On the Tain Way, repost
A place of myth and wonder on foot and approachable
Category: Waterfalls
Native
Red Pine on the level
Red Pine is a tree native to North America, yet it is called “Norway Pine” in Minnesota. Famously settled by Norsemen, the misnomer may originate with a sense of homesickness in these first settlers. The tall and straight trunks grace the trails of Treman Park, one trail is eponymous.
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Perfect weather 
I break away from household chores on a week day for exercise, arriving am impressed by the COVID-19 mitigation.
Six Foot Separation begins with parking 
The new one-way trail rules, posted on the Rim Trail sign, means my planned route must change. Today’s COVID-19 strategy is to use the Red Pine trail, a very steep climb, a pine woods ramble, ending with descent to the Gorge Trail suitable for a mountain goat. The rules mean I cannot turn right on the Gorge Trail to form a loop. Instead commitment to the Gorge Trails means a 4 mile loop to the bottom of the park, returning on the Rim Trail. I decide to climb to the top and return.
I take an interesting detour on the way, visiting an archaeological site, fields of strongly scented wild roses, lush ferns.
Wild Rose fragrance filled the air 
Wild Rose 
Fern Bank at the Foot of Red Pine Trail
All these photographs and video are from an IPhone 7, sent to my laptop via ICloud.
I cross a nameless stream to the trail head, follow this stream uphill to where it cuts into the slope where the trail turns sharply and climbs into the pines.
Red Pine Trail Head 
Towering Red Pine 
A brief life, useful in death
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Here is the experience from the ridge top. The sound of water is Enfield Creek rushing along the cliff face.
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Late May, South Rim Trail
Dangerous Practices
Today, I have a companion post to “A Summer Flower and Waterfalls” from a time of Coronavirus (COVID-19) from a walk cut short by inconsiderate people not following New York laws.
All photographs and videos are from an Apple IPhone 7.
Here is a long and close shot of Columbine Flowers thriving on the edge of a gorge cliff.
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With a video of the movement of this wildflower against a backdrop of flowing water over a 100 feet below.
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A scan of the upper gorge with some marvelous clouds.
Continuing onto the forest trail I spotted this Jack-In-The-Pulpit. Here is a photograph and short video.
My walk this day was cut short by joggers, unmasked, on the narrow trail. For each I stepped off to put 6 feet between us. So inconsiderate and unnecessary, selfish.
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Icicle Macro
from the moss
The entire wall above the Cliff Stair is a ground water seep caught here by a sudden April frost.
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Icicles, Cliff Stair
When the icicles melt, the moss is there relishing the moisture. Here is a link to some fascinating information from an earlier post, “Finger Lakes Water Chemistry.”
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for macro slideshow.
So Like a Christmas Tree 
Cliff Stair 
Icicle Wonderland 
Sudden Frost April, Cliff Stairs Icicles, Cliff Stair
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Seep
Visible Groundwater
The fascinating walls above the 224 steps of the Cliff Stairs are a constant wonder in all seasons.
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Sudden Frost April, Cliff Stairs
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for macro slideshow.
So Like a Christmas Tree Cliff Stair Icicle Wonderland Sudden Frost April, Cliff Stairs
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Gathered Light
Each wall is support for the next flight of stairs
I walked the Rim Trail after a sudden April frost.
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Icicle Wonderland
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for macro slideshow.
So Like a Christmas Tree Cliff Stair Icicle Wonderland
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Soft on Rough
Dusted with light
Snow clings to the rough tree bark surface graced by late afternoon vernal sunshine.
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Late April Snow dusted with light
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for macro slideshow.
Late April Snow dusted with light 
Fern Frond with Early April Snow 
Fresh Icicle with Fern 
Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern. 
Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern. 
Acorn Still Life 
Hydrangea Ensenada ClubAleman Chile February 15, 2016
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Fronds with Icicle
Fern Generations
Spent and green fern frond with moss and icicles formed during an early April frost.
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Fresh Icicle with Fern
Fern generations are here with the spent fronds from earlier years, pale green survivors of this season.
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for macro slideshow.
Fresh Icicle with Fern Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern. Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern. Acorn Still Life Hydrangea Ensenada ClubAleman Chile February 15, 2016
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Reveal
The elements come into focus, revealing Ludlowville Falls, near Lansing, New York. On the eastern side of Cayuga Lake, Salmon Creek plunges 35 feet over this limestone shelf. Pioneers constructed a grist mill at this site.
Here we see The Fang hanging over the entrance to The Cave. There is falling water overall, but especially the center section (can you see it?). The weight of accumulated ice fractured a portion of the frozen cascade.
The Cave?
Flowing water eroded away until this durable limestone strata. The majority of sedimentary rock is shale, only 6% is limestone. Throughout the Finger Lakes and elsewhere, this is why when flowing water exposed the edge of a limestone strata, the underlying, soft shales are worn away to reveal a waterfall, ever deepening. Eventually, the support of the limestone washes away to form this ledge. Here it is an ephemeral cave behind a curtain of ice.
See “The Fang?” for the first post of this series.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 