Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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  • It’s about the journey, not the destination. This well-worn saying can be applied to almost any context, but may hold most true when used in regards to climbing mountains. The sense of achievement, awe, and wonder gained from moving your being to a mountain summit rivals any other human activity or pursuit in terms of sheer intensity and emotion. Yet mountains are about so much more than just reaching the summit. The route to and from the apex of these wilderness temples is filled with challenges that crescendo with elevation gained, and beautiful nooks and crannies of the forest that the hurried hiker can easily blow right past. I was reminded of all of this on a winter trek into the High Peaks, when I took a break while clambering along Phelps Brook. I had been in a hurry to put in miles up to this point, but as I took a breather I discovered that in my haste to reach loftier destinations, I had nearly blown right by what would end up being the most beautiful thing I saw all day. Fresh snow and ice ringed the cascading brook that I had been absentmindedly hiking next to, and a stillness that can only be found in the winter forest permeated the air. I sat and watched and listened to the water flow and the ice crack for a long while, until the chill and mist rising from the brook made me get moving again. I hiked the rest of the day with new eyes and a new mindset, and reveled in each step of the journey. Adirondack High Peaks, New York
    The Journey
  • New York State is blessed with many beautiful views and landscapes, with perhaps none more whimsical and seemingly straight from a fairy tale than the waterfalls and gorges of Watkins Glen. Of the many falls and cascades that can be found within Watkins Glen State Park, Rainbow Falls is arguably the most iconic and beautiful, and without a doubt the most popular. I hiked to the falls in the dark and arrived at the crack of dawn, which not only allowed me to have the whole place to myself, but the faint morning light also facilitated the use of a long exposure to render the cascades and water pouring off the mossy ledges to be rendered silky smooth.
    Journey to Oz
  • Red shale at the base of Bastion Falls contrasts against beautiful green spring foliage in New York's Catskill Mountains.
    Finally Spring
  • There's nothing quite like an evening drive down lonely country roads, with the windows down and some classic rock pumping, to make you feel alive. Stopping at a beautiful destination for the sunset doesn't hurt either, and on this warm August evening my lingering thoughts about work and responsibilities melted away as I watched the sunset glow hang in the humid air and bring life to the just-bloomed sunflowers that surrounded me.
    Simple Times are the Best Times
  • The setting sun briefly broke through the clouds just long enough to light up the fiery red marsh grasses and distant trees in beautiful light.
    Fire Light
  • A break in the clouds allows the  sun to illuminate Kaaterskill Falls on a beautiful spring evening. Catskill Mountains, New York.
    In the Spotlight
  • A beautiful winter sunset from the windblown slopes of Mount Marcy, looking west towards Algonquin. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Leaders of the Pack
  • Beautiful, glowing, and warm sunset light contrasts with snowy evergreens on a frigid winter day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Floating in Fire
  • Ice begins to form around a waterfall in the Adirondacks under a beautiful sunset sky.
    Final Flow
  • Soaking in a cold and beautiful winter sunset from just below a mountain summit in the Adirondacks.
    Energy
  • The alpine zone of the Adirondack High Peaks is one of the most unique geographic zones in New York state. Home to rare and fragile alpine plants, not to mention some unforgettable views, the high mountain summits reward hikers in many ways. While beautiful year-round, there's something extra special about the alpine zone in winter. Constantly evolving based on snow and wind, each trip to this paradise in the sky is filled with surprises in the winter. On this trip to Algonquin, I was intrigued by patterns in the crusty snow that reminded me of the swirling lines of a fingerprint, as if mother nature was leaving her signature on her winter handiwork. Adirondack High Peaks, NY.
    Winter's Fingerprint
  • Beautiful sunset light makes the snowy winter landscape come alive. The solitude and dramatic beauty of winter makes it my favorite time of year to explore the mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Higher and Higher
  • Snowy evergreens on the summit of Cascade bask in an incredible post-sunset glow. The stunning beauty of the mountains on this frigid winter day was made all the more memorable by the frigid -30 degree windchill that the evergreens and I endured as we took in the most beautiful winter sunset I've ever seen. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Transcendence
  • Indian Falls is a beloved spot in the Adirondack High Peaks, and I have fond memories of laying out on the sun-warmed bedrock next to the falls after my dad and I climbed Mount Marcy together years ago. There would be no lounging around on this day, but the view looking out to the MacIntyre Range from Indian Falls might be even more beautiful in winter.
