Appalachian Mountain Club Nature Notes

Snowy Catacombs: A Closer Look at Subnivean Life

2012-02-02T13:46:00.008-05:00

In a winter such as this, optimism is often the most important thing to carry in your daily rucksack. Abnormality has become the norm for our current season's weather and conditions as occasional snowfalls fight to create a legitimate snowpack that will not be destroyed by rain, fog or scouring winds. I have watched entire snow layers disappear from Huntington Ravine's steep and rocky fans, transforming easily traversable terrain into scratchy scrambles (in human terms, at least). Conditions such as these occasionally make us winter enthusiasts sour or frustrated, but we at least have the opportunity of retreat into the luxury of central heating to wait for better days. What about our small, furry friends who depend on snowpack for winter survival? This week, I want to dig a little deeper into the intriguing and often dangerous world of subnivean life.

As we explored in the previous blog entry, the story of subnivean existence begins in late Autumn, when the daily ground temperature becomes warmer than daily air temperature. During a normal winter season here in the Whites, a snowpack would begin to form around this time. When this snowpack reaches a stable depth of approximately 6-10 inches, small ground mammals such as voles, moles, ground mice and chipmunks will no longer be seen moving about on top of the snow. Tunnels will be established for the purpose of foraging in the relatively warm space directly above the ground and some of these small mammal species will nest and reproduce. In general, this overwintering strategy results in very little overall mortality among subnivean populations, but the smallest irregularities in weather can affect their insulated, snowy lair in potentially lethal ways.

Paradoxically, the deepest parts of winter may be the safest for mammals living underneath the snow. These are the times when dramatic changes within the snowpack are typically few and far between. It is during the snowpack's formation in late Autumn, and destruction in Spring, that the worst dangers are present. If the ideal snow depth of 6-10 inches (called the hiemal threshold) is not reached before extremely cold temperatures occur, then exposed plants and ground mammals may experience a high-mortality event. The dangers do not end here; when the snowpack finally does form, rain or thawing can cause water to percolate deeper into the snow, where it has the potential to refreeze and create "ice lenses." These impenetrable barriers may cut off an animal's subnivean nest from its foraging source. And if all goes well for the mammal throughout the winter, they must still survive spring flooding, when the snowpack begins to melt and percolating water soaks subnivean nests. Newborn ground mammals can experience severe hypthermia in this situation, just like a soaked hiker high on the Presidential ridge! Gore-Tex suits for voles and mice are unfortunately not being considered for production at this time.

This winter may have its unsatisfying moments, but abnormal rains and low snowfall may be downright dangerous to our subnivean friends. Keep performing your daily ritual snow-dance and let's hope that February and March bring the New Hampshire winter that we all know and love!

- Robert Rives, Pinkham Notch Winter Naturalist Guide
Photo Credit: AMC Photo File

Snow is Here! An Introduction to the Subnivean Zone

2012-01-13T12:22:00.007-05:00

Here in the ever-erratic White Mountains, the slopes are finally living up to their name! Snow has arrived and it looks like it's here to stay. Throughout our first month of winter, we have watched layers of snow, that should have been the beginnings of winter snowpack, disappear before our eyes. To celebrate this first true breath of winter, lets take an introductory look at a unique feature of forests in the northern latitudes: the subnivean environment.

The term "subnivean" refers to the area beneath a formed snowpack, and the term is sometimes inclusive of the intranivean environment as well (the area within the snowpack). The subnivean zone is an insulated environment that remains at relatively stable temperatures of approximately 0 degrees Celsius, despite large shifts in ambient temperature above the snowpack. An area of relative hospitality, subnivean environments are one of the only places that small overwintering organisms can survive.

The phenomenon of subnivean microclimate is caused by a specific set of snow metamorphisms, or changes in the nature of the snowpack as it forms over the course of winter. In late Autumn, destructive metamorphism takes place - this is the initial snowfall that builds, forms the first ice crystals, and remains throughout the winter. As winter deepens, a temperature gradient in this forming snow layer causes water vapor to rise to the surface, resulting in a denser upper portion and a less dense area of "depth hoar" ice beneath. This process of constructive metamorphism allows for the first movements of small ground mammals beneath the snow surface. Finally, the snowpack reaches maximum strength and insulating ability during melt metamorphism, when freeze-thaw cycles further solidify ice structure.

