Another bright, cold, blue-sky day today, and I started out to visit Orra Phelps Nature Preserve in Wilton. I was curious to see if any Skunk Cabbages had begun to swell their spathes in the muddy swales out there, but an even more compelling curiosity grabbed me as I passed the intersection of Parkhurst and Greenfield Roads, recalling a spectacular waterfall that plunged through a gorge nearby. Sure, I told myself, let's go see if there's water plunging though it today. And there sure was! I could hear it roaring as I parked my car near Strakos Road, where the Snook Kill runs under the highway. I could see it, too, as I clambered over the roadside barrier and started down the steep embankment. Oh look! Some thoughtful person has strung a rope down the precipitous slippery descent. A very good idea! Wouldn't want to slide into that freezing cataract today!
I actually did not use that rope to descend the bank, but carefully inched my way, clinging to trees as I went, to a small promontory that provided me with a good, clear view of the falls. This is a gorgeous waterfall! (Kind of a scary one, too!)
I was glad I had thought to stop to view the beautiful Snook Kill Falls, but I'm also glad I continued on to Orra Phelps, where I found another beautiful waterfall, only this one in miniature. Coincidentally, this little stream that runs through the Orra Phelps Nature Preserve is called the Little Snook Kill.
At a point near the eastern border of the nature preserve, a second stream joins the Little Snook Kill. (I don't know the name of this second stream.)
I was struck today by the fact that this second stream appeared to be completely clear of ice.
While the Little Snook Kill was still thickly encrusted with white honeycombed ice. I wonder why the difference? Is the Little Snook shallower? Is the second stream deeper and more rapid, so that ice never formed there this winter? Just at a glance from where I stood on the bank, I could not see much difference. Hmmm . . . . A new mystery to ponder.
I will ponder this mystery while I rest up for the next couple of days. I've having cataract replacement surgery tomorrow (Monday) morning, and I'm supposed to take it easy for a little while. So think good thoughts about my eyeballs, dear friends, so I can be back out again promptly, looking for signs of spring as the predicted warmer weather moves in on us.
4 comments:
Wishing you all the best on your surgery and hope that you can see the colors of the flowers even more beautiful.
Pretty, pretty waterfalls.
A wonderful waterfall-often wonder how the early settlers crossed the falls.... Greenfield-Wilton Road was well traveled as it was part of a major trail from Canada to Schenectady....also the steel house on Strakos Road is another site to be seen !
We were thinking of your Moreau Lake with the recent NYT's article about 'lake bubbles'
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/science/methane-has-never-looked-so-beautiful.html
The Steel house in Wilton:
http://www.metalocus.es/content/en/blog/red-steel-t
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