Fresh Snow
In Dawn’s Light, Untouched
Tag: hemlock tree (Tsuga canadensis)
Spring Outing IV
Turn to Light
Wildflowers flourished where the slope turned to the north and late afternoon light spread across the small ravine created by a small stream. This early in the season White Trillium buds were forming between three green bracts.
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The above photograph taken handheld with a variable zoom lens captures the plant and environment. On the forest floor is twig of hemlock, probably knocked off by squirrels feeding on the tiny cones. Oak leaves from last season frame the dark green bracts. We also see a few wintergreen leaves and the rich soil.
With the low light ISO is 2000, the f-stop of 5.6 allowed crisp details of the hemlock and wintergreen, the focus is soft on the oak leaves. Where is topography allowed sunlight, the White Trillium were a bit further along. Here is a bud opening.
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
224 Steps
Each wall is support for the next flight of stairs
The stairs are cut into a cliff, using switchbacks with landings and strategically placed benches.
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Cliff Stair
This work was accomplished by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, during the Great Depression.
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.
Lower Lucifer Falls, early spring evening 
Lucifer Falls with Hemlock Curtain So Like a Christmas Tree Cliff Stair
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
So Like A Christmas Tree
Icicles Catch The Light
Approaching the Cliff Stair after a sudden April frost.
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So Like a Christmas Tree
Lucifer Falls in spring flood is a constant roar.
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.
Lower Lucifer Falls, early spring evening Lucifer Falls with Hemlock Curtain 
Fern, Moss, young trees, April Snow 
Rim Trail Ascent So Like a Christmas Tree
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Through a Veil
A Hemlock Curtain
Early April the Gorge Trail along Lucifer Falls is closed, here we look up to the falls in flood from a safe distance.
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Lucifer Falls with Hemlock Curtain
The Rim Trail gate to the Cliff Stairs is open. We are headed that way.
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.
Lower Lucifer Falls, early spring evening Lucifer Falls with Hemlock Curtain Fern, Moss, young trees, April Snow Rim Trail Ascent
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Ascent
Andrew Wyeth effect
Here the Rim Trail climbs out of the flats beneath the Cliff Stairs, away from Enfield Creek, onto the upper slopes of the gorge.
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Rim Trail Ascent
Early spring snow highlights the path, threading between hemlocks. The American realistic painter Andrew Wyeth comes to mind with I see the mottled texture of this light snow. He captured some of this in landscape paintings such as “Snow Flurries.”
Here is more of this effect……
Fern, Moss, young trees, April Snow
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 a slideshow of this Fertile Flats sequence.
Beneath the Cliff Stairs I 
Beneath the Cliff Stairs II Rim Trail Ascent 
Vernal Pool with Vinca Vine Fern, Moss, young trees, April Snow
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Gully vs. Ravine
I love the early spring light filtering through the hemlocks.
Rim trail traverses gullies. These creases in the gorge walls were formed by small streams flowing to Enfield Creek.
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Gully I
Some passages require a wade, others have elaborate walkways with bridges. I initially wanted to call these ravines. Upon researching the term discovered while ravines are formed by erosion, the scale here is much smaller. I could rename Enfield Gorge, to Enfield Ravine.
Gully II
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 a slideshow of this Waterfall of the Old Mill sequence
Rim Trail Ascent 
Rim Trail icicles 
Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern. Gully I Gully II
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Icicles!!
Key words: steep, icy
Water drips steadily from seeps, places water follows hidden cracks to emerge from the darkness. In warm seasons these may be a patch of moisture enabling the growth of ferns, only becoming evident when air is cold enough to freeze slowly running water.
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Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern.
These macros capture the Moss, Fern and Lichen. These thrive in this environment.
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 a slideshow of this Waterfall of the Old Mill sequence
Falls by the Old Mill, early spring 
Place where Fish Kill was harnessed to power the Old Mill 
Fish Kill Waterfall at the Old Mill. 
Sedimentary Walls 
Icicles hang over Fish Kill Rim Trail Ascent Rim Trail icicles Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern. This macro captures the Moss, Fern and Lichen. These thrive in this environment.
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Up the Rim Trail
Key words: steep, icy
It is the Gorge Trail that’s closed for the cold months, November through April. The Rim Trail remains open for those who dare icy, steep paths Unlike Gorge Trail, Rim Trail climbs above the dangerous cliffs from which rocks are wedged free by ice to fall on the trail. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment.
Here is the steep start, climbing up from the Upper Park where a footbridge crosses Fish Kill. Kill is the old Dutch word for creek. Fish Kill mergers with Enfield Creek a few hundred feet downstream.
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Rim Trail Ascent
This north facing slope stays frozen into May. Here layers of the sedimentary rock shale, laid down in a shallow warm sea over 350 million years ago, are slowly pried apart. Hemlock tree roots wedge between rock layers, slowly growing. The action of ice, water expands in volume at the point of freezing, aids the process.
In places the rock face appears to be a hastily made dry stone wall, the rock layers are so disrupted by plant and frost.
Rim Trail icicles
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 a slideshow of this Waterfall of the Old Mill sequence
Falls by the Old Mill, early spring The falls run free of ice. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment. The falls run free of ice. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment. New icicles formed overnight from seeps through the sedimentary walls around the Waterfall by the Old Mill. On an early spring day, after a sudden frost, we walked the Rim Trail to capture the moment. 
Rim Trail icicles
