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!

Ice Storm 2013: Appreciating the Details

Posted by Kevin MacKenzie,
North Country explorer from
December 22, 2013

The trees weep and groan.
Snow consolidates under a bulletproof enamel.
The smallest details become shimmering works of art.
There's a lull in the action...followed by destruction.
...more freezing rain adds to weight testing the limits of the forest.
Crack, pop, thunk... all accompanied by the sound of shattering glass--ice.
It sounds like there's an angry giant walking on the mountain behind me.
The endless cacophony lasts for hours during which I watch a maple snap in two.
Suddenly, the temperature flares as the rain and wind increase.
The trees shed their burden.
Some are but remnants of their former selves, others cease their frozen bow.