Many organisms overwinter in this layer directly above the ground, including several species of insects, fungi, mammals and even plants. Life in the subnivean environment is so unique that entirely new food webs have been proposed to accompany the changing relationships and increasing energetic needs of subnivean organisms. In the coming weeks, as our snowpack here in Pinkham Notch builds higher, we will be taking a closer look at the fascinating microclimate of the subnivean zone and at a few specific species that exemplify winter hardiness. Come back soon for more!

- Robert Rives, Pinkham Notch Winter Naturalist Guide
Photo Credits: Eric Pederson; AMC Photo File

The Evergreen Advantage

2011-12-30T14:46:00.009-05:00

One is an icon of the holiday season. Another releases a sticky sap that was used to make America's first chewing gum. Still another spreads majestically throughout the Appalachian mountains as far south as Alabama, and due to its common name, is sometimes confused with a classical poison. These "usual suspects" of our winter landscape here in the White Mountains (Balsam fir, red spruce and eastern hemlock, respectively) are all tree species that are members of a fascinating plant group: the evergreen conifers. Among many other defining characteristics, these trees are easily identified by green to dark-green needles protruding from slender branches that are not dropped in winter. Because of this, evergreen conifers are the poster children for a northern New Hampshire forest; when you conjure up an image in your mind of the north woods in winter, what do you see?

What is most fascinating about trees such as the Balsam fir and red spruce is simply their puzzling presence in the winter landscape. What makes these trees so hardy? And why on earth would they keep their leaves in winter, when it is almost always too cold to photosynthesize? And wait....why are they not covered in several inches of snow following a storm?

The answers to these questions can be found in a wide array of peculiar and subtle adaptions of the evergreen conifers. Remember those slender, flexible branches to which the needles are attached? When a significant weight of snow builds on top of them, they will eventually bend downward enough to shed nearly all of the snow! This adaptation helps to reduce snow and ice damage to the branches through a rough winter. Another crucial adaptation of these trees to winter survival is their expansive growth range; evergreen conifers can live and thrive in very nutrient-poor soils, such as those on the higher slopes of the Presidentials.

Ultimately, their most important adaptation of all, and the explanation for retaining their needles, comes down to a basic lesson in plant economics. During an average winter in New Hampshire, the temperatures stay well below those needed for effective photosynthesis. Because of this, the tree must use stored energy to keep the needles alive, even though they are producing nothing! It seems like a recipe for disaster, right? The true evergreen advantage comes in the late fall and early spring: after deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, and before deciduous trees have had time to develop new leaves, the evergreen conifers will have already been photosynthesizing for quite a while. And after a few years, the amount of extra energy created in those late fall and early spring times will balance out and exceed the energy lost during the winter.

So while you are outside this winter, enjoying all that it has to offer, take a moment to stop at one of these fascinating evergreen specimens and appreciate it for it's genius. The great north woods would be quite barren without them!

- R. Rives, AMC Pinkham Notch Winter Naturalist
Photo credits: AMC Photo File; Mount Washington Observatory Photo Journal (J. Gemmiti)

A Long Nap

2011-11-16T13:23:00.004-05:00

When considering winter survival, the American Black Bear is commonly used as an example of hibernation, when in fact their winter rest is simply a long nap. True hibernators, such as bats, are able to drop their body temperature down to near freezing (or ambient temperature) and slow their heart rate for reduced metabolic costs. A bat’s body temperature drops to 32^oF and heart rate drops from 210 beats per minute to 8 beats per minute. Shivering is the only mechanism that stands between survival and freezing to death. Another true hibernator, the jumping mouse is able to raise its body temperature every several weeks to prevent the cells from rupturing, and then resume torpor. Chipmunks spend nights or several days in torpor, waking in between to eat food reserves. This mechanism unfortunately uses up most of their fat reserves as they raise their heart rate from 4 beats per minute to 350 beats per minute when “waking up”.

What separates black bears from the mammals presented above is the surface area to volume ratio. A bear’s low surface area to volume ratio makes it challenging to drop body temperature, whereas smaller animals are able to dissipate the heat. Its body temperature drops only 10^oF, from 100^oF to 90^oF, and heart rate drops from 50 beats per minute to 8 beats per minute. The black bear’s sleep is not deep, and they are easily aroused throughout the winter. They tend not to consume food, nor relieve themselves of waste; however, females do give birth to 2-3 young in January every other year, and will produce milk throughout the remainder of the winter using their fat reserves.

