Polar winds plunge over the southeast Catskills, freezing all before them and casting frosty whiteness about as they continue to bring real winter down to Waghkonk. The desiccated and sere husks of last season’s beebalm, goldenrod and milkweed, bent by those gusts, seem to nod in agreement. The peaceful white pines and the wise northern oaks also bow before the all-powerful north wind, for it rules this time. It is both King and Queen here and now and all pledge obeisance to its frozen might. Even us supposedly all-powerful humans cannot stop the Power from the Pole. The most that we can do is to deflect its wrath with our little ramparts of wood or stone, desperately chinking our walls — our armor, as it were — trying, with varying degrees of success, to defend our little dwellings from one of the unstoppable forces of nature. Considering that December had mostly above-average temperatures, January was somewhat of a shock, slamming us with the afore-mentioned winds and snows, as well as below-average temperatures
We are at the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The Celts celebrated this time as Imbolc (February 1-2), the year’s First Cross-Quarter Day. It is a time for celebrating the visible lengthening of days. Also celebrated as Groundhogs Day or Candlemas. The Mayans noted this moment on the Great Wheel as did Native Americans at Cahokia and at Anasazi.
The Snow Moon
February can still be as challenging as January for all creatures. In North America and the other
coldest parts of the northern hemisphere, this is traditionally the time of the greatest snowfall (though climate change is throwing its monkey-wrench into it, as it is with everything).
Even though the days are noticeably longer, and they bring more light, it is still at a low enough angle that it doesn’t have much effect for melting and warming. Many tribes in the northeast called this time the Snow Moon, it is also appropriately called the Hunger Moon because many creatures (people included) could go hungry in these harsh conditions. It was also called the Bear Moon because this is when Black Bear cubs are usually born, their mother still asleep. The cubs know where to find her milk (even though their eyes aren’t open yet) and they all wait in the den for a few more weeks. Another name for this month is the Groundhog Moon, hence the origin of Groundhog Day.
The light returns
It’s the start of a new year, the edge of a new time, it’s true. Not only is the last year past, after another spin around the sun, but also a new solar year has begun as the days get noticeably lighter. Alright, I admit that I’m probably making it a little better than it is, but that’s how I see things. Someone once asked me if I looked at the glass as half-full or half-empty. I said, “what glass?” No, really. I’m an eternal optimist. I see the glass (if any) as full, believing that life is brimming around us, even in winter, lying dormant, just waiting for a chance to grow. Yes, it’s another Catskills Winter Roller-Coaster of Chills, Thrills and Spills, offering us not only danger and perils a-plenty but also a starkly-beautiful landscape, sculpted sometimes in gleaming ice and curving snow. So let’s all enjoy it as best as we can, getting into the woods and onto the trails and observe our yearly frigid desert and its landscape of alternating drabness then sparkling whiteness and light.
To reach “Ranger” Dave Holden, call 845-594-4863 or email woodstocktrails@gmail.com; also see Woodstock Trails on Facebook; rangerdaveholden on Instagram or www.woodstocknytrails.com.
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