The Balsam Fir, a soft wood tree found throughout the Adirondack Park, is very resilient to the tough winter conditions experienced. Pictured here is a Balsam encrusted in snow and ice on the summit of Blue Mountain, in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. The waxy needles allow the tree to shed snow. In many cases the extreme conditions stunt the trees growth, making the tree grow at a much slower rate that the same species at a lower elevation. The caked trees and sea of clouds make this picture a true inspiration.