To prepare for this season, black bears double their weight in the fall season by gorging themselves on berries, seeds, and nuts. A good mast year tends to bode well for the bears, as it not only provides sufficient fat reserves, but also makes for a shorter nap season. The bears den later in the season if food sources are available. This year marked an excellent mast year, so one can expect the bears to be active into December.

To follow bear den webcams throughout the winter season go to http://www.bear.org/website/ and click on the live cameras link. Several bear dens are monitored each year and it is an incredible resource for learning about bear winter survival!

-H. Cowan

AMC Naturalist Guide

Winter Camouflage

2011-11-02T11:29:00.005-04:00

As the end of October approached, people of all ages donned outfits to change their appearance for the evening. Halloween is one of the few holidays that allow individuals to embrace their creative and unusual sides. For humans, the chance to change appearance is celebrated, for some forest critters this change is crucial for survival. As the fall temperatures drop, the ermine (mustela erminea) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) summer coats are shed for a snowy white fur. Shortened daylight hours and lower temperatures trigger the pineal gland and a hormonal response in these animals. This results in the production of altered biochromes. These biochromes are found either at the surface of the skin or in deeper level cells, where they are considered chromatopores (pigment-containing and light reflecting cells). Mammals have only one kind of chromatopore, the melanocyte. You may recognize these cells as melanin. As hair is dead tissue, the brown summer fur must be shed to grow the white winter coat. Although the colored coat provides camouflage in the summer and early fall months, its color is stark against a wintery landscape.

The ermine coat is almost entirely white in the winter season with the exception of a black tipped tail. In the middle ages, the ermine’s white coat was popular in clothing, and was commonly seen lining the King’s robes. Today, the ermine coat is rarely used and its population is neither threatened nor endangered.

The snowshoe hare’s light brown coat is also shed for long white guard hairs, starting with the ears and feet. This transformation takes roughly 10 weeks to become entirely white. They depend on their cryptic coloration to hide from predators that include lynx, coyotes, foxes, wolves, pine martens and birds of prey. In summer, they shed white for mostly rusty brown coats to blend with trees and soil. Recent climate changes result in fewer days with snow on the ground. This means that white hares are hiding in a brown forest. A hare that is the wrong color stands out like a King in his new clothes.

As the seasons are changing, keep an eye out for the white ermine and snowshoe hare. They are easiest to spot on bare ground, but will soon blend in with the white landscape.

H. Cowan AMC Naturalist Guide

Mountain Ash Tree v. Moose

2011-10-06T14:24:00.009-04:00

The entrance to the Joe Dodge Lodge is decorated with a variety of native plants from high bush blueberries to Balsam Fir. One of the more outstanding flora is the mountain ash tree (Sorbus americana) that is now stripped of all leaves and berries. A once flourishing and beautiful icon of the garden, the mountain ash became a moose’s (Alces alces) breakfast. Noticed first in August, and slowly stripped of all vegetation throughout September, the October stage of this ash tree is quite depressing.

Moose (Algonquin for “eater of twigs”) lack upper incisors, so they tear rather than snip the bark, leaves, and twigs off trees. Their skull contains 32 teeth consisting of 12 ridged molars, 12 premolars, 6 incisors, and 2 canines. Weighing anywhere from 800 to 1200 lbs, a moose can consume 40 to 60 lbs of vegetation a day. This is the equivalent to a 150lb human eating 7.5 lbs of salad a day! To fully absorb nutrients, moose have four-chambered stomachs coupled with regurgitation and the chewing of cud to break down cellulose. A moose may chew its cud up to 8 hours a day! In preparation for winter, they increase their body weight by as much as 25%. As they do not hibernate, moose spend the winter in quiet solitude, stripping the bark and twigs off of trees and eating conifer needles. As this does not provide as much nutrition as leaves and aquatic vegetation, the winter is a time of rest and hunger.

If you come upon a moose this fall, observe from a distance. Moose are going into the rut, or mating, season and the males tend to be irritable as they attempt to win the affections of a lady!

-H. Cowan
AMC Naturalist Guide

Credit: S. Kennedy

Mast Year

2011-09-29T13:52:00.015-04:00

As the days get cooler and frost is in the air, the colorful flora display is spectacular with the changing leaves and abundance of berries, nuts, and seeds. On a hike in the White Mountains, your eyes will be drawn to the mountain ash, hobblebush, bunchberries, blue beaded lilies, and cones that litter the forest floor. This year marks an abundant mast year for many local plants, with a wealth of berries, nuts, and seeds. Mast year is most easily defined by the amount of nuts, seeds, and fruit that a woody plant provides for the local wildlife. The high levels of fat and protein in fall mast contributes to fat stores necessary for migration, hibernation, and survival of the independent young.

