"Another Day"

Melting ice beats to a sacred rhythm, as the Sun's warmth awakens the land from a cold night's slumber.

The nocturnal ones give way to the day shift, as sounds from the Northern forest commence their daily numbers.A cool mystical fog lays thick on the receding snow, from the lack of a stiff wind to guide it through the old growth that has yet to be found by the logger. The Maple has gathered it's sweet flow of liquid life to reenergize for another season, as the hawk on it's limb spots the first morning meal, creeping out from last years leaf. And another day of life starts here on Earth. -CHE

"The Old Barn"

The old barn, what a tale it could tell, the storms it's weathered, to protect what it held.

With board and nail it grew towards the sky, a proud new monument that looked down from high.
Labor and time... sweat, blood and tears, it served it's purpose proudly throughout the years.
Like an old friend, it was trusted and true, and was always there for your stuff and you.
But now you moved on, and your barn remains, the elements and gravity have swept in to claim.
It's boards and nails, are now warped and rusty, the contents inside are old and dusty, and the
moss- covered foundation is wet and musty.
It leans to the left now and shutters from the wind, will it stand another Winter, or collapse from within.
I hope it will make it, but know it might fall, eventually in Nature the end comes for all.
The old barn, what a tale it could tell, the storms it's weathered, to protect what it held. -CHE

"The Dream"

Dreamt I was eagle flying high in the sky, soaring on two wings and the thermals was I. The feeling of freedom as I looked down below, the clouds were majestic and the Sun was aglow.

The dream continued, but this time I was deer, bounding and frolicking in a meadow, all clear.
No man in sight to disturb my good time, the dewed grass was sweet, unpolluted, devine.
Shape shifting commenced, and I became frog, snatching up insects as I sat on my log.
Two hops away to a lilypad nearby, sunning myself til my skin turned dry.
Taken aback this time I was tree, reaching for the Sun, defying gravity.
Swaying back and forth, to the rythym of wind, my roots gather water for a drink from within.
Then I became rock, polished and still, wanting to move with all of my will.

Weathered and worn by the passage of time, elements have their way, as I wish sublime.

When I awoke, it became so clear, that we are all connected to the things we hold dear. -CHE

                                                "Connected"

"Ghosts of Lake George"

Such a beautiful place for blood to be shed,

   war after war, and countless are dead.

Do restless souls still wander this land,

  cut short in life by taking a stand.

Many folks today take for granted their freedom,

  never give thought about how much we did need'em.

The greed of countries gave birth to these fights,

  having total disregard for the indigenous one's rights.

Through war and disease their numbers went down,

  their way of life turned from smile to frown

The ghosts of Lake George and the sacrifices they made,

  give the respect they deserve so their memory won't fade. -CHE

~"Happy New Year Everyone!"~

I hope everyone had a safe and joyful Holiday Season that continues throughout the year! I've been hard at work developing my new website called Adirondack Native Photography, and now I am pleased to bring it to you in this first year of the new decade, Twenty Ten. Tell all your family and friends, and help me spread the good word! Add it to your "Favorites" list and feel free to come back anytime for a visit. I have about 1/3 of my works posted, and will be updating on a farely regular basis. I hope you enjoy my work atleast 1/2 as much as I do bringing it to you! The link is http://www.adirondacknativephotography.com/. Once again Happy New Year, and thanks for the kind words of support, they surely go a long way!
                                                                                                                        -CHE
  

"Miracle on John's Brook Trail"

I remember a day, not too far away, I went on a hike with a friend.

     We parked at The Garden, our feet they went troddin', along the path and bend.

The two of us hiked until out of breath, about where The Brothers trail came to our path.

     Decided to break and handle with care, the Sun was shining, God's breath was the air!

We drank to quench, no more would be wise, a hike still ahead, cause cramps, tear eye!
     Speaking of eye, some movement up trail, black and white through trees, did I see a Vail?
 Awkwardly looking I tapped on my buddy, to confirm to myself that I was not nutty!
     The confirmation was made, what debt did we pay, to witness six nuns hiking our way!

 Seriously a vision was starting to unfold, a beautiful story that won't go untold.

     Those six nuns went by, with God in their eye, each one in a gown, from top to ground,
         smiling and nodding their heads up and down.
 Recalling the day and I were both hot, when remembering no camera to take the shot!
     The feeling subsided, with anger away, don't be so selfish and ruin the day.
 Each looking to the other with wonderment and awe, still disbelief in witnessing this sight we both saw!
     A swig for us both, pack on underway, up John's Brook Trail and we thanked God for this day!
 Along the brook old growth smells great, there was no doubt, no need for debate, home for supper
     no later than eight, a blessed day, from the hike to the nuns, to the food on my plate!
 Laying my head on the pillow to rest, I thank God for my blessings and let him do what's best.