    Remember When
  • The alpine zone of the Adirondack High Peaks turns into a strange, beautiful, and often inhospitable land in winter. After climbing Algonquin Peak on an atypically sunny and calm day, I spent hours on the summit enjoying and photographing the wind-carved snow drifts and evergreens coated in rime ice.
    Top it Off
  • The girls taking in the view from the rocky shore of a crystalline Adirondack lake on a beautiful October afternoon. (Image also available without the hiker and dog).
    Ghosts of Fall
  • A beautiful cedar waxwing reaches for a berry.<br />
<br />
Photo taken by Amanda Priola
    Tasty Treat
  • A beautiful cedar waxwing about to enjoy a berry for breakfast.<br />
<br />
Photo taken by Amanda Priola
    Breakfast Bounty
  • The setting sun dips below a bank of clouds over the Atlantic Ocean for a fleeting moment, bathing the hexagonal columns of basalt at Giant's Causeway in beautiful warm light. Taken minutes before my photograph entitled "Momentous", the sunset on this stormy evening was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen and photographed, and was the absolute perfect welcome to the unexpectedly beautiful land of Northern Ireland.
    Eruption
  • A beautiful winter sunset along the dramatic coast at Rialto Beach. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Fireworks
  • Beautiful sunset light makes the snowy winter landscape come alive. The solitude and dramatic beauty of winter makes it my favorite time of year to explore the mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    My Fingers Hurt
  • Twenty minutes before sunrise, a beautiful orange glow spreads across the horizon and reflects in the unusually calm waters of Georgian Bay. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Fresh Start
  • Shooting stars streak across the beautiful night sky, at the height of the Perseid meteor shower in August 2016. The otherworldly bentonite clay formations in the foreground were the perfect complement to the shooting stars and the colorful nebulae of the Milky Way galaxy. I stayed up all night watching hundreds of shooting stars streak across the sky, and this was undoubtedly one of my favorite and most memorable moments (and photographs) of a year-long cross country road trip. Cathedral Gorge State Park, Nevada.
    Cosmic Cathedral
  • A fresh dusting of snow graces the jagged spires of the Rockwall, which rises over 3,000 feet above Floe Lake.  The larch trees seen here at Numa Pass and the valley below turn a beautiful golden color in September, and were the perfect complement to the dark mountains and skies on this moody morning. Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada.
    North of the Wall
  • A fantastic winter sunrise lights up the sky above the rugged, beautiful and snowy Maine coast. While the vast majority of people visit Maine's coastal regions in the summer months, winter is a truly magical time to visit, as the throngs of summer tourists are gone and one can often experience and appreciate the uniqueness of the Maine coast in total solitude.
    Snow & Solitude
  • Winter begins to take hold of Numa Pass and the surrounding mountains, even as autumn thrives on the mountainsides below. Dappled light and interesting cloud formations completed this beautiful view in British Columbia's Kootenay National Park.
    Autumn's Last Stand
  • Surf pours down a hole in the shelf of volcanic rock at Cape Perpetua known as “Thor’s Well” while in the background the next wave rolls in. Getting to this vantage point requires good timing and steady nerves, as approaching the Well at higher tides is more or less a suicide mission, and even at lower tides rogue waves can pose a real danger. On the last morning that I camped in the area, the low tide coincided with sunrise, and I lucked out with some beautiful light. Watching the waves crash and then spill down while standing only a few feet away was an exhilarating and memorable experience.
    Go Ask Alice
  • The rising sun breaks through the clouds and sea mist just enough to give a warm glow to the beautiful cobblestones on a beach on the Schoodic Peninsula. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Serenity
  • Red volcanic rock adds a splash of color to the soaring granite cliffs that line the beautiful and wild Tuolumne River, in the backcountry of California's Yosemite National Park.
    Watercolor
  • When I close my eyes and daydream of past adventures, this is what I see - a beautiful sunset, wilderness all around, and an endless vista that beckons me to keep exploring. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Daydreams of my Youth
  • Steam eerily rises from one of the most bizarre and beautiful thermal features that I’ve ever seen, which can be found along the Ferris Fork in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.
    Not of This World
  • Portland Head Light takes in another beautiful sunrise along the rugged coast of Maine.
    Morning Glory
  • The setting sun sets the Atlantic Ocean ablaze on a beautiful spring evening, as seen from a grassy perch atop the Cliffs of Moher. County Clare, Ireland.
