Catskills - February 2007

This was our first photo trip in a long time. We were lucky to have such a beautiful sunny day, however it was brutally cold and the wind cut right through. But, Annie and I both got some good pictures so I think it was worth it!

Here are some (probably too many) pictures of some of our old favorite haunts in the Catskills, along with some from the newly-found Ashokan spillway gorge. Thanks to the gentleman we chatted with by the pumping station for suggesting it—I wish we'd gotten his name.

Suggestions are welcome - just send me an email.

(Click on any Photo for a larger version)
All photographs are © Copyright Dick Bower

Roadside Ice with Car One of our favorite winter stops, this stretch of Frost Valley road has wonderful formations of ice of many colors. Note the car in this photo to judge the scale of this display. This year was one of the best. February 07, 2007

Roadside Ice II Closer view of one of the more impressive columns of ice along the road. February 07, 2007

Brown Ice I Some of the intensely colored ice is this deep rust color. February 07, 2007

Brown Ice II Another view of the rusty-colored ice formation. February 07, 2007

Ice & Evergreen I Closeup of the rusty-colored ice with contrasting hemlock boughs. February 07, 2007

Bottom of Ice Wall At the base of the rusty ice is this display of delicate colors, patterns, and frost formations. February 07, 2007

Roadside Ice III One of several "caves" where the ice is open to show the rocks behind. February 07, 2007

Ice Monster? Closeup of another "ice cave" looks out menacingly. February 07, 2007

Ice & Evergreen II More hemlock boughs, these against more subtly-hued icicles. February 07, 2007

Icicles I Neat formation of yellowish ice. February 07, 2007

Icicles II Pretty spiky icicles. February 07, 2007

Icicles III Closer view of very shiny ice. The camera's flash helped bring out the sparkle. February 07, 2007

Icicles IV Detail of some clear ice formations. February 07, 2007

Frozen Cascade Water running down the hillside has frozen into many interesting patterns. In the summer this is a nice little roadside waterfall. February 07, 2007

Frozen River Across from the wall of ice is the West branch of the Neversink River. This is the first time we've seen it flowing over the ice. It makes for a wonderful blue river. February 07, 2007

River Ice Closer-up view of the Neversink River where it's running over submerged ice. February 07, 2007

Frozen River II More of the West Branch of the Neversink River. Here, the ice, water, and rocky bank make an interesting pattern. February 07, 2007

Ice Heart Cool Valentine! February 07, 2007

Buttermilk Falls I Buttermilk falls on the side of Peekamoose mountain. There's very little snow this year, but lots of ice. February 07, 2007

Buttermilk Falls Detail Closer view of Buttermilk Falls encased in a thick icy blanket. This is actually two pictures stitched into one. February 07, 2007

Frosty Stream Across from Buttermilk Falls on Peekamoose road, this is Rondout Creek. The cold weather hasn't stopped it, but has made pretty "collars" around the protruding stones. February 07, 2007

Ice Collars Collars of ice in Rondout Creek. February 07, 2007

Ice Collars II Collars of ice in Rondout Creek. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Bridge N The Ashokan Reservoir is another of our favorite places to visit. This bridge runs across the middle and makes it easy to get pictures. February 07, 2007

Ashokan North I One of three pictures taken from the north end of the bridge across the Ashokan Reservoir. The sunlight made for a really dramatic effect. February 07, 2007

Ashokan North II One of three pictures taken from the north end of the bridge across the Ashokan Reservoir. There's almost no snow, which makes the icy surface really pretty. February 07, 2007

Ashokan North III One of three pictures taken from the north end of the bridge across the Ashokan Reservoir. February 07, 2007

Frozen Ashokan II View of the Catskills from across the icy Ashokan Reservoir. The barren trees and absence of snow makes the hills look almost velvety. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Bridge S The south end of the bridge across the Ashokan Reservoir. The Ashokan pumping station is directly behind this vantage point. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Spillway Dry The Ashokan Reservoir outlet is dry this time—very different from the previous June (see pictures from that trip). February 07, 2007

Reservoir Wall Dry This elegantly curved diverter wall is left high and dry this time, quite a contrast from June! February 07, 2007

Ashokan Outflow II Across the road from the Ashokan Reservoir spillway is this magnificent view, currently mostly dry, it was a raging torrent in June. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Outflow III Closer view of the Ashokan spillway. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Gorge Bridge A new place this time! We met a wonderful gentleman who was exercising at the Ashokan pumping station. He suggested we visit this gorge where Stone Church Road crosses over the Ashokan spillway. I wish I had his name so I could thank him. This gorge is deep—it's hard to convey in pictures, but all of these pictures were taken from this bridge. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Gorge N I A long view of the spillway gorge to the north (toward the reservoir). February 07, 2007

Anne and Dick A "self-portrait" of us braving the brutal cold and wind to get pictures of the Ashokan spillway gorge. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Gorge N II A closer view of the spillway gorge to the north. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Gorge III View nearly straight down from the bridge—it's a long way down! February 07, 2007

Ashokan Gorge S I A view nearly straight down from the south side of the bridge over the Ashokan Spillway gorge. A portion of the bridge is in the lower right corner. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Gorge S II A frozen pool in the Ashokan Spillway gorge south of the bridge. February 07, 2007

Ashokan Gorge S III Interesting rocks, ice, and snow patterns in the spillway gorge. February 07, 2007

Snow & Rocks Interesting study of snow, and rock textures in the spillway gorge February 07, 2007

Frozen Fountain I This interesting sight is along route 28 a little over a mile and a half east of Arkville, NY. It's a jet of water that always seems to be spraying straight up. In the winter it freezes into different shapes. This year it is particularly bizarre. February 07, 2007

Frozen Fountain II A detailed view of the "Arkville Fountain" showing the water still spraying up through all that ice. February 07, 2007

Nature's Ice Sculptures Taken on the side of the "Arkville Fountain," the wind and blowing water have produced these interesting shapes. February 07, 2007