue food coloring on the ice formation itself. 

[Vandals!!!!]

We took the well traveled trail to the second cave. I could hear the water running even before I got there.

This photo doesn't give the viewer any idea just how large this formation is. 

Since getting in close felt a bit iffy, I decided to stay in the 'safe' zone and shoot what I could.

I was entranced by the portions of ice that had dropped to the bottom of the rock formation and had new and interesting patterns of ice forming from the melting ice above along with the spring water that flowed down and froze.

For perspective, these ice formations on the ground are taller than I am.

It never ceases to amaze me, what art Mother Nature creates.

I could have spent hours here, but decided to move on. After all, Charlie is quite the task master when he believes we should move on.

For this trip, we brought a mascot.

Chippy. He is quiet. He travels well in a backpack and requires very little food.

Plus....

Charlie didn't try to tear him apart. 

We have some more ice formations to check out on Friday if everything goes to plan. 

Life in the .... frozen lane?