    Guiding Light
  • This photo of Mt. Edith Cavell and its icy-blue Angel Glacier at sunset is one of my favorite photographs that I’ve ever taken, and captures one of the most beautiful moments that I’ve ever experienced. On the final evening of a winter trip to the Mt. Edith Cavell hut, I left my two friends in the toasty hut to try to finally catch a glimpse of the elusive mountain that the First Nations people referred to as “the White Ghost”, which had remained hidden behind the clouds for the past three days. As I snowshoed towards the mountain and the sun got lower in the sky, the clouds began to peel away from the summit, finally revealing the mountain in all of her glory. Ecstatic, I hoofed it through waist-deep snow to a high plateau where I was face to face with the mountain, with not another soul in sight. The entire world seemed to be holding its breath in anticipation of the sunset. There was no wind, no noise, and no movement. I stared in awe and wonder at the mountain which seemed close enough to touch, and as the setting sun lit up the clouds above the White Ghost, I thankfully remembered to press the shutter button and captured this unforgettable moment in the photograph that you see here. Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.
    The White Ghost
  • A beautiful field of lupines soaks up the last light of the day in New Hampshire's White Mountains. A nearly full moon added a special touch to the already serene scene.
    Catharsis
  • Clearing fog, autumn colors and sunrise light combined to create an enchanting scene in New Hampshire's White Mountains. This was our first autumn trip to the White Mountains, and we were blown away by the seemingly endless array of hikes, scenic drives, and phenomenal views that this exceptionally rugged and beautiful mountain range has to offer.
    Layers of Light
  • Beautiful and intricate ice closes in on the Athabasca River in the dead of winter. Jasper National Park, Alberta.
    Jaws of Winter
  • Yours truly, greeting the start of another beautiful day at remote and deserted Iceberg Lake. Taken partway through a solo 9 day backpacking adventure in California’s Ansel Adams Wilderness.
    Strength Through Solitude
  • Clouds and the sea glow with beautiful light and colors after a phenomenal sunset. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Afterglow
  • Tenacious pink wildflowers (Mountain Pride, I believe) sprout from a crevice in the rock below a granite dome at sunset, in the beautiful backcountry of Yosemite National Park.
    Tenacity
  • Clouds shroud the pyramidal summit of Mt. Assiniboine on a beautiful summer morning. Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia.
    Summit Kiss
  • Beautiful fall colors reflect in a still pond on a misty October morning. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Autumn's Gift
  • Receding waves, caught by pebbles on Kalaloch Beach, streak back towards the sea during a beautiful winter sunrise. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Return to Me
  • One of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had in the wilderness happened at the start of a backpacking trip in Utah’s Coyote Gulch. With an ominous thunderstorm rapidly approaching, my friend and I sought shelter in an alcove (center-left in this photo), which ended up being quite possibly the most amazing and unique campsite of our lives. From our sandstone haven, we watched lightning electrify the sky and canyon, and listened to thunder boom and reverberate off the canyon walls. We stood in awe as waterfalls began to pour down over the canyon rim, and felt a deep spiritual connection to our caveman predecessors. I took this photo the following morning, with the creek swollen with rainwater and runoff, and remnant storm clouds above the canyon walls catching the beautiful sunrise glow. Coyote Gulch, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah.
    After the Storm
  • The setting sun illuminates the beautiful rocky shore at California’s Montaña de Oro State Park. Millions of years ago, the sedimentary rock of the Montana de Oro coast was an ancient sea floor. When tiny fragments of once-living organisms drifted to the bottom of the sea, they mixed with silt and sand, forming mudstone over time. The mud then solidified into thick layers of sedimentary rock, and now forms the rocky, striated coast at Montaña de Oro.
    Web Gem
  • Lush vegetation springs to life on the beautiful granite summit of Cadillac Mountain as a colorful sunset lights up the sky. Having watched the sunrise from the rugged ocean shore earlier in the day, this was the perfect way to cap off an incredible day of adventuring in Maine's Acadia National Park.
    What a Day
  • The jagged spires of the Minarets  rise above the aquamarine waters of Iceberg Lake on a beautiful summer morning deep in California's Ansel Adams Wilderness.
    Transparency
  • Watching a beautiful sunrise from the surf at Bavaro Beach. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
    Rejuvenation
  • A hiker pauses to take in the splendor of the Zion Narrows on a beautiful autumn morning. Zion National Park, Utah.
