It has been more like spring than winter here for the past week, with above freezing temperatures and lots of rain. With all of the rain and snowmelt I thought that I might look for some roaring water. My first stop was the Ashuelot River on the one sunny day that we’ve had in over a week. I like the challenge of trying to read the rhythm of the river so I can catch its waves when they’re curling like ocean waves. The deep rich blues and greens and clean, bright whites that appear in the water on a sunny day can be really beautiful.
When I visited 40 foot falls in Surry there was no sun to be seen but I found that there was still plenty of snow in the woods, though in my own yard it’s all gone. Before you can get to the falls you have to cross what is normally a small stream but on this day because of all the rain it had swollen to twice its normal size, wider than I could jump, so I had to follow it upstream and find a place to cross.
Footprints told me that someone else had crossed here where the stream narrowed so I crossed using the stones as a bridge, hoping that none of them were slippery or tippy. Luckily I stayed dry.
The lower falls were a bit of a letdown because they didn’t seem to be running any stronger than they had been last fall when I first visited this place. It could be that there is a beaver dam further up that regulates the flow. Next summer I’ll find out.
The middle falls weren’t any better as far as volume, but I decided to blur the water so it might look like more was spilling over. I’ll let you be the judge of whether the effort was successful or not. I didn’t bother going all the way to the upper falls because even with Yak Trax on it was slippery. They don’t help much when it is leaves instead of ice making it slippery, I’ve discovered.
I hadn’t been to Beaver Brook falls for a while so I decided to give them a try. The snow on the old abandoned road was melting where it saw sunshine.
I was happy that I had worn my Yak Trax on the shadier parts though, because the packed snow had turned to ice. It’s hard to tell from the photos but it’s a steady and gentle uphill climb to the falls and ice makes it difficult.
Beaver brook was roaring along almost at the top of its banks, so I had high hopes that the falls would be roaring too, as long as they hadn’t frozen.
It was a beautiful warm sunny day and in places along the old road it looked like spring might be right around the corner. Just two more months and it will be spring if you go by meteorological rather than astronomical seasons, and I do. If you’d like to know the difference between the two just click here.
In other places winter still had a firm grip on the landscape.
Beaver brook falls fell with a deafening roar and didn’t disappoint. Since I was wearing Yak Trax I decided, for the first time in winter, to climb down the embankment so I could get a better photo. Sitting and watching the water, all I could think of was the boy who was fishing above the falls last summer and somehow fell in and got swept over the edge of this monster. He fell at least 40 feet into the rocky pool below, suffering a broken arm and shoulder and many cuts and bruises. He had to be flown out by helicopter strapped to a backboard, but thankfully he lived to tell about it. I was thinking as I listened to the roar that this boy now has a story to tell that few if any will ever believe. And who could blame the disbelievers, especially if they had seen what I was seeing? I can hardly believe it myself and I know it’s true.
The price you pay for having dared climb down the steep embankment to get an unobstructed view of the falls is climbing back up. I never would have made it without my trusty Yak Trax on.
Even the pond ice is starting to melt. I saw three wooly bear caterpillars this fall and every one had a wider brown band in its middle section than I’ve ever seen. Folklore says the wider the brown band, the milder the winter, and I’m beginning to wonder. Of course, maybe it’s just wishful thinking; I still haven’t forgotten the three straight weeks of below zero nights we had last winter.
When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised change, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness? Whatever it is, it’s welcome. ~Kristin Armstrong
Thanks for coming by.
Looks like a day for wrapping up warm. 🙂
It was!
Reblogged this on Dawn of Divine Rays.
Thank you Agnes.
It would be nice to think that spring was just around the corner but so far we hardly seem to have had winter here at all. The story of the boy falling is quite a cautionary tale. He was lucky to escape with his life. I’m glad to see your Yak Trax are getting some good use. Mine are still in the bottom of my bag keeping the ice away.
You’re lucky you’re getting such mild temperatures. We had a winter like that a few years ago and it was heaven. I never go anywhere without Yak Trax once it snows.
Some great capturing of rushing water. I have never been to either of these falls and will need to check them out.
