What's Your Nature?
Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!
River
Jewelweed!
Another geology lab in a cool spot where I stumbled upon some jewelweed, also known as touch-me-nots, snapdragons, or more formally, impatiens. Not only is this a beautiful plant both when it flowers and when the leaves shimmer under water, but the liquid from the crushed stems can be used as a natural treatment for poison ivy!
High Falls
High Falls is a 120ft waterfall located in Chateaugay with trails that go long the Chateaugay River. There is also a lean-to and a campground so people can enjoy this beautiful place.
The morning mist never ceases to amaze me
Your alarm blares at 4:55 am and you zombie walk through the motions, counting down the hours until you will be reunited with your bed again. On the bus to the river, you try to sleep but open your eyes periodically to see the changing light that silhouettes the passing trees. Once you reach the boathouse you must be awake, and you shuffle around with your teammates to get ready for a productive practice. By 6:15 you're in the boat and you start to feel alive again as you propel the water back with your oar and the shell cuts through the glassy water like a knife.
Early Morning Whitetail
While kayaking the Little River, I was able to observe a small Whitetail Deer drinking at the water's edge. I enjoy exploring the Little River by boat because it allows me to see a number of species that I may not be able to see on the land. Having no natural predators in the water, deer are normally patient and allow paddlers to come much closer to them than people on foot. I hope to see this doe again sometime!
Wintergreen Grasse
A thick sheet of Wintergreen blankets the south bank of the Grasse River.
Gray Tree Frog
Spotted this gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) on a shrub growing on a rocky outcropping in the river on the Stone Valley trail. Like chameleons, these frogs are able to change colors from gray to green depending on their surroundings. This was the first time I'd ever seen a green gray tree frog.
Before and After Sunset in Stone Valley
Venturing out on a hike connotes a collection of wagers with nature: What are the odds that it rains? What are the odds that I'll want to swim? That I'll be hungry? That there will be mosquitoes active? When photography is involved, a new layer of bets is introduced: What are the odds that this evening will offer a good sunset? What are the odds that I'll be in an attractive part of the trail when the sunset occurs? On this particular evening, the bet paid off. Hiking down Stone Valley through the evening, the sunset made lugging my heavy tripod down the trail worth the extra exercise.