Spring

The spring peeper is a little frog with some amazing abilities | Hudson Valley One

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The spring peeper is a little frog with some amazing abilities | Hudson Valley One

What the robin is to lawn and meadow, the peeper is to the wooded swamp. The first robin usually appears on a bright, though still chilly day, hopping over a bit of dry yellow grass revealed by the retreating snow. The peeper comes to us as a distant chorus on the first evening a light coat or sweatshirt will suffice, or all of a sudden when, on a night warm enough to crack a car window, we pass a bit of low ground flooded by the spring rains and snowmelt. They’re more often heard than seen. Approach them, and the song cuts off well before you can get near. Peepers are skittish. You would be too if you were very small and made a sound that could be heard a mile away. Nevertheless, they have some remarkable abilities.

Winter Fades Away to Green.

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This week is the first week of the year when most of the nights are above freezing. The average nightly low is 35 degrees at this point — and 37 by the end of the week, which isn’t warm, but without the frost most nights, it seems likely we will start to see some hints of spring popping out in the city.

Research Ponds

It’s foolish to expect lots of green in April, unless it’s an exceptionally warm spring, which this one so far has not been.

Some Green

Step by step though, winter will fade away into a sea of green.

East Branch Sacandaga River

March 20, 2019 – Next Sixteen Weeks

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Today is the first day of spring. 🌷🌺🌻🌼That means longer days, warmer temperatures, and generally more enjoyable weather is just around the corner. In two weeks, the norm will be nights above freezing, and nearly 13 hours of daylight. There is much to look forward to this time of year.

Week Date Dawn Sun-
rise		 Sun-
set		 Dusk Day Avg High Avg Low Record Hi Record Low
0 Mar 20 6:28 am 6:57 am 7:07 pm 7:35 pm 12:10 46 27 78 (2012) 2 (1967)
1 Mar 27 6:16 am 6:44 am 7:15 pm 7:43 pm 12:30 49 30 78 (1998) 11 (1975)
2 Apr 3 6:04 am 6:32 am 7:23 pm 7:52 pm 12:51 53 33 79 (1981) 16 (1954)
3 Apr 10 5:51 am 6:20 am 7:31 pm 8:00 pm 13:10 56 35 86 (1922) 21 (1974)
4 Apr 17 5:39 am 6:09 am 7:39 pm 8:09 pm 13:30 59 38 91 (2002) 21 (1971)
5 Apr 24 5:28 am 5:58 am 7:47 pm 8:17 pm 13:49 62 40 81 (2001) 25 (1965)
6 May 1 5:17 am 5:48 am 7:55 pm 8:26 pm 14:07 65 43 86 (2001) 28 (2008)
7 May 8 5:08 am 5:39 am 8:03 pm 8:34 pm 14:23 67 45 91 (1936) 26 (1968)
8 May 15 4:59 am 5:31 am 8:10 pm 8:43 pm 14:38 69 47 93 (1900) 31 (1977)
9 May 22 4:52 am 5:25 am 8:17 pm 8:51 pm 14:52 71 49 97 (1911) 33 (2002)
10 May 29 4:47 am 5:20 am 8:24 pm 8:58 pm 15:03 73 51 93 (1931) 34 (1956)
11 Jun 5 4:43 am 5:17 am 8:29 pm 9:03 pm 15:11 75 53 97 (1925) 39 (1990)
12 Jun 12 4:41 am 5:16 am 8:33 pm 9:08 pm 15:17 77 56 95 (2017) 38 (1972)
13 Jun 19 4:41 am 5:16 am 8:36 pm 9:11 pm 15:19 79 58 94 (1995) 38 (1950)
14 Jun 26 4:44 am 5:18 am 8:37 pm 9:12 pm 15:18 81 59 99 (1952) 39 (1979)
15 Jul 3 4:47 am 5:22 am 8:36 pm 9:10 pm 15:13 82 61 102 (1911) 44 (1978)
16 Jul 10 4:53 am 5:27 am 8:33 pm 9:07 pm 15:06 82 61 100 (1936) 47 (1963)

Tulip Time!

First Big Camping Trip of the Year, A Look Back

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Every year, I usually kick off the camping season with a big road trip somewhere. Here are some of the trips I’ve done in years past:

2016: Finger Lakes National Forest

April 2016 was a relatively cold month after a relatively warm winter. The first night I camped at Stony Pond in Nelson. It got down to 15 degrees.

I visited the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge then camped off of Chicken Coop Road at the Finger Lakes National Forest.

Took the tarps down so I won't have to deal with wet ones in the morning

Rather cold weather up on Hector Backbone, so I strung up tarps to block the wind and built big campfires.

Rainy afternoon

Rather gray as things hadn’t really greened up yet.

Foster Pond

But in lower elevations, especially along Cayuga Lake, things where starting to bud up, like as seen with this picture of Taughannock State Park.

Spring will arrive

2015: Balsam Pond, Long Pond and Chenango County

Rained a bit during the day but camping was great Balsam Pond.

Quiet, battery powered.

Beautiful sunrise on Balsam Pond.

After sunset

Nice afternoon fishing on Whitney Point Reservior, but I didn’t get many bites.

Nice morning

2014: East Branch of Sacanadaga River

In 2014, I camped on the East Branch of Sacandaga River. It was a pretty night.

Untitled [Expires November 23 2024]

I used my solar panel a bit under the sunny skies to keep the accessory battery charged.

Untitled [Expires November 22 2024]

2013: Balsam Pond, Long Pond and Chenango County

In many ways my 2013 trip was similiar to my 2015 trip. I camped at Long Pond, which was very much so still frozen this year.

Down By Long Pond

Hiked up the Berry Hill Firetower.

Motorcyclists

Visited Rogers Environmental Education Center.

East Towards Sherburne

2012: Crane Mountain and Harrisburg NY

Hike both Crane Mountain and Hadley Mountain and camped off of Harrisburg Road in the Adirondacks.

Crane Pond Mountain with Eleventh Mountain Behind It

My truck didn’t have a cap then, so I camped in a tent.

GE Sillicone Mound

It was fun camping in my then new truck.

Cloverleaf

Heat

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Most of the winter, I keep the main gas heat in my apartment set at 50 degrees, only turning it up to 55 or 60 degrees during periods of exceptional cold to ensure pipes don’t freeze. I don’t like wasting heat, because it’s expensive and a waste of fossil fuels that are non-renewable.

Warm

I am glad that the winter heating season is almost over. Sometimes I’m cold, but I’ve never seriously thought about leaving the heat much hotter. I could have it warmer if I turned on the electric heat upstairs, but I avoid doing that as it’s the most expensive form of heating, and I don’t need it. I’ve also considered a small space heater for my desk, but I’ve never gotten one, in fear that it will increase my electric bill.

Downstream

I enjoy the fresh air, even if it means more noise, followed hot and humid nights. But the breeze is nice, as is getting out and spending nights down at the park or breathing in the fresh air. I don’t do the air conditioning thing, preferring to save money by using less energy, and spending more time outdoors, enjoying cold beverages.