High water is the theme of my early days in the Adirondacks this year — wild weather, incessant rain and the lingering melt from heavy winter snows all combined to raise lake levels, flood streams and create spectacular views like the heavy run on Buttermilk Falls, above (one of the great wonders of the Adirondacks, this beautiful spot is near where I stay in Long Lake — and yes, you can get THAT CLOSE and it’s all open “for free” 24/7/365…. just be careful!)…
Driving north through the Mohawk Valley last Saturday, as I arrived at the foot of the very steep hill on Route 28 that runs from Richfield Springs to Herkimer on Route, I saw people for many blocks out on their front lawns with possessions strewn about, and hoses pumping water from basements. Apparently, the flooding in the Mohawk Valley was extensive last week. I stopped at a Wal-Mart in Herkimer and the parking lot was full of mud up to the front door of the store. As I tried to make my way along back roads to the Adirondacks, I found many washouts and detours, so the trip was quite interesting. The consequences of so much bad weather take a toll on so many people, many of whom can ill afford the destruction of their possessions and properties.
While the rain was intense all the way up, when I arrived at Long Lake I encountered a beautiful rainbow, a good sign:
Of course, not everyone minds the bad weather…. ducklings are out in force, and this merganser family was having a great time on Saranac Lake…
At a great distance, I could see this loon and her chick just floating around on Lake Durant…
All the rain has created a tropical humidity that brings the bugs out in force…. the green flies and grasshoppers love this weather!
The bees are hard at work on all of the lush flowers…
And the cedar waxwings have grand conversations high up on their perches…
This young buck barely raised his head from grazing along Deerland Road…
Bog River Falls is as beautiful as ever, with high water rushing into Tupper Lake…
And all the rain caused a great cascade of water along the appropriately named Cascade Mountain:
Another torrential downpour over Tupper Lake had the reward of this lovely rainbow over Simonds Pond:
Stay tuned for the next installment of the Adirondack Chronicles!
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