Bunchberries

If you have hiked into the boreal forest zone at 3500ft I am sure that you noticed the balsam fir and red spruce cones. Balsam fir is the preferred food for spruce grouse and browsing for deer and moose. The red spruce provides seeds for red squirrels and makes up 25-50% of the white-winged crossbills diet. Mountain Ash, which is found in both the Northern Hardwood forest and in the Boreal forests provides fruit for ruffed grouse, jays, American robin, thrushes, waxwings, red squirrels, and rodents.

Mountain Ash

There are over 120 trees and shrubs in New Hampshire that produce mast used by wildlife. Masting is a natural cycle that produces low or moderate crops most years and an abundant crop once every two to five years. Several factors determine whether the season will allow for a large mast: weather, genetics, tree dominance, and mast predators. To maximize mast production of trees, they must be allowed to attain optimum age and diameter required. For example, the optimum age for beech trees is >60 years with 14” dbh (diameter breast height), >50 years with 14” dbh for ash and maples, and 30-100 years with 10” dbh for cherry trees. Hard mast producing trees with mast available to wildlife currently include: beech, oak, sugar maple, mountain ash, cherry, pine, oak, hemlock, fir, and cedar. Shrubs with mast available to wildlife currently include: june-berry, mountain holly, hobblebush, high-bush cranberry, blueberry, raspberry, elderberry, twisted stalk, bilberries, and bunchberry.

Twisted Stalk

Some of the species discussed in this blog are part of our Mountain Watch Program and can be followed on http://www.outdoors.org/conservation/mountainwatch/mtplant.cfm.

-H. Cowan
AMC Naturalist Guide

Flowering Ravines

2011-08-14T08:31:00.020-04:00

June is typically thought of as the peak blooming period for alpine flowers here in the White Mountains. While it is true that you won't find diapensia or alpine azalea in bloom past June, the mountainsides are far from barren at the end of the summer. On a hike up Huntington Ravine yesterday I was delighted to find a garden of later blooming alpine flowers nestled along the banks of alpine streams. Yellows, purples, and whites decorate the ravines above treeline. Here is a guide to what is still blooming on the slopes of Mount Washington... so grab your pack, lace up the boots, and enjoy the last few weeks of summer up in the mountains!

Arnica (Arnica lanceolata) Widely distributed across the United States and Canada, arnica is found predominately in alpine ravines. Its leaves and stem are hairy and the leaves are variable.

Mountain aster (Aster crenifolius) Mountain aster is found in moist alpine and subalpine areas. The high peaks of New England represent the southern most range for this flower. It is more commonly found north to Labrador. The stem and leaves are hairy and narrow leafy bracts surround the flower head.

Harebell or blueb ell (Campanula rotundifolia) Found on my hike growing alongside the Alpine Garden trail, harebells grow in the alpine zone and at lower elevations. Their range extends northward

to Newfoundland, and they are also found in Asia and in the Alps. The nodding bell shaped flower is supported by a thin stem. Round leaves are found at the base of the plant.

Alpine willow-herb (Epilobium hornemanii) The alpine willow herb is trully an artic plant. Its range extends north to artic North America and Eurasia. It is found in alpine ravines and streamsides. It is identified by its small pink flowers, long seedpods, and opposite toothed leaves.

Northern meadowsweet (Spiraea latifolia) Northern meadowsweet is a shrub found at all mountain elevations, and its range extends south to Virginia and north to Labrador. The alpine variety boasts a shorter and more compact flower head, and is found in ravines and meadows. It is a member of the rose family.

Amanda Close

AMC Naturalist

Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

2011-08-06T10:31:00.012-04:00

One of my favorite evening activities involves a short hike to square ledge to stretch out the stiff muscles. From this vantage point I can see all of Mount Washington and watch the bustle of the Visitor’s Center below. Leaning back, I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of nature. The White Mountains play host to a multitude of boisterous species, from the spring peepers to howling coyotes. However, one of my favorite sounds is the song of a winter wren. Winter wrens produce 16 notes per second, that number increasing to 36 notes per second out west! If you have ever encountered a rooster’s cockadoodledoo, you are still unprepared for the power behind this wren’s song. Per unit weight, a winter wren produces 10 times more power than a rooster. Not only can this bird sing loudly and quickly, but its song is also quite long; usually lasting up to 10 seconds with a series of trills and harmonies.

