Last Sunday morning I woke from a dream of Mount Monadnock and drove to Perkins Pond in Troy to visit it. It might not be the tallest mountain but it is one of the prettiest, especially in winter when wearing a snowy cap. We had just gotten about 5 inches of snow 2 days before so it was a good time for photos.
It’s always hard to know how deep the snow is up there. I climbed to the summit in mid-April once and found snow well over waist deep in places. It was very rough going without snowshoes and I shouldn’t have done something so foolish. When I finally got back down I was dripping wet and looked like I had fallen into the pond.
There were ripples in the ice showing what you couldn’t see when it was in its liquid state. From here I decided to make the short drive to Dublin to see something I’d wanted to see since last summer.
It would have been a short drive if I had stayed on the highway but I decided to take the back way. I was able to go much more slowly than I could have on the highway and so was able to see more.
When I pulled over to take the previous photo of the road I heard chuckling and giggling and found that I’d parked near a stream that I didn’t know was there.
Ice baubles hung from the stones along its banks.
Once I’d reached Dublin Lake I saw what I had come to see. Each morning for the last 6 months I’ve seen this fallen tree on the shoreline out of the corner of my eye as I’ve driven past. Though I’ve only seen it for seconds at a time I’ve seen it burning orange from the light of the rising sun, deep indigo blue in the twilight before dawn, and as a black silhouette in fog so thick I could barely see the road. It has become something I look forward to seeing; a half way point on my journey and an oracle that hints at the weather for the coming day. I told myself that one day I’d see it in full daylight, and now I have.
I stopped at the branch river in Marlborough on my way back from Dublin to see if the melting snow had raised the water level. It didn’t seem any higher than normal and though there was a little snow on its banks there wasn’t a bit of ice on it that I could see.
I’d seen a lake and a pond covered with ice and a river with none, so I decided to visit a popular skating pond in a local Keene park. It told the story of our winter so far; yes, the ice grew but never thickened and it isn’t safe to be on anywhere in the state this. There has been no skating, hockey, ice fishing or much else that needs ice or snow this winter. Though I’m not a great lover of winter I am sorry that the people who enjoy it can’t have their fun. After all, I learned to skate on this very pond when I was a boy and spent many happy hours here.
These days I enjoy the pond more for the path around it rather than for the ice on it. Quite a few of the photos that have appeared on this blog over the years were taken here. It’s a great place to find fungi and slime molds and I saw my first maple dust lichen here. I’ve also seen otters playing, cormorants diving, turtles sunning, great blue heron fishing, and frogs hoping I didn’t see them.
The ice was thin enough to be nonexistent in many places around the shoreline. It was warm; about 48 degrees F, and it felt like a spring day. This weekend is supposed to be considerably different, with a high of 14 degrees F (-10 C) expected today. If the sun is shining it might be bearable for a short time, but there won’t be any hikes going on. Tonight they say we’ll see a -20 F (-29 C) wind chill and I hope I don’t have to be out in that.
Alders line the shore but they don’t seem to be in any hurry to produce pollen; there was no green dust to be seen on the catkins. They’re wise to wait, I think.
Apple moss (Bartramia pomiformis) in the upper left gets its common name from its tiny green, spherical spore capsules which someone thought looked like apples. Broom moss (Dicranum scoparium) in the lower right gets its common name from the way the leaves all point in the same general direction, making it look as if it had been swept by a broom. This photo shows that it would be very difficult to confuse them. Both seemed happy there by the pond.
The trees told the story of how the wind blew during the last storm.
There is more color to be seen in winter than most of us realize, but sometimes you have to look closely to see it.
Swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus) looks like a vine but is actually considered a shrub. It likes wet places and is a good indicator of wetlands. It’s also called bristly blackberry because its stem is very prickly and its fruits look like small blackberries. I’ve never tried them but they are said to be bitter or tasteless. What I love most about it is its purple-bronze leaves in winter. They were so beautiful there against the green of the moss.
This drooping snowman didn’t seem to be enjoying the spring like temperatures, but he might yet have the last laugh.
When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing – just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park? ~Ralph Marston
Thanks for stopping in.
Ilike the ice baubles. And perhaps I should make a “Thin Ice Keep Back” sign. I could hang it on the door handle of my room when I am feeling ratty. I could lend it to my wife too. Although on second thoughts … 😛
Thank you Ben. I think I’d leave the sign on the ice!
I wouldn’t dream of taking it. it needs to do its job. I’d make a new one of my own. 🙂
No, I didn’t think you’d take it!
