HSNP Fountain Trail Rock Art
I surrender to the serenity of each new day releasing my Dreams into the Universe. ~ Lee Hiller
Winter
All posts tagged Winter
A beautiful icy winter breeze is blowing through the Forest as my beloved husband Rick and I head out for a morning hike. Above us two flocks of birds are darting back and forth over Hot Springs and North Mountains. As we enter Hot Springs National Park Nature displays a taste of spring with a glorious purple Myrtle (Periwinkle) bloom.
When we reach the Upper Dogwood Trail the faint beeping of a Downy Woodpecker lingers and slowly fades as we move deeper into the Forest. Soon we are aware there are no voices of other hikers, no rustling in the Leaves and no bird song, it is as if the entire Forest has fallen into a deep sleep. We become aware of muffled crunch of our boots on the damp autumn Leaves coating the trails as it becomes the only sound as we cross from North to Hot Springs Mountain.
Nearing the end of our hike I spot a tiny cluster in debris in a Tree to my side. On closer inspection we can see it is an intricately woven bird nest masquerading as a clump of leaves. A beautiful discovery at the conclusion of a perfect morning in the Forest.
Love to ALL!
Lee
PS check out the wonderful Morris Minor Traveller that we spotted at the Fountain in the Park. Rick identified the make when we were still several hundred feet away 🙂
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- HSNP Floral Trail Rock ‘Winter Heart”
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- HSNP Floral Trail Winter
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- HSNP Floral Trail Winter Rock
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- HSNP Floral Trail Winter Rock
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- HSNP Fountain Morris Minor Traveller
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- HSNP Fountain Morris Minor Traveller
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Periwinkle
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Periwinkle
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Winter Nest
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Winter Nest
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- HSNP Honeysuckle Trail Fungi
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- HSNP Lower Dogwood Trail Winter
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- HSNP Lower Dogwood Trail Winter
Field Notes:
12/27/2010 – It is a bitter cold morning, 18 degrees with a wind chill of 11. Cold enough for the bubbling Hot Spring Cascade to form ice cycles and the surrounding grassed to be layered in snow like coating, Jack Frost has also been busy painting organic and inorganic materials. Midnight blue metal as been transform with white fern patterns that appear to grow right before my eyes. The Autumn leaves curling on the ground have spiky shards of ice that resemble crystal rock formations. Old Man Winter decorates the Forest with flair. At the Hot Spring Cascade the combination of glinting ice cycle teeth and steam reminds me of a dragons mouth.
This is the kind of morning you hike for warmth and stopping to take photographs is a measured event, especially it require glove removal to find the right settings. Grateful for the harder inclines that increase the circulation to your fingers. Blessed to have the strength to be able to see the beauty a cold morning. Thankful for the energy in Hot Honey and Lemon with a dash of my cayenne herbal tincture mix. Just ordered a cayenne cream, a test to see if it will keep my fingers warmer on the sub freezing hikes. Update to follow.
The term “just us chickens” needs an amendment this morning to “just us sparrows”. Why? Because other than myself they were almost the only creatures I saw moving during my hike. The sweet White Throated Sparrows looked uncomfortable but, fluffed up their feathers and greeted the day. I always seem to see more of these lovely Sparrows during the winter months, I guess no one told them it get cold here too. Previously I used the term almost, a sweet Mockingbird bid me farewell as I left the park and a rustling of leaves in the wind was more than just air gliding over autumn’s last stand. When I returned home and began editing my photographs I discovered a barely visible Golden-Crowned Kinglet had taken shelter in the autumn leaves high above me. I love finding an unexpected gift from Nature in my photographs.
There is a contentment in coming home and fixing a hot bowl of soup on a day of ice and steam. Sipping it slowly while I look out the window at Jack Frost’s art decorating the Forest, remembering the beauty as I edit my photographs. The steam warming my face, a feeling of gratitude for all that has lead me to this moment.
Much Love Dearest Readers,
Lee
PS Sorry this post come a few days later than usual… it is a change of holidays Christmas to Valentines and I am still in the business of designing and selling “stuff” Books, Home Decor, Gift, Apparel, Shoes, Jewelry etc. htp://LeeHillerBooks.com and http://LeeHillerShopping.com (end of commercial).
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- Hot Springs Mountain Trail Litter Message
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Springs Cascade Frosted Grass
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- Hot Springs Cascade Frosted Grass
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- Short Cut Trail Jet trails
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- Hot Springs Cascade Steam and Ice
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- Hot Springs Cascade Steam and Ice
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- Hot Springs Mountain Trail Golden-Crowned Kinglet
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- Short Cut Trail Winter Berries
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- Short Cut Trail White Throated Sparrow
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- Short Cut Trail White Throated Sparrow
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- Short Cut Trail White Throated Sparrow
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- Short Cut Trail White Throated Sparrow
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- Promenade Northern Mockingbird
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- Promenade Northern Mockingbird
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- Promenade Ice Flow
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- Promenade Ice Flow
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- Hot Springs Mountain Trail white Throated Sparrow
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- Hot Springs Mountain Trail white Throated Sparrow
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Hot Spring Cascade Ice Cycles
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- Carriage Road Ice Crystals
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- Carriage Road Ice Crystals
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- Arlington Lawn Ice Crystals
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- Arlington Lawn Ice Crystals
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- Arlington Lawn Ice Crystals
Hot Springs National Park Mountain Trail Ice Flower
Hot Springs National Park Mountain Trail Ice Cocoon
Dead Chief Trail - Nature's Ice Ribbon Sculptures (Gulpha Gorge)
In January of 2010 I first noticed these ice formations on the trails, I reached down to pick them up thinking they were plastic. My intention had been to clean up the mess left in the Forest. Once in my hand I realized they were beautiful pieces of ice, I immediately felt guilty for disturbing Nature’s beautiful art. In Hot Springs National Park I only saw these beautiful creations on the north face of the Hot Springs Mountain Trail and the South face on the Dead Chief Trail heading to the Gulpha Gorge. Both of these areas had one trait in common, they always felt colder than other places in the park. It often felt as if I was stepping into a curtain of cold air when I would reach these specific locations on the Trail. I learned later these are known as microclimates, a microclimate is a localized atmospheric zone where the differs climate conditions differ from the surrounding area. Learn More: Encyclopedia Britannica: Microclimates
My original thought had been that these formed by freezing on vegetation and then sliding perhaps twisting down to the ground. The truth, they are caused by moisture extruding from cracks in the base of a dead plant stem. The ribbons of ice are pushed out the dead stems and form the beautiful shapes as found in my photographs above. I hope to capture many more this coming winter. Learn More: Ice Ribbons and Frost Flowers
Nature is the best classroom, I am a very enthusiastic student.
Much Love,
Lee
Hike Our Planet - @HikeOurPlanet 