…winter grasse – part 2

Yesterday I left you standing on the western side of the island looking down river. Now lets skip ahead to the boardwalk on the southern end and a view of the Grasse River looking north.

Turning south the river on the east side of the island comes into view. I took this photo from what would have been the river’s edge in summer. The snow covered ‘flats’ are ice sheets extending out from the shore.

The brush along the river bank kept getting in my way so I threw caution aside and ventured onto the ice. I wanted to get close enough to photograph the icicles hanging from the ice shelf along the channel at the lower left of this photo.

The ice along the channel forms a cave like shelf in places where splashing water freezes into unusual looking ice stalactites. This photo also reminds me of something you might find in a dentist’s office. You know, like pictures of really really bad gum disease.

Continuing up river I snapped this shot. I still can’t make out how this ice wave formed. I’m guessing there’s a rock under there somewhere.

This was the only open falls in town. Tracks leading to the water’s edge indicate I wasn’t the only one to walk on the ice. I can’t tell what made the tracks but it appears what ever did changed its mind and doubled back.

A closer look at the open falls.

Moving up river a bit more brings us to the last waterfalls of the day. The only sign of its presence is the water churning out from under the ice.

Another ice cavern formed on the side of the swirling pool at the base of this waterfall.

The closer I get the more it looks like the mouth of some aquatic monster waiting to swallow me up.

One last look down river before scrambling back up to the trail and heading home.

I strongly suggest going for the short walk around the island trail if you can. Photographs can only hint at the awe inspiring scenes so easily accessed in downtown Canton.

Dog missed her walk yesterday and is now bugging me to take her out sniffing. It’s warmed up to about 10F but it’s still cold enough to limit our hike. Pook only takes so much before she abandons me and turns tail home. I’m planning on a dam post tomorrow so if I find anything interesting today I’ll probably post again later.

…winter grasse – part one

Yesterday’s exposure to the ice on the Oswegatchie River put a chill on my inclination to play with fire. Now my burning passion is to photograph frozen waterfalls. (again please bare with me – this post will load slowly due to the number of photos being displayed)

The waterfalls in downtown Canton, NY are probably the easiest to access in the north country. Parking is handy and a short walk (under a quarter mile) along the Grasse River Heritage Trail loop leads to waterfalls on both sides of the island.

I’ll start on the Main Street (US RT 11) bridge. Looking upriver.

Looking downriver. Two open channels mark the river’s path around the island.

The bowstring bridge connecting the island can be seen in a cropped version of the photo.

Looking down at the open channel from the bowstring bridge. Like tree rings the parallel ridges in the snow mark the growth of the ice sheet. A couple more sub-zero nights and the channel should freeze over.

The Cascades can be seen looking from the other side of the bridge. No, no, not the falls. I meant my honeymoon retreat, the diner and motel on the far bank. Long story short – I was dairy farming at the time. I could only get off for 3 milkings so we spent our wedding night close to home. Dairy cows are so unromantic.

A closer look from the bridge at the top of the waterfalls below the Cascades’ dining room. Water flows from two falls in narrow channels meeting near the center of the photo where it disappears under the ice.

From a lookout point on the trail it is easy to see the chruning water emerging at the bottom of the falls.

I went off the trail to get the next set of photos. I don’t recommend following my lead. You should never trust ice on a fast flowing river.

I didn’t think it’s been all that cold this winter and was surprised to see the waterfalls completely frozen over.

The flat area just in front of me in the photo above is a relatively calm pool. I figured (correctly) it was safe enough to cross to the snow covered rocks just beyond the ice. I really wanted a better shot at the icicles at the bottom of the falls.

Winter Whitewater
Between these 2 photos you can get an idea how the river churns at the base of the falls.

I was tempted to leave my rock perch and go farther but pushing your luck is generally a bad idea. This is as close to the falls as I was willing to risk.

Whitewater. This is the source of the churning water seen from the lookout point.

After retreating to safer ground I took this photo of the Grasse River below the falls. The islands are only ice sheets that look like they formed around large boulders exposed above the river’s surface.

13 photos already? I better stop while I still have your attention.
I hope you return to see the next exciting episode when I once again go somewhere I know better. I still have the other side of the island to show ya.

The Oswegatchie River in the village of Rensselaer Falls – Jan. 29, 2011. Please bare with me. Today’s post contains 16 photos so it may be slow loading.

Looking up river from Fireball Hartman’s ‘mill’. The old dam looks like a perfectly level snow drift across the river. At the far left is the discharge from the old canal that runs up to the Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Refuge.

The mill’s stone walls have stood the test of time. Water once flowed under the arch, these days it just seeps when not fozen.

The old canal seen from the bridge over the Oswegatchie River.

Looking towards the end of the long ‘island’.

Guess how the Village of Rensselear Falls got the falls in it’s name.

The Oswegatchie River like others in St. Lawrence County, northern NY flows out of the Adirondack Mountains on their way to the St. Lawrence River. Small falls like this one is a common sight around here.

Looking downriver from the falls you can just make out the old dam in the photo. On the right of the dam is an old stone structure. And no, I have no idea what is was.

A closer look at a rock outcrop entending into the river.

Zooming in on the tip of the ice shelf reveals the icicles hanging from it.

One great thing about winter cold is the way it adds character to a simple little waterfall.

I wasn’t the only one to walk on the ice shelf that ran along the river bank. I normally don’t walk on river ice because you can never tell where the current creates thin ice. But I know the river here is only a couple inches deep and the only thing I risked was getting a hot foot. A slightly better view of the stone structure at the end of the dam can also be seen in this photo.

Farther down the river I came across a hole in the ice.

River icicles hung hidden beneath the ice.

A number of ice sheets clung on rocks in the river. This is one of many I photographed today.

Finally, I was able to sneak close enough to something to get a decent photo or two. Sorry Pook, I didn’t miss your barging ahead and scaring the wildlife.

There was a gaggle of Canadian Geese hanging out at the mill. Once I reached the end of the island I crossed the canal and climbed the steep bank to get these goose pics.

Ouch, I got spotted. Goodbye geese.