Thank you. They’re relatively easy to get to.
I love seeing the woods and the streams in winter and you photographed them beautifully!
Thanks Montucky. I keep hoping for pictures of some ice, but we hardly have any. (And I’m not complaining.)
Falling water amid falling temperatures is lovely!!
Yes, but I prefer rising temps in December!
Great images of the waterfalls! I like the blurry water effect of falls of the size you shot, but on very large waterfalls, that does nothing for me. I’m hoping that the caterpillars are right and the weathermen wrong about this winter. After a very cold and snowy November, December has been about average as far as temperature with no snow to speak of.
A Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thanks Jerry! It sounds like you’ve had the same weather that we’ve had here. It has been a mild December and I’m hoping January will be the same. Merry Christmas to you too!
Reblogged this on Benji Martin Photography.
Thank you for the re-blog Benji, and Merry Christmas to you.
You’re welcome, and Merry Christmas to you, too.
The first shot of the river is a triumph. It was well worth visiting.
Thank you. The colors in the water that day were excellent. Amazing what a little sunshine can do for a photo!
Beautiful shots of the river and moving water. I like the blurring of the water in the photo of the middle falls. May I wish you a milder winter than last and a very happy Christmas. Clare x
Thank you Clare and thank you for the Christmas wishes. I can’t think of a better gift than a mild winter. I hope you and your family will have a merry and healthy Christmas.
Thank-you very much Allen!
You’re welcome!
Were you hearing running water when you went to bed that night? Beautiful hike.
Thanks! I don’t remember but I sure was hearing it in the woods! Those falls really roar sometimes, and that was one of those times.
Beaver Brook Falls is quite impressive. I hope that kid kept newsclippings to convince future skeptics.
I was thinking that very same thing, otherwise nobody will ever believe him.
I recently found your blog through my son, an environmental policy major at U of MN. What a wonderful site – great info and your photography skills are wonderful! I’m a fan!
Thank you Ann, I’m glad to hear it. And thanks to your son!
Milder winter is ok with me and I hope the wild animals are managing better than last winter. Beautiful photos and I especially liked the one showing the various colours of the water.
Thank you. I think we deserve a mild winter after last year. It was extremely cold here. I think the animals have found it easy so far. I was in the woods today and the snow has melted quite a bit, and there seems to be plenty for them to eat.
So beautiful! I can see winter is coming…here is is warm and sunny! I love the snow falling across your page : )
Thank you Laurin. Yes, winter is coming but it’s taking its time and that’s fine with a lot of us who have to shovel snow. I’m glad that you’re seeing warm, sunny days!
Absolutely beautiful pictures Allen! I love the mountain trails, water falls, creeks, rivers and lakes with snow. Love this time of year for hiking and camping, the colder the better 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Thanks Michael. I like hiking in winter too-there are no mosquitoes to swat! Merry Christmas to you too!
Great photos from a gray, gloomy, rainy winter. The only good thing is we haven’t had to shovel the rain. I’m glad you are a proponent of Yak Trax because I just bought a pair this week and haven’t tried them out yet. 🙂
Thank you Judy. Yes, I’m so glad that all of this rain wasn’t snow! We would have been buried up to the eaves.
I never go on any trails in the winter without Yak Trax. They’ve saved me from spills on the ice many times. If you’re a winter hiker you’ll love them.
Lovely shots!
Thanks!
All the rain certainly did swell the waterways. Luckily, it didn’t cause any major flooding. I’ll take the mild days and like you wish for a mild winter. Great shots of the falls. I know the climb at Beaver Brook can be difficult in the summer, but it must be downright treacherous in winter.
Thanks Laura. That climb isn’t a long one but it sure is steep and it was pretty treacherous, especially going down. At least you can crawl up it if you have to.
I think we’re due for a mild winter after that last one!
I do so much enjoy reading your blog and looking at the pictures. I love falling water so this post was special. Glad the boy survived his horrifying ordeal.
Thank you Susan. I like waterfalls too, I just wish we had some bigger ones here. Other than the initial newspaper report I haven’t heard anything about the boy who went over the falls but we’re pretty rubbery at that age and heal quickly.