Regular readers might be getting tired of seeing this part of the New Hampshire rail trail system north of Keene but I never get tired of exploring here because I never know what I’m going to find. There are mosses, lichens, and liverworts here that I don’t see anywhere else so last week, after a nuisance snowstorm of 2 or 3 inches, I decided to see what I could find. The ice formations alone make this a worthwhile trip.
I think the reason all of the unusual plants grow so well here is because of the all of the groundwater that constantly seeps from the stone cliff faces. Mosses, lichens and liverworts don’t have roots so they depend on rain, snowmelt, and groundwater for their nutrients. In the winter the groundwater that helps them survive also freezes into huge, interesting ice formations and there are many people who come here to climb them.
I happened to meet up with a solitary ice climber here this day, and I took his picture so you could get an idea of the scale of this man made canyon that was blasted out of the bedrock. He looked to be 6 feet tall or so-maybe a little taller.
The ice climber had gotten there before me and I followed his footprints in the fresh snow, noting that he went from ice column to ice column, finally settling on a large column of green ice much like the one in the above photo. He was climbing alone so there was no safety rope and I didn’t want to take a photo of him climbing because I didn’t want to do anything to break his concentration. I was wishing that I could have talked to him about the ice and why he climbed it.
I haven’t been able to answer the question of why the ice is green so I don’t know if it is being stained by minerals or vegetation. My gut feeling says it’s probably a little of both.
Ice wasn’t the only reason I came here. These old walls are covered in mosses, lichens and liverworts. I think the moss shown here growing out of a crack in the stone is fan pocket moss (Fissidens dubius.) It was very small-no bigger than a quarter. Fissidens mosses always appear flat and have two leaves directly across from one another along the stem.
I also came here to see something I was only recently able to identify. Though it is bright orange, this is called green algae (Trentepohlia aurea.) The orange color comes from the carotenoid pigment in the alga cells called hematochrome or beta- carotene, which is the same pigment that gives carrots their orange color. One of the reasons I wanted to visit this place again was to try to get better photos of it.
I found that getting a better photo was easier said than done, but at least you can see the hairiness of what is described as “filamentous green chlorophyte algae.” The pigment masks the green chlorophyll and can also be yellow or red. In 2001 airborne spores from these algae were in high enough concentrations in India to cause a “red rain” that actually stained clothes pink. Yellow, green, and black rain was also reported. You can read more about that by clicking here.
I know from previous visits that this fallen tree means I should start watching for liverworts growing on the walls. With all the fresh snow, I wasn’t sure that I’d see any.
It would probably take a lifetime to identify all the different mosses growing here. I think this one might be fountain smoothcap moss (Atrichum crispum), but to be honest I can’t be certain. There are many mosses that look very much like this one and often only a microscope will reveal their true identity. The fact that it was growing in such a wet environment and the way the dry lower leaves had a crisp look is what leads me to believe it is Atrichum crispum. In any case, I thought it was a very pretty moss. Since most moss leaves are only one cell thick they look translucent in certain kinds of light.
Speaking of wet environments, this is not the place to come if you want silence, because the sound of dripping water is constant. Winter, summer, spring and fall it, and the sounds of birds chirping, are all that you hear in this place. Sometimes the drip turns to a gush, as can be seen in this photo. Luckily the railroad engineers designed drainage ditches along each side of the road bed that still keep it nice and dry close to 200 years after they were dug.
The canyon walls are high enough and the sun low enough in the sky so very little sunlight is seen here in winter. A few shafts fall here and there, but they do little to warm things up. Also, the ice seems to create its own micro climate so you need to dress warmly if you plan to explore this area. On this day the temperature must have been a good 10 degrees colder in the canyon than on the more open parts of the trail that get sunshine.
On the more open parts of the trail winter crane flies (Trichocera) could be seen soaking up the sun.
I finally saw some liverworts that had been protected from the snow but the drainage ditch full of water kept me from getting close. I’ve decided that I’m going to get some knee high wading boots to overcome the drainage ditch problem. That way I’ll be able to get closer to all of the unusual plants growing here. A ladder would also be useful but I hate to think of carrying one all the way out here.
Every time I come here I see something I’ve never seen before. Today’s find was this liverwort that reminded me a little of cooked bacon. Or maybe I was just hungry. Anyhow, I think this one is called narrow mushroom-headed liverwort (Preissia quadrata,) but since it can sometimes take a team of botanists to identify a liverwort, don’t bet the farm on my identification. Fresh plants are said to have a disagreeable odor, but I was able to get quite close to this one thanks to the frozen over drainage ditch, and I don’t remember smelling much of anything. Plants are also said to have a very hot taste when nibbled, but I think I’ll leave the nibbling to the botanists. I’m anxious to come back in June to see the mushroom shaped fruiting bodies.
Sometimes we see things so beautiful that we just want to sit and gaze at them, and when we do we find that when we’ve finished we have no idea how much time has passed, because the thing has taken us outside of ourselves. It can happen with a view from a mountain top, or a sunset, or a liverwort. This one is called the great scented liverwort (Conocephalum conicum) and it is another reason I come here.
The woods were made for the hunters of dreams. ~ S.W. Foss
Thanks for stopping in. Happy New Year!
I’m another one Allan that would be happy to keep re-visiting this place with you; it’s fascinating.
Many years ago I had a work colleague who was into ice climbing and I asked him why he did it. He couldn’t really explain why, he just liked the danger. I asked him how he squared his hobby with the fact that he had a wife and two young children but he said he had never given that any thought. In summer he did a lot of hill walking with a group of friends and would time how long each climb took, constantly trying to beat his record and get up and down as quickly as possible. I had to accept in the end that his idea of enjoying himself was so completely alien to my own that I would never understand him.
