The Adirondacks In Winter

The dogs and I were traveling through the Adirondacks on our way toward the farm to spend the weekend. The weather in the Keane Valley had been surprisingly mild so I was feeling confident. This lovely red homestead with stone fireplace and chimney was surrounded by pines and looked like a great place to spend the winter:

And not far away was this old barn and well kept home:

But we journeyed onward and northward. As we traveled, the snowfall resumed, the temperature dropped and the winds began to howl. Alongside many of the roads stood snow covered fir trees:

It became so frigid and blustery that I got so I hated to stop for picture taking. Furthermore, the snow plows had piled snow at the roadsides which prevented me from pulling onto the shoulder. I stopped briefly right there in the road when there was no other traffic and quickly photographed these wintry firs:

When we arrived at Route 458, the winter strengthened and there was little other traffic. I guess I'm learning that broad flat areas are prone to high winds (like the Keane Valley and up at my farm). These firs and tamaracks have got to be rugged, cold loving trees:

The scenery was beautiful as long as I stayed inside the warm car. I got to thinking that I could use some of these photographs for Christmas cards in the future. Well, we were seeing now what winter can be like in the Adirondacks:

In The Keane Valley Of The Adirondack Mountains

You may recall from my last post that the dogs and I were traveling up through the high peaks region of the Adirondacks to visit the farm. It was a cold, snowy, windy day but I thought we'd manage just fine. Indeed, when we got into the Adirondack Park, the snowfall ended and I thought we'd have good weather. So I was enjoying the drive and snapping pictures. In the Keene Valley, I spotted this cabin in the woods which seemed to me a very welcoming place:

I turned up a side road just to see the scenery and passed this brown chapel:

Marcy Field, right alongside Route 73, is an airfield in better weather. Or perhaps it used to be an airfield but is no longer(?) Every time I passed it on a Sunday this summer and fall, it was full of tents and vendors, all part of a very large farmer's market. Well, I can tell you that in this open space, the wind really howls. And yet I stopped to take a picture of the mountains:

This picture also was taken from Marcy Field, but looking in a different direction, back toward the mountains through we'd just driven. An old plow (I think) was rusting in the field and the mountaintops looked plenty stormy and cold. And yet, judging by the parked cars, there were brave people snowshoeing up in "them thar hills:"

The Keane Valley is a rare flat spot right smack in the middle of some of the Adirondacks' highest peaks. There's still evidence of its former days as farm country, including this beautifully preserved old barn:

And this very large and elaborate barn:

This very expensive looking house sure has some nice views. Well, we were only halfway through our journey. I'll post more photos in days to come: