This pair has been habiting a Lyon street pond where, spring has recently revealed, beavers have rebuilt their den.
Dusk muted sunlight highlighted ripples as they regarded their reflections. Upon what they pondered, who knows.
Earlier, they had made their way with surprising urgency, swimming to where so fast, and why, only they knew.
It’s a pond. A very small pond.
Snow, forecast for 10 of the last 15 days, does not disappoint.
By my experience, inversions are visible from the top of Elk Mountain every couple of years.
This year, it lasted only a few moments, revealing the mountains toward Ararat, the top of the fog bank seemingly following the contours of the terrain.
The turns skiers and riders have enjoyed through the snow left from multiple March storms on the Tunkhannock have nurtured a spring mogul field, much to their delight!
South of Union Dale, the D&H trail is still undergoing maintenance, scheduled to be completed shortly.
Meanwhile, travel north by snowmobile or ski, is a most pleasant way to enjoy the neighborhood in winter!
After a recent storm, clouds dispersed early enough for the sunset to softly settle itself in a glow of orange, nestling between Elk’s north and south knobs.
Recently, as a massive storm moved in to the neighborhood from the north, many of us made last minute trips to the store for extra food and supplies in case the weather made electricity unreliable or travel difficult. A good day to hunker down.
Others of us made their way past stranded vehicles on barely passable roads to spend the day on the highest hill they could find.
On top of Elk Mountain, the partially frozen weather station reported steady winds between 15 and 20 mph. Those of us who have spent time in similar conditions estimated true wind speed at nearly double that.
1 to 2 inch per hour snow fall amounts driven by wind gusting near 60 mph made it impossible to look into the wind without eye protection.
Snow scrubbed bare to ice in places, deposited feet deep nearby. Unusually corniced, an apparent ocean wave grew throughout the storm.
The recent weather pattern, which is yet to complete, has been very un-February-like.
Though not as warm as last year’s record breaking days, except for the trails at Elk, no snow in the neighborhood.
When the panoramic views from the top of the mountain reveal more Spring then Winter, the patterns left in nearby trees by overnight freeze reminds us that we’ll soon see March’s nature, lamb or lion like.
After closing and sweeping trails that won’t be illuminated for night skiing, some of the ski patrol day crew make their way to ride the chair lift one last time for the day.
They’ll wait on top of the mountain at the ski patrol base for the night crew to arrive before skiing their last run down to the locker room.
There, they’ll change some clothing for the ride home, then eat, early to bed, and do it all over again the next day.
In clear weather, a high meadow affords views of both the Little Creek and Tunkhannock Creek East Branch valleys; when snowing traversed on skis, an opportunity to gently commune with one’s breath.