Just broke X-Country Ski Trail at Moss Lake - pant, pant

Snow angels on Bald - click below

snow angel

Moments before the WhitefaceWaterLoo -

See this cold mountain stream.
See Andy - safely watching.
See James - about to meet his WhiteFaceWaterloo....
(you can guess the rest!)
note: temperature: 5 degrees or so
note: water temperature? James is about to find out.

Winter Wonderland atop Bald Mountain this morning

Fallen Angels

Do fallen angels ever sleep?

Spread good vibes.

Please email stories or photos about your favorite outdoor activity or experience here in the central Adirondacks!
Love to share them with others (especially my niece, Jamie - in hospital in Rochester, NY)
Write catherinelight@bluelinebydesign.com. Thanks a bunch.

Leave Only Footprints - Take Only Memories

I heartily ascribe to the wisdom
"Leave Only Footprints - Take Only Memories"

However, like anything - there can be wonderful exceptions.
Last fall, I came upon this beautiful bouquet left behind in the crotch of a tree half way up Bald Mountain.
It has left a fine footprint upon my memory,
and warms me this cold December night.
I was feeling rather lonely until I came upon this photo again...
a gift.
Thought I'd pass it along...
(it IS December, after all!)

Join Eagle Bay Photo/Hiking Meetup Group

James has decided to help facilitate my Eagle Bay Photography group on www.Meetup.com
Check out this website, which is organized by interests. Want to fine a local dance group in the area? Or want to get form your own interest group and meet others interested in the same thing? This is a great site! www.Meetup.com

SnowShoe-ing White Face Mountain

My first hike of the high-peaks.
James Lewis, new to Adirondacks, has just moved to the Adirondacks with his new girlfriend Paula. They share my passion for photography and hiking. Jim suggested this hike, wanting to "do" all 46 high peaks. Well - "Why not?" - I thought.
So, at 4:30 am yesterday, I packed snowshoes rented at MountainMan Outdoors (a real deal at $16 daily) and met James in Long Lake. The adventure began when his KIA sank into two feet of mud and water at the trailhead.
Then continued as Andy did the same. Not a good thing for a dog in 5 degree weather. Worse for a person.
James will confirm.
After we trekked a delightful 3 1/2 miles we met our "water"loo.
Specifically, the trail has a lot of 'blowdowns'
and many mountain streams to cross. Too many.
In fact, after three successful crossings - on flimsy logs and slippery poles that have been haphazdly thrown across the stream, I suggested we were pushing our luck, the time and the weather conditions.
James reluctantly agreed... then promptly fell off the log he was using to fiord the stream one last time. James was baptized.
A real trooper - we made it back down without further incident

Thendara Golf Club - cross country skiing

Wonderful skiing this week - with the right wax, that is!

Skiing at Thendara Golf Course

One of the more popular cross country ski places in the Old Forge area is at the Thendara Golf Club (Directions). Although privately owned, skiiers are welcome - and it is a very popular spot. this week, we had a healthy 5 inch snow fall, and are looking for more. Some rolling hills - and great places for a warm brew following the ski are nearby. I suggest Frankie's restaurant for GREAT Italian, and www.mountainmanoutdoors.com.
Both places are nearby on Rt. 28 as you enter Old Forge. A nice advantage to renting both snowshoes and skiis are Mountainman is that you can apply all your rental fees in a three month period to the purchase of either snowshoes, skiis, bikes, whatever. How cool is that?

On the secret anniversaries of the heart . . .

The holiest of all holidays are those Kept by ourselves in silence and apart; The secret anniversaries of the heart, When the full river of feeling overflows; The happy days unclouded to their close; The sudden joys that our of darkness start As flames from ashes; swift desires that dart Like swallows singing down each wind that blows! - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

pure whimsy -

What a wonderful world... (Click Here!)

To Fourth Lake

Oh - for a healthy snow cover...

Just on the way out for the first cross country ski of the year. We had enough snow last night to warrant the effort.... at least on packed road surfaces or hard paths...
will ski near Fourth Lake.

By the way, to see the video below, click on arrow on left.
This blog is to share my love of the central Adirondacks. You will hear me mention Jamie upon occasion. The bubble'd prayers from atop Rocky Mountain were for her, and others like her.