    Morning Stroll
  • Quite possibly the most beautiful coastal sunset I’ve ever experienced, taken during one of my all-time favorite backpacking trips (20 miles along the rugged Olympic Coast from Rialto Beach to Ozette Lake). My numb legs from standing in the frigid winter surf to get this perspective were soothed by a driftwood beach fire and some family wine. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Gods of Olympus
  • A cottonwood in the incredible Utah backcountry begins its autumn transformation against a backdrop of beautiful sandstone. Coyote Gulch, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
    Autumn in the Gulch
  • A fantastic winter sunrise lights up the sky above the rugged, beautiful and snowy Maine coast. While the vast majority of people visit Maine's coastal regions in the summer months, winter is a truly magical time to visit, as the throngs of summer tourists are gone and one can often experience and appreciate the uniqueness of the Maine coast in total solitude.
    Winter's Way
  • A beautiful sunset lights up the sky and colorful sandstone walls in the backcountry of Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument, with golden autumn cottonwoods adding an extra dash of color. My friend and I camped in the cave in the bottom left of this photo, which was one of the coolest and most unique campsites we've ever had.
    Light Chamber
  • Peggy's Cove Lighthouse reflects in a pool of water amid the beautiful granite that the lighthouse sits upon, as interesting cloud formations fill the sky to complete this peaceful coastal view.
    Nexus
  • A stormy sky erupts with beautiful colors after the sun sets at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.
    Welcome
  • Sometimes a photograph comes to fruition at the spur of the moment, with little to no planning or previsualization. Other times, however, much preparation and just the right circumstances are required for a vision to become reality. This photo of sunset from the snowy alpine zone below the summit of Mount Marcy falls squarely into the latter category, as I had been wanting to make this image for the past three winters before everything came together in early March 2020. After the Adirondacks got covered in 3 feet of snow from possibly the last snow storm of the season, I set off from the Adirondack Loj hopeful that I would finally be able to make the images that I had long sought. The trail conditions were fantastic, as other hikers and skiers had thankfully packed the powder down the previous day. As I gradually crept closer to the summit, my excitement grew as I realized that I'd finally have a chance to capture the photo that I sought for so long. I arrived at the summit area later than I had hoped, as I stopped often en route to the summit to photograph the snowy paradise that I hiked through. The quiet serenity of the forest was abruptly replaced by the howling winds of the alpine zone, and I searched out some compositions while struggling to stay warm. As the sun went down and the landscape was bathed in soft light, the beauty of the scene and the fact that I was capturing the photos that I had sought for so long made me forget about the cold and wind and the long hike out in the darkness. As the sky began to darken and I packed up for the journey down the mountain, I took one last look towards the summit of Marcy, and it dawned on me that in that moment, I was the highest  person in the state. In elevation, as well as spirit. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Above All Else
  • On clear and cold winter days after a fresh snowfall, nothing is more fun to me than tramping through the snowy mountains seeking out the beauty of winter. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Tramping Through the Snow
  • There's nothing like exploring the High Peaks after a snowstorm. After photographing the sunset from just below the summit of Marcy, descending into the sanctuary of the forest was a welcome escape from the hostile, wind-raked alpine zone. Soft moonlight illuminated the snowy evergreens with delicate light, and my descent of the mountain took much longer than it should have as I stopped often to attempt to capture the beauty. I passed this stand of evergreens on my way to the summit earlier in the day, and immediately became enraptured by the large tree on the left of this photo, as I had never before seen a tree caked with so much snow. The light from the moon was just strong enough to illuminate the snowy trees, and a slight halo in the thin fog around the moon added a final touch of etherealness. Knowing that I was the only person still out on the mountain made this moment all the more special, and helped to make the experience one of the most memorable ones I've had in these mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    To the Heavens
  • Bash Bish Falls pours into a rocky grotto adorned with fresh spring foliage. While the lushness and beauty of the falls and gorge may make it seem like this photo was taken in an exotic tropical hideaway, this type of beauty can be found right in the Taconic Mountains of New York and Massachusetts.
    Paradise
  • The beauty and solitude of the wild world oftentimes stops me in my tracks, and this was most certainly one of those times.
    Awestruck
  • Chilly and damp autumn days are perfect for forest hiking and waterfall photography, especially along deserted trails during peak foliage. I came across these picturesque cascades while on a hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains, and spent an hour just sitting next to the falls admiring their beauty before capturing the photo seen here.