I suppose if you do it more for the exercise than anything else running up and down hills might make sense, but like you I don’t undertand why people do it. They run through nature like it wasn’t even there, as if the most important thing was the end of the path, rather than what was beside it.
Ice climbing is fairly dangerous, I would think. I’ve seen enough of those giant ice columns on the ground to know that if one of them ever fell on top of you, it would be all over.
I really like the shots of the ice and you surprised me by photographing an insect!. I am like you in that I enjoy going to the same places and seeing the changing environment–in my case, it’s my marshland park.
I was surprised to see that fly too, but from what I’ve read they’re actually quite common, hence the name winter crane fly.
Visiting the same places over and over sure reveals how much we don’t see at first. It’s the only way to become really knowledgeable about an area, rather than just familiar with it.
I’m getting to love that old road! If I lived near there you couldn’t keep me out of it!
I know exactly what you mean. I have a hard time going more than a couple of weeks without paying it a visit.
Another thing I will have to try to look out for. Great pictures.
Thanks! Liverworts can also be found on stumps and on the ground, much like mosses.
I love seeing what you find in the frozen canyon, I’d never have guessed you could see so much.
Yes, it’s really an amazing place at any time of year but in the winter the ice can be worth the walk. Plus the walls are covered with mosses, liverworts, and all kinds of other things.
You really have a great blog.
On Wed, Jan 1, 2014 at 4:04 AM, New Hampshire Garden Solutions wrote:
> New Hampshire Garden Solutions posted: “Regular readers might be > getting tired of seeing this part of the New Hampshire rail trail system > north of Keene but I never get tired of exploring here because I never know > what Im going to find. There are mosses, lichens, and liverworts here that > I don”
Thank you Roy, I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
This canyon and its tiny denizens are fascinating, especially as you have them presented here. Love the close up of the fan pocket moss.
I think I read somewhere that fissiden mosses make good additions to moss lawns. A moss lawn is sounding more appealing all the time. I could retire the mower.
I love the idea of a moss lawn. I’m afraid that we do get too dry sometimes. Also weed control would be a problem, I would think.
Yes, I’ve heard of people saying they had to pluck grass and other weeds out of a moss lawn until it got good and established. Mosses would need some watering but they can go a surprisingly long time with out it. Moss samples that have been stored in cabinets for 40 years have been revived with a good soaking.
Wow, what a lovely place. I’m glad you didn’t have to get wet feet to take all those photos. The last liverwort, the scaly one, was worth the walk all on its own.
No, I bought some really good hiking boots and my feet have stayed dry. They wouldn’t if I stepped into the drainage ditches though because they’re about shin deep. I agree that that reptillian Conocephalum liverwort was worth the walk-it’s a beautiful thing.
Do you ever find faces in the ice? I’ve started a collection of them. One is an almost full figure peacock with a full fanned tail.
I’ve seen some intersting patterns in the ice but I can’t say that I’ve seen faces. Probably because I haven’t been looking for them, so I’ll have to start. It sounds like the peacock would be worthy of a blog post.
The faces look like a variety of creatures, I have plans for them in a kids book. I need 4-5 more. I haven’t decided whether to share the peacock or not.
That sounds like a great idea for a kid’s book. It might get them looking at things that they didn’t ordinarly pay much attention to.
I would send it to you in an email.
Sure, I’d like to see it. My address is on the “contact me” page.
OK
Well, I never tire of your trips to the canyon, as you always find new things to share with us, and the photos are spectacular! And, to top it off, I always learn something, or many things, that I never knew before.
Thanks Jerry, I’m glad to hear it! Sometimes I feel like I’m just going around in circles visiting the same places over and over, but all of these places really do have a lot to offer.
I walk the same route just about every day, things change, more than I would have ever thought, and just this week, I noticed something I never saw before, even though I have walked past it hundreds of times already. I can see why you would go back to the canyon, the changes in the ice would be enough for me.
That’s true. There’s a lot to be said for traveling the same route again and again. I’ve missed some surprising things myself. You have to learn to see certain things like lichens and mosses and it takes time.
Thank you for starting the New Year with such beauty..
I would like to see your photos and comments on the end of local news for “a quiet moment” or “a moment of gratitude”…
Happy New Year…terry w.
Thank you for the great compliment, and Happy New Year to you, too.
Reblogged this on Writing Out Loud and commented:
Another terrific picture gram from NHS!!
Thanks for another reblog!
i never tire of your views from the rail trail. Thank you so much for all you’ve taught me in 2013!
happy new year!!
You’re welcome, and thank you for reading it. Happy New Year to you too!
Such a beautiful place.It’s no wonder you go there from time to time. I think it’s amazing that you find something new almost every trip. I’m with you though, I wouldn’t want to carry a ladder all that way either!
No, carrying a ladder through the woods is not high on my list of things to do in 2014!
I’m also amazed that I find something new each time I go there, and I’ve just barely scratched the surface. This place is teaching me a lot about mosses and liverworts, especially.
Looks like a very beautiful and interesting place. Your concluding paragraph was well spoken!
Thanks! This place really is beautiful, and unique. I don’t know of another like it.
Really great post, as usual!
I have really enjoyed your blog this year. Thank you for all of the wonderful information & identifications!
A very Happy New Year to you!
Thank you. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying it. Happy new year to you too!
Very cool post! Have a great 2014!
Thank you. Same to you!
What a beautiful – if somewhat icy – landscape. We’re still waiting for our first snow, we haven’t even had a proper frost yet this winter! “Happy New Year”
Sometimes I dream about living in such a place as you describe. Snow can be beautiful but moving it can also be a lot of work.
I don’t know anything about matters botanical but I love snow pictures, they are never boring to me.
I’m glad to hear that Susan. We have another storm coming tomorrow that is supposed to leave us with another foot of snow!