One Great Dewdrop: ithaca ny

Showing posts with label ithaca ny. Show all posts

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Months of Plenty

There was plenty of summer left after we returned home!

Set up garden beds, built deer & rabbit fencing, mulched and composted, built ADK bridges over the inlet and outlet streams, and a zillion other little things:

Did some work inside the house, too:

But there was still plenty of time for wildflowers and hammocks, climbing trees and weeknight campfires:

Birthday parties and goat roasts:

Went back to work, fully embracing the fact that I really, truly, absolutely am not an indoor cat:

And to top it all off, a sport climbing "herd" trip that didn't get rained out:

The first few leaves in the back woods are turning yellow. There is a hickory directly across from my window; I can't wait for it to turn brilliant. It will. I know it will! First autumn in our home. Still finding all of the new things.

By all standards, this was an epic summer. And for the first time in long time, there's nothing big on the horizon. No Peru, no New Zealand, no trip around the world, no homelessness, no career change, no Nicaragua, no wedding, no home buying, no road tripping.

Just wildflowers and gardens, campfires and hammocks, birthday parties with funny hats and virtual candles, goats on fire, and the happy hum of my treadmill.

And slip n' slides. Definitely slip n' slides.

(Come find me, adventures!)

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Get the Ark (Overflowing Waterfalls of Tompkins County)

I didn't sleep the night before Labor Day - booming explosions and bright flashes kept me awake.

One point three inches of rain? Why yes, it's time for Waterfall Tour Extravaganza To Determine Most Awesome Waterfall 2013!

(Keywords: I'm visiting Ithaca and I want to know the most popular waterfalls to visit. Heh.)

First up: Ithaca Falls. Always a strong contender for Most Awesome Waterfall because it's not in a crowded park - it's just on the side of the road.

ithaca falls - typical flow

ithaca falls - 9/1/2013

I'm going to give this a 8.5/10.0. We've got a super strong flow and a decent amount of spray. Water color is white and foamy. Gets an additional 0.5 points for the decent flooding in Fall Creek. Still, I'm not getting that sort of "OMG I'm going to get blown off my feet by the power of that sucker."

Next up: Lucifer Falls at Treman State Park. YEAH BABY! 9.5/10.

lucifer falls from overlook - normal flow

lucifer falls - 9/1/2013

This got a 9.0 in the initial evaluation, but the Russian judge bumped it up an additional half point for the comparison between these two photos. We've got increased width in the falls and a rainbow from all of the spray. Lucifer Falls is bringing its game to capture the title of Most Awesome Waterfall!

Style points for water-based trail erosion closing the Gorge Trail. This was as close as we could get:

lucifer falls from gorge trail - normal/ low flow

lucifer falls from gorge trail - 9/1/2013

Whew. Is that spray from the falls or just a thin film of sweat from the adrenaline?

Third stop: Buttermilk Falls State Park. Buttermilk is usually pretty tame. How did it stack up?

buttermilk falls - typical flow. very chill.

buttermilk falls - 9/1/2013

7.5/10.0. Considering Buttermilk Falls is usually a garden hose rather than a geyser, this increase is impressive. But it can't compare to the other falls in the county. Nice try, Buttermilk!

Last stop: Taughannock Falls State Park.

taughannock falls state park - typical to slightly low flow

taughannock falls state park - 9/1/2013

Check out got a huge mist cloud filling up the "bowl" of the gorge. Those falls are ripping! Obvious increase in volume and thunderous from nearly a quarter mile away. 9.0/10.0.

So there you have it! Final Rankings:

9.5/10.0: Lucifer Falls, Treman State Park - Most Awesome Waterfall Award
9.0/10.0: Taughannock Falls (State Park)
8.5/10.0: Ithaca Falls
7.5/10.0: Buttermilk Falls (State Park)