Bash Bish Falls

I used to go to Bash Bish Falls in Copake, NY, whenever my life was in turmoil and I needed to destress and re-contemplate my life. I don't remember if I've been there at all during my last marriage, but I find it hard to believe that it's been 14 years since I was last there. My recent life's contemplating efforts were always done at my cabin in VT, so I had no reason to even think about the falls. So much time has passed, that I nearly forgot about my favorite sanctuary. Someone, who very recently came through my life and left faster than the blink of an eye, brought that memory of Bash Bish Falls back to the forefront of my mind.

The last two days seem to be our January thaw. It was 42 degrees just before lunchtime today. Cabin fever hit hard, I was having Van Of Discovery withdrawal symptoms, and I had nothing better to do today, so I packed up a lunch and Hope and I took a drive to see what the falls looks like in the ice and snow. In one word: AWESOME!

I drove Rt 44 through Winsted, Norfolk, Canaan and Lakeville to get to Rt 22 in Millerton, NY. It felt good to drive thorough those small, country towns again. Copake was only 15 minutes north of Millerton. Somewhere in the back of my brain, I thought I remembered two entrances to the Taconic State Park. Well, there were, just not where my poor brain remembered. As I passed Copake Falls and the sign to the Taconic State Park, I thought this was the first entrance, so I drove another 15-20 minutes beyond that. Somewhere north of Hillsdale, I was driving up a hill and, as I glanced out over a cornfield below, I saw two animals playing with each other. They were up on their hind legs almost boxing like kangaroos. I pulled off the road quickly and saw that they were two foxes (foxi?). They spotted me get out of the van, so, unfortunately, they stopped their playing. Apparently someone else was enthralled with seeing them, as well, because they pulled off the road behind me and started snapping pictures.

Zoomed image (not much better):

I drove a bit further until nothing seemed familiar anymore, so I turned around and went back to the Taconic State Park in Copake Falls. That was the place.

The path from the parking lot to the falls is 3/4 of a mile. It was already 3:30 in the afternoon and I wasn't sure what time the sun set, but I figured I was pretty safe because the parking lot had about 10 cars in it, which meant lots of people were still on the trail. As soon as I hit the path, I knew it would take me forever to walk that 3/4 of a mile. My boots have absolutely no tread left to them and walking on the snow-packed trail was treacherous, at best. Note to self: buy yourself a new pair of Timberlands before going to AZ.

The 2-4 miles I walk Hope every day and all the x-country skiing I've been doing for the last month made the 3/4 mile hike seem like a piece of cake. It took me no time at all to get to the falls, despite slipping and sliding and taking baby steps the whole way. Note to self: Buy a new pair of Timberlands before leaving for AZ.

This picture is a view of Bash Bish Brook on the way to the falls:

Here, someone had a sense of humor. I assume it is a welcome sign. Either that, or a very large paw print:

After much snow-surfing, we reached the falls. Note to self: Buy a new pair of Timberlands before leaving for AZ.

There are two banks of stone steps to walk down to the falls. Luckily, there is a railing down the middle of them. The steps were more treacherous than the path. I managed to climb down sideways, draping my body over the railing and stepping on the edge of the steps where the snow was worn off. Finally making it down to the boulders at the river's edge, I tried to go down one more level and landed flat on my butt. Some guy was there with his dog which was making Hope extremely antsy, so I am sure she had something to do with me landing on the ground. I looked up at him and said, "I knew this was going to happen. I think I'll just sit here awhile." Note to self: Buy a new pair of Timberlands before leaving for AZ.

The falls from the boulders at the edge of the pool. Can you hear the roar of the water?:

Looking up at the top of the falls:

A view looking down river from the falls:

On the way up the steps back to the path, I met a woman coming down who did exactly what I did by hanging over the railings. I don't know what her problem was; she was wearing boots with cleats. Note to self: Buy a new pair of Timberlands before leaving for AZ.

This picture is supposed to be the sun setting on the river. I couldn't quite get the right angle and I certainly don't have the right kind of camera for shots like that.

This is the last picture I took. It is pack ice on the river.

I so wish that cameras captured the true wonder of what my eyes see. They miss the depth and sometimes the brilliant colors. Someday I will get myself a decent camera. Before I do that, I really need to buy myself a new pair of Timberlands.