    Slow it Down
  • Puffy clouds reflect in Russell Pond in the backcountry of Maine's Baxter State Park. The beauty and solitude of Russell Pond, coupled with the well-maintained lean-tos and canoe rentals for just a few bucks a day, make this one of the best backcountry camping destinations in the Northeast.
    No Reason to Leave
  • The snowy landscape picks up a brilliant sunset glow high in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Ice in the Veins
  • Day transitions to night high in the Adirondack Mountains as the final faint glow of sunset yields to the sparking stars.
    Transition
  • The Cloudsplitter Gondola pokes above snowy evergreens on a clear and cloudless day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Cloudsplitter
  • Otherworldly ice formations adorn the boulders surrounding a waterfall on the Ausable River. Adirondacks, New York.
    Haunting Beauty
  • Soft sunset light spreads across the sky and adds some warmth to the snowy winter mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    A Winter Friend
  • A band of post-sunset color adds a touch of vibrancy to the snowy and moody winter mountain landscape. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    The Thrill of Exploration
  • Skiers hoof their way to some backcountry turns in the Adirondacks. Watching them whiz down the mountain as I trudged along made me wish I could replace my snowshoes with some skis!
    Summit Reward
  • One of my favorite parts of camping with my dad is chatting by the fire, often with a martini in hand, after an exciting day in the woods. While any topic of conversation is enjoyable, some of the most entertaining and memorable stories have been tales from my dad's youth working as a park ranger at Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse, NY.<br />
<br />
Green Lake and its neighbor, Round Lake, are both meromictic lakes, which means that their surface and bottom waters don't mix like most lakes do in the fall and spring. The fact that there are only about 20 meromictic lakes in North America makes Green Lake special, and its made even more unique by the fact that it possesses an incredible blue-green color that seems out of place in Upstate NY and more likely to be found in the tropics. This color comes from the high presence of minerals in the water that seeps through the surrounding bedrock and into the lake. Similar to the turquoise-colored glacial lakes that can be found in the Canadian Rockies and other parts of the world, Green Lake shimmers in otherworldly hues when sunlight hits the water. Green Lakes State Park, New York.
    Reminiscing
  • Snow-covered boulders in a frozen river take on an abstract form under the soft light of a cloudy day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Sensuality
  • Bright red foliage frames a rushing river after an October rainstorm.
    Red Oak Rush
  • Snow-covered trees frame a distant mountain on a cold and moody evening in the Adirondack Mountains.
    The Road That I Must Choose
  • Soft moonlight illuminates snowy evergreens on a clear and starry winter night. There are few moments in nature as peaceful as those spent in the lonely, snowy mountains after dark. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Soothe the Soul
  • A waterfall spills into the frozen chasm of High Falls Gorge in winter. Adirondack Park, New York.
    Takeover
  • Wind-carved snow and trees covered in rime ice created a magical winter scene near the summit of Algonquin Peak, on one of those rare winter days where the sun shines so bright and the air is so still that it makes you wish that spring would never come. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Euphoria
  • Evening lights shines on snowy krummholz and distant mountains as the valley in between plunges into darkness. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    The Darkness In Between
  • The moon shines in the clear winter sky and illuminates snowy evergreens below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Sanctuary
  • Interesting patterns in a partially frozen pond in the forest. Adirondack Park, NY.
    Amorphous
  • An evergreen branch coated in rime ice reaches out like the frosty hand of winter on a sunny but frigid January day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    A Touch of Frost
  • Rime ice covers the trees on the summit of Tabletop Mountain, with Haystack off in the distancw. Rime ice is formed when small supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a surface, such as a tree branch, which is at a sub-freezing temperature. Adirondack High Peaks, NY.
    Winter's Grasp
  • A long exposure of a silky waterfall flowing high after an October rainstorm.
    Cream of the Crop
  • Snow-caked trees enjoy the sunset as Mount Colden towers over the valley in the distance. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Marshmallow World
  • Intense sunset light illuminates the snowy mountains on a cold winter day. Light like this is incredibly fleeting, but witnessing the snowy landscape come to life while on a deserted summit makes the time and effort required to experience and photograph these special moments oh so worth it. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Always Worth It
  • A skier works their way towards an Adirondack summit on a rare calm and sunny winter day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Ascension
  • Warm sunset light contrasts with frigid temperatures and illuminates snow-covered evergreens and distant mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Closing Time
  • Rime ice covers the trees on the summit of Tabletop Mountain, in the High Peaks Wilderness of New York's rugged Adirondack Mountains. Rime ice is formed when small supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a surface, such as a tree branch, which is at a sub-freezing temperature.
