As we embarked on our walk through the Green Mountain National Forest, the amount of green that was present surprised me. Tall Hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) surrounded us and their canopy limited the natural sunlight underneath. The ice that covered the Hemlock trees’ contributed to the satisfying aesthetic beauty of the forest. During our walk, I stood in awe before a massive tree that had fallen and lifted its roots from the ground. There were several other trees that were positioned similarly, mostly pointing in the same direction. Evidence suggests that this was caused by a microburst of wind, though it is hard to believe that wind is capable of uprooting massive trees. Further research tells me that microbursts aren’t common in the Northeast, and they take place more in the South and Midwest, so the mystery remains unsolved.
Our walk begins to parallel a river and I decided to sit on a rock on the riverbank. The soothing sound of small waterfalls and trickling water fill the air. As I sat, I admired the natural spontaneity that occurs on the surface of the river. The water flows swiftly through tiny cracks and crevices created in the rocks and ice. Closer to the center of the river, the water is calmer and is crystal clear, revealing the numerous rocks and fallen branches. The trees on each side of the river are slanted slightly, hanging over the water. I suspect that this is simply because they are growing on a slanted surface but I wonder if it is more complex than that.
I am intrigued by the shining icicles and I ponder the process in which they were created. Icicles are created when the temperature is subfreezing, but sunshine causes snow or ice to melt slowly. An icicle begins with a few water droplets and grows as water trickles down and freezes at the bottom. Similar to last time, I am unsuccessful in my search for animals. I hoped to see at least animal tracks in the snow, but it appears that my location was not a popular spot on the river. 