                                                     

                                                                                                                        -CHE     

    

     

"Remembering Aviation Hero Floyd Bennett"

When I was a young boy, I remember my gram telling me about her cousin, famous aviator Floyd Bennett. She told me how he was the first man to fly an airplane to the North Pole!  I recall walking out in back of the Queensbury Little League fields, along an old decrepit paved road. One time, I found an old cannonball off in the woods back there, but that's another story, for another time. I also remember going into McDonald's in the Aviation Mall, and seeing pictures on their walls of an old airport in a somewhat familiar area. That area was the original Floyd Bennett Airfield, and was located where the Queensbury School Campus is today. The only remaining building from those days is the old bus garage, which was originally an airplane hanger. What was once the Warren County Airport, is now named the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport.

Floyd Bennett was born in Warrensburg, New York October 25th 1890. He gave up school at 17 yrs. old and became a mechanic and part owner of a service garage. In 1917, he joined the U.S. Navy taking up aviation training. Although he became an able pilot, his superiors ordered him to stay on as an aviation mechanic. In 1925, he was given orders to join Lieutenant Richard Byrd's naval aviation group, which was teamed up with D.B. MacMillan's expedition to Greenland that year. His ability as a mechanic along with his personality caught the eye of Byrd, and he became two things, Byrd's friend and personal pilot.

After the Greenland expedition, Bennett and Byrd started planning a flight to the North Pole. In May of 1926, with a carefully planned out strategy, and a little luck, the two men carried out there goal, flying a 3-engine Fokker monoplane named the "Josephine Ford". The two men were awarded Medals of Honor, which were very rare awards to receive during peacetime! They were also given promotions! Byrd was made Commander and Bennett (by act of Congress) was made Warrant Mechanic! Bennett was also given a special medal by the National Geographic Society, presented by then President Calvin Coolidge. They then started making plans to cross the Atlantic, in a plane called the "America". Unfortunately, the America crashed in a test flight, almost killing Bennett, and opening the door for Charles Lindberg to make the flight. In Byrd's 1928-30 expedition to the South Pole, Bennett, who had made most of the plans, was made 2nd in command. Before the flight was to take place, Bennett and fellow collegue Bernt Balchen were to make a trip to Labrador. There, off the coast, layed a plane that went down, named the "Bremen", which was the first to cross the Atlantic Westwards. Strangely, on their way to salvage the plane in April of '28, Bennett became very sick and passed away in Quebec, Canada, at the young age of 38! His death was mourned by the nation, and he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

         

"Monuments of Light"

 "At the birth of the Sun, and his brother the Moon, their mother died. So they gave to the Earth a body, which was to spring all life. And they drew forth from Earth's breath, the stars. Stars they threw into the night sky, to remind them of her soul!"  - Native American Tale

"Bridging the States"

Unfortunately, most folks knew this day would come. Too little too late. That seems to sum up what has become the sad demise of our beloved Champlain Bridge. Decades of weather and tempurature changes, and a lack of a good preventive maintenance plan, will cost N.Y. and Vt. citizens an estimated 50 million dollars!

    Built in 1929 this 2,184 ft. erector set connected West Addison Vt. with Crown Pt. N.Y., and made travel between the two states much more efficient. Today, nearly 4,000 vehicles per day travel over this narrow section of Lake Champlain. Workers on the bridge have discovered it to be in a greater deteriated state than originally thought. Inspections performed under the water's surface have determined that the concrete foundations are cracking enough to warrant concerns of a possible collapse! Archaeologists are performing digs to determine if any artifacts would be disturbed by construction of a ferry service, to alieviate the frustrations of many commuters now forced to take a 100 mi. detour! Demolition will possibly start by the end of the year (?). Just one more problem to add to an already weakened economy. I have also just heard word of the Edinburg/Northville Bridge, that crosses The Great Sacandaga Resevoir, may suffer the same fate! Infrastructure is always a nice political conversation piece, isn't it?

"Fire Towers of the Adirondacks"

I'm not usually one to support man-made structures on mountain tops, but for me the iconic Adirondack Fire Tower gets a free pass. Once manned by "great observers of the land" to help get a headstart on pesky forest fires below, they are now primarily used for educating hikers about the surrounding land and getting a 360 degree unobstructed view. Of coarse towers come in handy for other simple things in life, such as getting above the treeline for a consistantly strong breeze to escape the bugs and heat below, a lunch break, or even as shade from the sometimes brutal Sun! There are still a few I haven't had the pleasure of climbing yet, but hopefully I will in due time. I remember climbing the tallest in the Adks. on Wakely, which is about 100 Ft.. You could either climb the stairs, or if you're real brave there is a small decrepit metal ladder that goes up the outside of the tower, that is about a foot wide. This is not for the faint of heart and is dangerous due to nuts and bolts missing along the way! The picture I have here is of the old worn out tower on Hurricane Mtn., or "Nodoneyo" which means "Hill of Wind" in Native toungue. It's amazing that some of these towers are still standing after all the weather they've endured through the decades! It's great to see some of them get a makover, but on the other hand it's a shame that they all can't. They are forever imbedded in the history of the park, and should be treated with the respect they deserve!