Ice

Blog–Hideaway Pond– hideawaypond.com — 2/4/2002

Ice blue skies. And a month-long roller coaster of temps that skidded from sub-zeros to the mid-20s and back. Winter.

I crossed the Hudson yesterday. It was frozen solid from bank to bank. On my return I spotted two flocks of mallards numbering about 50 each. They had found the only two areas of open flowing water on the Sawkill. And were swimming in them. These birds are insane.

Years ago the ice on the Hudson was so thick that large blocks were sawed from it. These were sent by steamboat downriver to cool the iceboxes of New York City. Iceboats raced each other under sail at lightning speeds. Speeds which could have competed with many of today’s power boats.

Meanwhile, the Hideaway sleeps. Mother bears are nursing their cubs by now. As are other critters their forthcoming spring issue. Winter birds are enjoying the bird feeder. And turkeys peck away at their cast-off seeds. An occasional squirrel wakens briefly to pursue some illusive wintertime dream. An acorn. Walnut. Or mushroom. The rare mammalian insomniac.

The fish have sunk into their winter torpor in the deepest, darkest reaches of the pond. What a life. One wonders why they bother.

ADDENDUM:

Speaking of ice, three days ago the Catskills were visited by a significant ice storm. A massive area of the Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountain region was left without power. Fortunately, our propane generator kept us in light, power and all of the other amenities except the Internet. It actually became necessary to warm up our reading skills and become reacquainted. Be that as it may, after four days of single digit temps, the ice remains firmly attached to the trees.

iCE STORM