Trail conditions: crusty snow
Last week's snowfall is slowly melting on sunny days and refreezing on chilly nights. The snow along the trail is packed down by foot traffic.
Migratory waterfowl
With temperatures in the 50s this week, ice is leaving the Esopus Creek. Today, the open water attracted some visitors: a mixed flock of waterfowl numbering in the hundreds. Mostly Canvasbacks and R ...
Trail conditions: slushy
As daytime temperatures reach the high 50s/low 60s this week, snow is melting along the trail, creating puddles and muddy spots. Boots recommended.
Sign of spring
This morning, as I stepped outside to chop firewood, I heard my first red-winged blackbird of the season, calling from the cattails. Temperatures are forecast for the low 50s. Last week, I couldn't l ...
What to do on a winter day…
Negative ten. Hemmed in by the winter wind. No where to go. Nothing to do. Feed firewood into the kitchen stove. Drink tea. Listen to the radio. Think back on other places, other times.
Wind Chill
Current weather: 10 degrees F, Northwest wind gusting over 20 mph. Wind Chill near -10 degrees F. I tried to hike to the parking lot but barely made it 100 yards along the trail before the wind made ...
Melting ice
Open water reappeared at the mouth of Esopus Creek after heavy rainfall two days ago. This morning, various waterfowl congregated in the open water. Two dozen Common Goldeneye, a half-dozen Common Me ...
The manifold half-mile
The distance from the trailhead where I park my car to the front door of the lighthouse is a half mile. How do I get from point A to point B? There a numerous possibilities. For routes, the choices a ...
After the blizzard
After a day and night of wind-driven snow and white-out conditions, I was so excited to see what the snowstorm had brought to the valley that I couldn't wait for sunrise. I was tromping around outside ...