Life along the ridge line

I live along the ridge line that is pictured frequently on this site. It is one of several that starts in the green mountains of Vermont encompasses Mount Greylock, which is visible to the north on a clear day, and runs south to Connecticut.

The ridges also run west to east, which means that at times you can find yourself traveling with hills on two sides. The portion near me is called October Mountain. It is very much a presence and its size makes it seem much closer than it is, though it is still only a mile or so away. At the bottom of the valley is the Housatonic River. A small sized river that meanders from the north to the Long Island sound. When I kayak the Housatonic and meander in and out of the many oxbows and outlets it is the landmark of the ridge line that keeps me from becoming completely turned around and lost. The trails are great for hiking and cross country skiing and off road biking and run along the river and across the terrain. Since there is an abundance of limestone here I am told that this area was an ancient ocean, a fascinating concept to consider.

Each morning when I venture out for the newspaper the ridge is there, as it has been for millions of years. As it is to the east the position of the sunrise changes with the seasons and the seasons change the view. Soft green in the spring and vibrant in the fall and just pleasantly there in the summer, at this time of year the trees are bare and the contrast of the snow on the ground makes the trails visible. At night the lights and sounds of snowmobiles can be seen crisscrossing the sides of the mountain. At certain times of the year the sounds of hunters can be heard in the predawn hours. One some mornings a foggy mist covers the river and fills up the valley, at least from my view from above. Driving down by the river it just seems overcast.

Mostly state park with lots of wildlife: deer, bear, coyote, wild turkey and much more run free and occasionally make their way through to the neighborhoods around. The alert of "bear in the neighborhood" sometimes becomes routine in the spring and early summer as they forage for food and can sometimes cause a spook when they get too close, but that is another entry.

Weather also travels differently in its presence. The temperature is usually 5 degrees cooler here than the suburbs to the east and west, usually attributed to the elevation and the air is often breezy, which means that the need for air conditioning at home is rare. Storms usually travel in from the south and the wind howls and whistles at the windows and moves on to the north. A natural pipeline. In the summer it will occasionally rain here but not elsewhere. The coolness of the mountains?

The ridge lines are one of those thing that make this area special. Often overlooked because they are always there but full of beauty and character year round.