MarillaAnne Blog Entry

MarillaAnne's Appalachian Trail Thursday 13 #9
02/08/07

Ok this week once again had no web focus. I don't mean I wasn't on the Internet. I mean I was and yet had no focus. So ... you get more photos to focus on.

Each image opens a larger image. This time there is no compelling reason to open the larger image unless you want to see a little better.

At the bottom of this post you'll find a link to a photo page on my site where you can just click through the titles in order. That way you won't have to keep jumping back and forth between the images here and the larger images there.

I really know very little about the Appalachian Trail ... So again ... feel free to fill me in.

Snow Strolling

Twice now we've taken the trail west from the Appalachian Trail train platform on the Harlem Line. The trail eventually turns south over towards the Hudson River. I love this portion of the trail because even though it starts out looking rather la-de-da and oh so normal ...

Beam Balancing / Grass Stalking

It soon turns into a trek through the swamp ... designed to challenge your balance. Yes that's a balancing beam. In the fall, it's not frozen on the right side. And I also love those really tall grasses. I have no idea what they are. Do you?

Cinder Striding

Then we have cinder blocks to walk on. No, the swamp isn't frozen in that spot and, yes, one slip and it would have been very cold.

Beam Bopping / Pallet Prowling

One of my very favorite turns through the stalking grass includes a cinder block to beam to pallet transfer. Billy went in in the fall -- not so cold then but still he was glad it was on the way back to the train.

Post Meeting

White stripes like this on poles, trees, and rocks mark the trail. This pole has at least two faces. Do you see them?

Plank Walking

And then we get two planks to walk on for a distance. This trip the swamp was fairly frozen in this portion. Last trip Shelbie dog loved wading in the water.

Creek Bridging

Then we cross a little creek on a nicely maintained bridge. The light changes very rapidly up here unlike in Texas (Very bright) or in Oregon (very dim) ... so I ended up with two very dark snaps of the bridge.

Bridge Posing

Then Billy saw his chance for a shot at of me.

Green Glistening

This is an attempt to capture the creek (again). The water is only green in appearance because of the vegetation. It is actually very clear.

Twig Catching

It fascinated me how the snow could pile up like that on litttttle slender branches / twigs.

White Wandering

Oh, I forgot to tell you ... after the bridge there's a steady climb up a hill. I believe we are going to have to get a very decent map of the trail so we can talk about elevations and the like. Anyway the trees are as beautiful dressed in snow as they are in fall colors.

Winter Farming

This is the scene once you are over the top of the hill. Let me tell you ... it was Blinding White!

Hotwire Hopping

So we thought we'd only be out until the 2:41 train but we dawdled around and missed it by almost 1/2 an hour. There are two hours between trains. The only way we were going to survive well was to keep moving. So we left the train platform again but went east. It is also very pretty over that way. We had enough time to go over a few hills.

Oh that thing that Billy's standing on ... those are ladders that allow hikers to go over electric fence wires. I think we went over four going and again coming back. They are not designed for short legged people!

Locomotion Waiting

Bonus ... the one that got away! So very frustrating. We got back to the train platform and I wanted to take a pic of the train coming down the track at us. I took some test shots. The sun was starting to set a bit. It was going to be perfect. And so ... the train came into view and ... I raised my camera ... and ... I saw ... a red battery outline and then ... fade to black. sigh

Ok finally! Go see the larger images. There's a link on that photo page so you can come back and leave a comment.

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Last comment made by Mary-LUE ~ 02/10/07

Hiking		New York

Photos of Mine		Thursday 13

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Comments

Review Blog Post

Chickadee 02/08/07

What a beautiful place! I'll bet that was a lovely hike. I like the picture titled "Post Meeting"

My 13 are up.

~ I'll be right over! ~pam

Carey 02/08/07

Great snow photos. We just got 3 feet of snow, and i cant wait to get out and take some pictures ... its just way to cold to go outside. Thanks for sharing. HAppy TT.

Carey, I don't have foot wear for three feet! After 3hrs in the little 3 inches my feet were so wet and cold but it was so worth it! I'm glad I went that day because now, like you, it's far too cold to be out! Thanks for stopping by. I'll be over to visit you soon. ~pam

Jane 02/08/07

Came over for TT. Your photos are gorgeous! Now that I live in So. Cal, I don't get snow. I don't often see it. But, seeing your photos reminded me of the beauty! If only it weren't so wet and cold!

~ Nice to have you visit. It's easy to make gorgeous images in a gorgeous setting. Thankfully we don't live in Buffalo! This was the dryest snow I've ever seen (being from the south and all). It wasn't wet and cold until I kicked it down into my tennis shoes. Trust me boots are on my shopping list! Thanks for stopping by. I'll be by your place soon ~pam

catherine 02/08/07

Great photos. I especially liked Twig Catching.

~ Thanks! That's my fave. a) because I really love how it finally captured. b) because it was one of the most fascinating things about the snow. This was basically my first time to really be out in inches of powdery snow. I've seen a little more than an inch of wet snow before ... but this is very different! ~ pam

DaughterV 02/08/07

Beautiful!!!

my tt will be up this weekend.

~ Looks like there's going to be fun and games all weekend in the thursdaythirteen.com comments section ... probably an excellent way to get started. ttyl ~pam

Ankur 02/08/07

Thank you for your comment. The Relay is on April 14th to 15th. It would wonderful for you to keep everyone in your prayers.

Happy TT!

~ You got it! ~pam

Wendy Ann Edwina D'Cunha e Pereira 02/09/07

those are beautiful photos... and i liked reading the descriptions... the appalachian trail is lovely in the winter....

~ Thanks Wendy! It was very tempting to quit working after I got the pics up ... so I appreciate knowing you liked reading about them as well. ~pam

daisies 02/09/07

simply gorgeous!!

~ Thanks Daisies! :~) pam

sari 02/09/07

They are all great, I especially like Post Meeting, Twig Catching and Locomotion Waiting!

It's in the upper 70's here right now, by the way. I actually stuck my toe in the pool yesterday, just to see if it was warming up at all.

It's not.

~ LOL. The day my dad called he told me they were going to be near the 70's as well. Well I think we're gonna get over freezing tomorrow. Today was warm enough that we took a quick walk down to the local deli. I was starting to get stir crazy. It's going to be downright balmy this weekend so we're going to get out a lot! We will probably take a taxi home though since it's bitter after dark!

I'm thrilled because I have some Valentine packages that need to go out!

OH the Post Meeting was my husband's idea ... it's also about where I started to gain a little control over the camera. I don't practice enough in manual mode.

Twig Catching was my vision to capture ... autofocus and I went to war. I stopped counting how many shots it took to get it! I need to make myself another gray and white card to hold out for the camera to focus on.

I'm actually getting to roam around and catch up some tonight. So I'll see you soon! ~pam

Mary-LUE 02/10/07

Hey Pam, I'm glad you found Cyn Kitchen. She really is amazing, isn't she?

The pictures are great. I especially like the fine, twiggy branches with snow packed on them. Of course, my first thought is how nice it would to be there. This thought, though, is followed by the realization that I am a complete wimp in cold weather and I would probably be begging to get back inside after 5 minutes!

~ LOL I totally understand! Swore I'd be that way too. I've discovered that I can walk in temps as low as 28. My husband spends a lot of time laughing about "I told you so." ~pam