The weather people were saying that it was going to warm up so I thought I’d better to get into the man-made canyon on the rail trail up in Westmoreland before the ice started melting. Once the stone starts warming up the ice releases its grip and starts to fall, and I sure don’t want to be here when that starts happening.
Ice here grows as big as tree trunks and when it lets go it often falls all the way across the trail. I’ve never seen the big ones fall but I’ve come here right after they have, and I’ve seen enough to know that I’d rather not be here when it happens.
This isn’t a great year for colored ice but I did see some here and there. This formation was huge.
A few ice climbers were here but most of them had gone by the time I got here. They like to be here quite early in the morning I think, but since it was only 17 ˚ F. when I got up I thought I’d wait a while.
That icicle was longer than I am tall.
Evergreen ferns are still hanging on, even under the ice.
I saw a few snowmobilers. A lot of people complain about them but the arguments for them using the rail trails far outweighs the arguments against them in my opinion because they put a lot of time, money and effort into maintaining the trails. In fact without them many of our trails would no longer exist and thanks to them walking this trail in winter is like walking down a sidewalk. The ice climbers have posted rules to follow and one of them says that snowmobiles always have the right of way. I simply stand to the side and return their waves.
The southern canyon usually has the most colored ice. Blue is the most dense ice and I thought I saw blue in this group. It doesn’t look like the camera saw blue but it still saw plenty of beauty.
My color finding software tells me that the color of this ice is “lemon chiffon.” Pale yellow, I’d guess. You can look these names up and relate them to a specific color but I haven’t bothered.
It also sees orange and tan. I might see tan but I’m not sure about orange.
I thought this ice was green but the software sees pale orange and “wheat”.
I thought we’d agree that this was blue but no, the software sees slate gray.
I couldn’t even guess what color this ice was but the software says “papaya whip,” whatever that is. By the way, if you or someone you know is colorblind just search for “What Color?” color finding software and you’ll find it. It’s free and has no ads.
This shows that the color in the ice doesn’t color it completely sometimes. I still believe that it has to be minerals in the groundwater that color it. I don’t know what else could.
I hoped I might see some red ice stained by iron but there was none. Just lots of staining on the stone.
This ice looked just plain dirty. I’m sure a lot of soil must be washed out of the cracks in the stones by all the groundwater that seeps through them.
I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t much ice on the drainage channels. That’s where you often see the laciest ice.
I needn’t have been disappointed though because just a little further down the trail ice had formed on the channels.
All the variations in ice forms are an endless source of amazement and wonder for me. It’s quite beautiful.
This one that had formed on a stone just above the water surface looked like a fish, I thought.
A young skier was headed for the old lineman’s shack and I thought I’d follow him because that’s where all the sunshine was. He stopped to talk for a bit and said he was trying to do ten miles for the first time. He also said he hoped he’d make it. I hoped so too and wished him well.
The old lineman’s shack still stands so it looks like it will somehow make it through another winter. When I see it I think of the way things once were and how things were built to last. It continues to surprise me.
I saw what was left of another small bird’s nest near the old shack. It might have been just big enough to hold a hen’s egg with no room to spare. I’d guess that it started life in the V of those two branches.
As I left I looked up and hoped it was warmer out there.
It had just reached freezing (32 ˚F) when I came in here so allowing for the usual 10 degree difference meant that with the breeze it was probably about 20 degrees inside the canyon. After two hours I was ready to leave and I had taken about three times the photos that I could use anyway. There is an awful lot to see in this place, all of it beautiful, but I think the next time I come here the ice will have fallen and it will be more green than white. Thousands of violets bloom here in spring and I want to be here to see them.
The splendor of Silence—of snow-jeweled hills and of ice. ~Ingram Crockett
Thanks for stopping in.
I’m with you when it comes to snowmobilers. As a hiker, I’m the beneficiary every year of many days of trail maintenance done by the snowmobile clubs.
Thank you Ellen. I wish everyone knew how much they do for the rest of us!