It’s hard to even imagine the temperature so low. Our winter has been very warm too but, even at its worst, it never gets as cold as yours. What a shame for the skaters that the pond ice is so thin.
Yes, and we all start the day listening to the weather forecast so we’ll know how to dress for the day. That’s why we are so tired of winter by the end of February. Being able to shed all that extra clothing in spring is one reason why I love the season so much. You feel 50 pounds lighter!
Skaters, skiers and snowmobilers are having a hard time of it this year and they aren’t happy, but the rest of us are loving the above freezing temperatures.
I love the shot of the ice ripples and the one of the ice baubles. I hope you are keeping warm tonight.
Thank you Clare. The ice is probably growing by leaps and bounds right now.
As long as I don’t have to go outside tonight I’ll be fine. It’s pretty cold out there!
Lock the door and get close to the fire!
It’s nice and warm inside. I won’t be opening the door unless someone knocks, and then I’ll have to open it to see who is foolish (or determined) enough to be out in this weather!
😀
Looks like winter is starting to lose its grip.
That’s what we thought, but 15 below last night and tonight ended that dream.
Back to my Fall retreat location on Perkins Pond! Love this and your journey home with the interesting stops and glimpses. Though it is brutally cold outside today, I did make it out for a quick trail ride yesterday and the woods were glorious. I am much more aware of things as I ride along now, thanks to your keen eye and wonderful descriptions.
I didn’t know that it was Perkins Pond you went to. It’s a nice spot with an unbeatable view!
I’m glad you were able to get out for a while and see what nature had to offer. It was cold but I went out for a while too. Not today!
I’m happy that some one had the guts to go out and photograph the beauty of winter! I really liked all the photos on this one, because you did show how beautiful winter can be. It’s just above zero here now after having dipped below that last night, I’m hibernating today.
Thanks Jerry! I went out for a short time yesterday but not today. It’s still only 1 below and is only supposed to rise to about 9 degrees today, so I’m in hibernation mode too. They say we might see 50 degrees Tuesday, and that’s just the way this winter has gone so far. It’s been strange, but at least it’s been warm for the most part.
I love to read the words that you cite from other fellows. Many of them are so deep and refreshing. It feels as the air you breath when you walk in the woods. It couldn’t be better… Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much Maricel. I started using quotations from these great men and women because they so often followed along with what I was seeing and feeling, and often said what I wanted to say better than I could. I’m glad that you like them!
It’s enjoyable to visit places you know at various times in the year. A lot can be learned that way,
You’re sure getting some cold at the moment! All we’ve been getting this week is rain.
I agree. I’ve learned an awful lot about how nature works by visiting the same places.
It’s 15 below zero here right now, but they say we might see 50 above by Tuesday. Winter has been quite strange this year!
No long walks this weekend! I’m stunned at the windchill tonight. Thank goodness I have a warm home and good wood stove!
Yes, I was out there for a while at around 4:30 and it was bad then. It must be terrible now. I hope everyone stays nice and warm this weekend.
I hope the birdies have good cover, nights like this can be esp. brutal for wildlife.
Yes, and the homeless out there too.
Yes, I’ve read on the news that the police are urging people to report anyone they see, so they can be helped to get inside out of the cold.
I hope nobody tried to stay out last night. It’s 15 below here right now, not including the wind chill.
I got up in the night to stoke the fire and had the same thought. I don’t recall it being this cold for a very long time. Stay warm today!
You’d have to go back to last February I think, to find temperatures like these. At least tonight is supposed to be -11 rather than the -15 that we saw last night. It isn’t much, but it’s a step in the right direction!
I know, and 40s this week… crazy weather!
Glad you were able to get outside before the arctic blast hits! Great photos as always.
Thanks very much. I went out for a couple of hours today but it wasn’t pleasant! It’s 3 below right now with a steady wind.
A very satisfactory meander. Your temperatures are astonishingly variable compared with ours.
Thank you. Yes, our temperatures can vary a great deal, even over the course of a day.
The best wandering is aimless. Love the ice baubles.
Thank you, I agree!
I always enjoy looking at ice baubles. Glad you got out to enjoy the spring like day, stay warm this weekend, it’s going to be brutal.
Thanks Laura. The ice baubles should be growing some this weekend. I’ve found that going out in anything less than 10 degrees is a waste of time so I’ll probably be inside for most of the weekend.
I loved the ripple design frozen into the ice, the chuckling stream, the ice baubles and that memorable fallen tree making a beautiful pattern against the ice/water. Thank you for so many delights.
You’re welcome and thank you Susan. There are a lot of beautiful things to be seen in winter!