The plan was in place that I’d meet my friend and photography buddy, Rob, at his house for sunrise and we’d go where the spirit and light moved us. I remembered to take my binoculars thinking we might see one of the Snowy Owls that have been reported this week in Central Vermont. Extra battery, wide-angle zoom, tripod, mug green tea, map book, hiking poles, extra gloves & hat. Life it good.
The muses took us to Nichol’s Ledge, a place we’d been to for the first time a couple of years ago during peak foliage. As I hoist my backpack on, I realized I’d left my camera on the table back home. “I guess it will be a day of truly ‘seeing’ the photographs I wanted to make!” I said with a sheepish grin. Half-way up the trail Rob realized he had his little Nikon camera—still a powerful tool—so I was not completely cut off.
The view from the top was gorgeous, even if not as amazing as it had been on the previous trip. That day had been very foggy. When we reached the top of the trail—not knowing what to expect—the entire valley ahead of us was thoroughly socked in. I honestly thought we were standing on the edge of a lake as we snapped away at the mountain tops sticking out of the fog shrouded water!
For whatever reason I had not gotten too close to the edge, my good fortune, because later, when the fog lifted, what was revealed was not a lake but a precipice with the edge of the “lake” dropping a couple hundred feet. I nearly puked thinking about what I’d assumed was there and the potential disaster it could have been.
From the photograph of my view today, you can get the idea!
The view from Nichol's Ledge
So it was a good day, regardless of where my camera spent it. At least I didn’t go wading in the “water.”
Still Learning To See 