I am so pleased you managed to get to see the ice before it melts this spring! The size of some of the ice formations are just amazing and the colours you found are fascinating.
Thank you Clare. I wish I could be there to see the ice simply melt but since huge pieces fall from the walls I don’t dare. It’s a place where being hit by falling ice, trees or stones is a very real possibility.
I enjoyed this virtual trip to the ice canyon. It won’t be long now before those icicles come down as spring draws near. How long does it generally stay real cold up in that area?
Usually January and February are the coldest but we get occasional below zero days in December and March as well. Things are changing though and spring is coming earlier each year. This is the second or third year I’ve seen flowers in February. When I was a boy just the thought of that would have been ridiculous.
While the ice canyon and colored ice is fascinating, I enjoyed the lacy ice patches and the sweet little bird nest best. I hope you do a post showing the abundance of violets in this area; I’d love to see pics of them, Allen. Bring on the wildflowers, I’m ready!! I’ve got snowdrops and crocuses just starting to show up. They make me smile. What season do you enjoy most to hike in?
Good morning Ginny! I happened to go there in spring a few years ago and found many thousands of blue violets blooming. They were on the stone walls, on the ground, everywhere and they were beautiful. There’s also a lot of coltsfoot and foamflowers there, so I’m anxious already to see it all.
You can probably tell that I’m ready for wildflowers too! The vernal witch hazels have just started blooming here and daffodils and reticulated iris are out of the ground.
I like hiking at any time of year but spring and fall are easier on the lungs. And of course they just happen to be the most beautiful seasons!
You did well to get your visit in before the ice starts t melt as it was a treat for your readers. I agree with Vicky in that I saw more of the colours that you saw rather than the shades that the software chose.
That’s interesting. I haven’t heard of colorblindness healing but maybe I’m better at colors than I thought.
That would be good.
Yes!
Allen, where do you access this part of the rail trail from? I looked at your past posts, and it looks wonderful for spring wildflowers too.
If you go north on Rte. 12 leaving Keene, just past the Keene transfer station you’ll see a large pull over on the right. At the northern end of this pull over you’ll see a trail to the right that leads into the woods. Follow that trail carefully and you’ll end up right at the mouth of the bigger of the two canyons. Just go north (left) and you’ll be in the north canyon. If you go south (right) through the south canyon you would eventually be back in Keene. At this time of year the short trail through the woods should be well traveled due to all the ice climbers. You might want to wear micro spikes because it can be icy. It is a great place to find wildflowers as well!
Thank you! I might wait until spring, tho I love the look in winter.
Understandable!
I loved all the photos. In the Southwest, I enjoy slot canyons, so of course I was intrigued by these rock walls as well. And I love winter, so that was the frosting on the cake! I don’t live near there, but maybe one day I’ll make that hike.
Thank you Pat, I hope you can make it up here one day. This place is amazing at any time of year!
Absolutely stunning! This helped to make a rainy Pennsylvania day less dreary. Thank you!
You’re welcome, I’m happy to hear that it brightened your day!
A+ fish ice formation!
Thanks Cathy. That one really surprised me!
The names for the colors are sometimes surprising, sometimes a little silly. I do find that sometimes Judy and I look at the same color and each see something different.
Thanks, I agree. I wonder if everyone sees colors the same way you and Judy do. It’s hard for me to say because I’ve always seen colors differently than everyone else.
The ice formations were artistically fascinating … THANK YOU.
You’re welcome Krys. This place is one of a kind!
Awesome. BTW I saw a little green where you saw green and quite a bit of blue where you saw blue (but the software saw gray). Thanks very much.
Thank you Vicky, maybe that software isn’t always correct!
I keep wondering how much longer the shack can last. And I’d certainly like to see a little more “built to last” nowadays.
My thoughts exactly!
What a superb set of photographs, I so enjoyed them marvelling at all the colours and shapes you saw.
Thank you Susan, I’m glad you liked them! I think the ice is about as big as it is going to get this year.