Shockingly, this brown bird is quite small, weighing in at 0.3-0.4 ounces and 8-12cm in length. It has a thin, pointed bill and a short tail that is usually cocked upward. The winter wren is thought to have originated in the new world and colonized the old world via the Bering Strait. Today, the wren is found across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It has 35 subspecies which occur in higher densities within conifer forests. This bird feeds on invertebrates including insects, spiders, and millipedes.

The scientific name Troglodytes troglodytes was adopted from Troglodyte, meaning a person who dwells in caves. Although the winter wren’s scientific name suggests that it nests in caves, this bird actually nests in structures consisting of moss, bark, twigs, grass, and feathers. Some birds may use preexisting cavities, or build nests at the base of trees and in branches.

Next time you are hiking in the White Mountains take a moment to sit and listen to the sounds around you. If you are lucky you will hear the winter wren song and appreciate for yourself the beauty and power behind this tiny brown bird.

-H. Cowan
AMC Naturalist Guide

Red-backed salamander

2011-07-27T14:37:00.004-04:00

What’s Living Beneath the Forest Floor?

….Well a lot of things actually. Most of us don’t realize that under the dead and rotting logs and the accumulation of leaf litter there is an entire ecosytem hidden from view, yet teeming with life. Most of these creatures aren’t even as large as our little finger, and some are so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. One of the larger animals you can encounter under the fallen leaves in New England is the red-backed salamander (Plethodon cineveus). These cool creatures are amphibians and they are found in decidous forests throught the northeast of the United States and southern Canada, south to North Carolina and west to Missouri and Minnesota.

Unlike many other salamanders, which are born in and spend their larval stage in water, the red-backed salander is entirely terrestrial. They are born from eggs as a minature adult (no larval phase), mature in two years, and can live up to 25 years! In the wild this life span is unlikely because salamanders are preyed on by birds, small mammals, and snakes. If under stress from a predator the red-backed salamander has the ability to drop all or part of its tail in defense (the tail will later grow back). Salamanders occupy an important link in the foodchain, not only as a food source, but as a predator. Salamanders eat a variety of insects and other invertebrates.

Red-backed salamanders are commonly found throughout their range but are limited to moist areas. They lack lungs and therefor breathe through their skin, which must stay moist at all times. A dry salamander is a dead salamander if it cannot find water. Their porous skin make salamanders very susceptible to changes to their environment, most notably soil pH. This is especially a problem in areas most affected by acid rain, which decreases soil pH.

Log rolling and exploring the forest floor is a fun and educational acitivity for kids and adults alike. If you discover a salamander, please not not handle it if you have applied bug spray, sunscreen, or other chemicals since these toxins will leach into the salamander’s skin (the same is true for toads and frogs). Be gentle and return rolled logs to their oringal position- remember that it may be home to hundreds of little organisms. Happy explorations!

-A. Close

AMC Naturalist Guide

Black Racer Snake

2011-07-27T14:24:00.005-04:00

Life is bustling in Pinkham Notch as the warm summer days encourage even the most timid hikers out for extended treks. Moose are spotted on a daily basis in their roadside wallows, beavers are active in the pond across the road, and a red fox has adopted the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center’s roof as its new lookout. Despite these frequent wildlife sightings, one of the more interesting encounters this summer was the presence of a black racer snake in our wildflower garden. A threatened species, this snake is more commonly found in southern New Hampshire. The black racer was aptly named due to its satiny black skin and fast pace. They can grow to be 20-40cm long and have white markings under their chin. This snake is a diurnal (day) hunter, consuming small mammals, amphibians, insects, other snakes, and may even feed upon their young. Although not poisonous, this snake is known to rattle its tail (bluff) and may even strike when threatened or captured. Their habitat includes overgrown fields, pastures, rocky ledges, gardens, edges of wetlands, and woodlands. In the image below, a black racer is consuming an American Toad headfirst. A snake’s flexible jaw is connected to its skull by ligaments, allowing it to swallow its prey whole. It is hard not to feel bad for the toad.