    Ice Bouquets
  • Warm sunset light illuminates the distant summit of Whiteface on a cold and windy winter evening. Adirondack High Peaks, NY
    Deception
  • The Adirondacks in winter is quite possibly my personal favorite photography subject. In particular,  the gnarled and hardy evergreens that occupy tree line and the beginning of the alpine zone make my heart pound and creativity flow unlike anything else found in nature when they become covered with snow in the depths of winter. After climbing the surprisingly deserted trail to the summit of Cascade, I was greeted with a windchill that approached -30 degrees Fahrenheit, and a fantasy-land of pure winter magic unlike anything I had seen before. The challenging weather conditions only added to the experience and made it that much more memorable, and as the sun dipped below the distant mountains and the most intense post-sunset glow I've ever witnessed emanated through the sky, I raced around like a madman capturing as many photos as I could. After the sky shifted from orange, to pink, to blue, to black, I began my descent down the dark and lonely trail, reveling in the feeling of pure ecstasy that only comes from the wilderness and doing what you love most in the world.
    Ecstasy
  • Hardy, snow-covered trees found high up the mountains are one of my favorite winter photography subjects, but what really drew me to this scene was the blanket of clouds on the distant mountains at dusk. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Insulation
  • Whiteface Mountain rises up from the valley into the clouds, as seen from below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Layers of Whiteface
  • Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Layers of Marcy
  • The snowy summit of Whiteface Mountain barely pokes above the clouds at dusk. The pink glow in the sky is known as the "Belt of Venus" and is commonly seen on clear days before sunrise and after sunset. It appears 10-20 degrees above the horizon on top of the Earth's dark blue shadow that's found just above the horizon, and the crisp low humidity days of winter seem to make this phenomenon appear stronger than other times of the year. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Island in the Sky
  • Fresh snow blankets the evergreens along the trail to Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Powder
  • After a morning of dense fog and clouds, the sun broke out just in time to sit down and enjoy the view.
    Good Morning Life
  • Delicate hoar frost coats the branches of a tree on a clear and chilly winter morning in the Adirondacks. Hoar frost forms when water vapor in the air comes into contact with a solid surface (like a tree branch) that is already below the freezing point.
    Winter Delicacy
  • Fiery sunset light sets krummholz (a German word meaning "crooked wood" that's used to describe stunted, windblown trees) coated in rime ice ablaze. Adirondack High Peaks, New York
    Flamethrower
  • It started back in September, while out for a glorious autumn paddle on Indian Lake. All day I’d been thinking about my grandfather, or “Papa” as we affectionately called him, who had passed away in December. A master carpenter, WWII veteran, and avid fisherman, he was and always will be my hero. As we slowly glided into a cove, I mentioned to my wife how this place made me think of Papa, and on cue we noticed a large bird soaring overhead, coming towards us. “I wish that was a bald eagle,” my wife, Amanda, remarked. As the bird crept closer, though, it became clear that this actually was a bald eagle. We both sat there dumbfounded with our mouths open as we watched this magnificent creature circle above us before continuing along. Once the shock passed, my wife turned to me and exclaimed “that was Papa coming to say hi!” It seemed very fitting, as bald eagles are prolific fishers and symbols of patriotism, just like Papa. <br />
Fast-forward to December, as the 1 year anniversary of Papa passing draws near. We were driving home after a snowshoe and were waiting to turn into our apartment. Just as we were about to turn, we saw a large bird flying straight down Route 146, right towards us. “What is that?” my wife said. It was a bald eagle, flying down the busiest road in town, right at us. Amanda quickly did a U-turn to park across the street from where the eagle had landed.  I was fortunate to get a couple shots off before the eagle took off, and will be forever thankful that “Papa” had the patience (much like on all those hot, fishless days on the River) to stay long enough for me to get some photos of him. <br />
When it was over, we speechlessly stared at each other, trying to wrap our heads around what had just happened. I knew, without a doubt, that the bald eagle we saw was Papa. Coming to say hi. To tell us that he loves us, that he misses us. That while he might no longer be on this earth as we once knew him, he will always be here, watching over us.
    Honor Flight
  • Out for a late-fall evening paddle on the placid backwaters of a lake in Upstate NY.
    Backwaters
  • Moonlight illuminates snowy evergreens on a clear and starry winter night. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Signs in the Sky
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