A Frigid 'New Year'

The start of a New Year has brought with it frigid, sub zero temperatures. A 'bomb cyclone' as the meteorologists term it is making its way up the Eastern seaboard tonight with 60 mile an hour winds and snow and ice and sleet. This frigid weather immediately took me back to a visit I made almost a decade ago in January to Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio. I watched and waited for the perfect opportunity when frigid cold and snow would leave an ethereal landscape of white. Then I set out to photograph the frozen waterfalls in Hocking Hills.

My favorite image was of the Upper Falls of Old Man's Cave. A twisting path lead down to the waterfall with a thin layer of snow that had blanketed the region the night before. The path was slippery as the snow had covered the remains of an ice storm earlier that week. Temperatures were in the mid 20's so I drove to Walmart in Logan and bought thicker gloves to wear. My North Face jacket, wool scarf,  thick gloves, boots and jeans were just enough to achieve my goal against the cold. It was simply stunning to see huge frozen icicles hanging from what I later learned was Blackhand Sandstone cliffs. I fell straight down on my bum once making my way to the base of the falls. Here's an excerpt about Old Man's Cave.

Old Man's Cave derives its name from the hermit, Richard Rowe, who lived in the large recess cave of the gorge. His family moved to the Ohio River Valley around 1796 from the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee to establish a trading post. He and his two dogs traveled through Ohio along the Scioto River in search of game. On one side trip up Salt Creek, he found the Hocking Region. Rowe lived out his life in the area and is buried beneath the ledge of the main recess cave.

This next image is the very frozen over Middle Falls of Old Man's Cave with barely a sliver of water falling over. I struggled to get a decent vantage point to snap this image. I finally gave up and snapped this image and moved on. Sadly though, I couldn't reach the Lower Falls. The stairway down was a solid sheet of ice. You couldn't get down and you would never get back up. There is also an Upper and Lower Gorge between the different falls which I didn't photograph. The entire length of the trail to these falls and gorges is approximately a mile.

Thanks for coming along with me on this trip back in time. I would love to be there right now taking new images in various perspectives having learned so much more about photographing waterfalls since that day. Stay warm and bundle up if you go out of doors. Thoughts of warm mittens, hot cocoa and warm bowls of soup come to mind as I put up this post. ENJOY!

Winter Blues

Winter I am done with you! 

Done with ice, sleet, freezing rain, snow, bitter cold, dark and dreary days. 

I am done with dry skin, slipping on sidewalks, sliding in the parking lot, scraping ice off car windows. 

I am done with wrapping my scarf tighter, putting the gloves on, taking the gloves off.

I am done with grabbing more logs for the fire, turning the thermostat up again, reaching for a fresh mug of hot coffee.

I know that most of you have had a much harsher Winter than I have had in Kentucky and Tennessee.

I know here the bitter cold cannot compare to that of the northern States, not to mention the Canadian Provinces. 

So forgive me for being done, but I simply can't take any more.

This week we had an inch of ice, the following day an inch of snow.

The following day the temperature dropped to sub zero whilst we attempted to dig out our lives. 

Then yesterday snow, sleet and freezing rain fell all within one evening's time. 

Today it is raining. A rain that brings icicles crashing to the ground.

A rain that makes for a dark and dreary Winter's day.

A rain that just will not stop and no doubt will bring with it flooding. 

One would expect on such a day to find Noah guiding the animals to the Ark 'two by two.'

I long for sunny days, bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds that slowly move across the sky.

I long for warm breezes that brush against my cheek and turns my frown into a smile.

I long for flowers in every shape, size and configuration on every walk, stroll or hike.

I long for Spring. 

And while I am longing for Winter to be done, I ask, are you with me? ENJOY!

A Bluegrass Winter

Winter in Kentucky, the Bluegrass State.

Icicles form on every surface creating needle like patterns.

Evergreen branches hang low to the ground heavily laden with snow.

A snowy bridge crosses a soon frozen pond as bitter cold sets in.

A new blanket of snow hugs the sides of a Fir tree in the Arboretum.

Snow covered limestone steps lead to a path unknown.

Winter wind whips around the Pavilion while layers of snow lay across its rooftop.

Crab Apple trees sit dormant as a blanket of fresh snow covers every surface.

Freezing rain clings to every twig and branch forming an intricate patchwork of art.

Winter in the Bluegrass State brings snow and ice and bitter winds while we seek shelter from the cold.

Wood sits ready on hearths waiting its turn on the warm crackling fire.

Blankets hang loosely off the arm of the chair ready for wrapping ourselves in warmth.

Travel slowly on the icy snow covered roads and stay warm from the cold all. ENJOY!

Linking to The Scoop at Stonegable

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Winter Kentucky

A brief note to say hello and let you know I haven't taken any new images this week, but I did want to share some of the images I captured in the past few weeks with you around Kentucky.

All of these images were taken at Bernheim except the fourth image of the icy coverd branches on the tree. It was taken in Louisville. The snow is hanging on here still covering the ground thanks to the ice storm that sealed it in the day after it fell. We made it above freezing today and will get well above that in days to come. Although I hope we melt some snow and see some signs of Spring, I have heard talk of snow on Friday or at least a wintry mix. Hope all is well in your part of the world. Be safe. ENJOY!

Today's Catch, Mustatatuck National Wildlife Refuge

As I drove into the entrance to Mustatatuck earlier today, I hadn't even gotten a tenth of a mile in when at the first open field on the left side sat this gorgeous bird of prey, an immature Hawk, surveying the field in search of a meal. I have a photo of him giving me the ole dead eye I'll share later. I also have some images of this same Hawk in a field down a ways as I was leaving Mustatatuck. He must have been really hungry as he was surveying that field as closely as he was the first.

All the swamps were mostly frozen, as was Reichart Lake today, with the exception of a small open area in the middle of the lake. The gravel road traversing the refuge was very, very icy and snowy, but I was able to navigate it with just the minimum of work. I've traveled this road when it had a good 3 inches of snow on it so I was pretty sure I could manage it today. Have you been outdoors lately? I have always hated Winter, but last year I decided to get outdoors more in the Winter and see if I could kill some of that dislike. It's working. I enjoy Winter much more now. Before I leave you today, and least you think I had forgotten, as for the holidays . . . I have officially decked my halls. And I only have a few gifts I have to buy each year and those are on their way to me via USPS right now. Now the real question comes . . . have you finished decorating, shopping, wrapping, etc. etc. And can you believe that Christmas is a week and a half away. Where did the time go? ENJOY!

Ice!

A freezing rain and subsequent ice greeted me this morning as I looked out the window to check on the weather. Luckily there was plenty of warning it was coming. I'm not sure anyone in America didn't hear about it. It seemed to dominant our newscast here in Louisville for almost several days prior. After two attempts I did make it to my car and got it de-iced. It's treacherous outside so if you were greeted with this lovely weather, be careful. If this is the Farmer's Almanac's version of a mild winter, which is what I read a few weeks ago, then I'd hate to see what a bad winter summed up to be. ENJOY!