-Hannah Cowan

AMC Naturalist Guide

John Darak photo credit

Trailside Treasure: Common Wood Sorrel

2011-07-08T14:33:00.005-04:00

If you have been hiking lately you may have noticed this small but very beautiful flower blooming along the trail. Common wood sorrel is found throughout New England, as well as westward to Minnesota and throughout the Appalachian Mountains south to North Carolina and Tennessee. The small flower is found in both hardwood and spruce-fir forests. It can be identified by its clover-like three-lobed compound leaves found at the base of the plant and the solitary white and pink five-petaled flower which is supported by a leafless stalk less than 4 inches tall. Wood sorrel has been eaten and used medicinally by humans for thousands of years. Native Americans used to use the leaves to relieve nausea, fever, mouth and throat sores and other ailments. Today wood sorrel is still used in recipes from salads to omelets. Its slightly sour taste, caused by the presence of oxalic acid, makes the plant toxic if eaten in large doses. Wood sorrel will be in bloom into August so if you missed it on your last hike keep an eye out for these small flowers along the trail. However, if you experience a craving for a wood sorrel salad please keep in mind the Leave No Trace principles of leaving only footprints and taking only photos. Happy Hiking!

Flowers Blooming on High

2011-06-17T15:02:00.010-04:00

Wondering what’s in bloom in the high peaks of New Hampshire? Here are some field reports by AMC Naturalists from their hikes in the past week (June 10th-17th) of what alpine plants are in flower.

The Alpine Garden
on the eastern flank of Mount Washington

alpine azalea (mostly past)
Diapensia (mostly past)
alpine bluets
Alpine bilberry (lots of it in flower!)
Labrador tea (just starting)
Mountain avens
Bigelow's sedge
Bearberry willow

Near Lakes of the Clouds Hut
in the northern Presidentials

On Franconia Ridge
a 5 mile stretch from Mount Lafayette to Mount Flume

Alpine plants can survive at high elevation in the Northeast mountains because of our unique weather. High winds and moisture laden clouds cause icing and mechanical breaking of trees and shrubs that try to grow too high. Blowing of snow off the soil also creates a tough winter environment for many plants. These factors benefit low growing alpine plants that thrive with no over story and little snow pack. Alpine plants have evolved many strategies to deal with exposed windy and cold environments. One example is the tight tussock formations of Diapensia, that have darkening leaf color in winter that captures more heat and dense growth that holds in more warmth. Learn more about what AMC scientists are learning about the unique alpine environments of the Northeast.

Stay up to date with our live flower map that includes staff flower reports plus those of citizen scientists who are helping us track flowering times on the trail.

Singing isn't just for the birds!

2011-05-30T09:14:00.008-04:00

I heard the first gray tree frog of the spring singing yesterday afternoon. Not everyone that hears this hearty, resonating trill will think it's as melodious as a warbler but it's definitely my favorite frog call.

The gray tree frog is one of two tree frogs found in our area, the other being the spring peeper. The gray tree frog is quite a bit larger than the peeper and very camouflaged. Adults are 2.5 inches long and rectangular, with surprisingly dry and warty-looking skin. They are mostly gray and have a white spot just below each eye. There is a brilliant, yellow-orange splash of color on the underside of their hind legs. As it's scientific name implies, Hyla versicolor they have the ability to camouflage themselves from gray to green, depending on the substrate they are sitting on. Like all treefrogs, they have large, rounded toe disks that enable them to climb

This frog spends most of it's time in the trees, coming down at night and to breed in the spring. Breeding season runs from April to August. Males will gather in trees and bushes next to breeding ponds and swamps and begin calling. The male will aggressively defend its territory from intruders. The female selects a mate based on its call. She lays her eggs on the surface of shallow water in ponds or swamps. She may also lay her eggs in standing water in tire ruts, vernal pools or roadside ditches. The eggs are attached to vegetation to keep them from floating away. The female lays as many as 2000 eggs in groups of 10-40. The tadpoles hatch in four or five days and will change into froglets in about two months.

A resting tree frog clenches its two front feet into fists and curls them beneath its chin, so the whole body is compact. The belief is that in this posture, the frog casts little or no shadow and its outline is completely obscured from foraging birds, snakes, or tree-climbing mammals.

This immature gray tree frog was found in the native plant garden at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. I was taking a picture of the closed gentian, what a great surprise to find the tree frog resting on the leaves.

What’s blooming in your neck of the woods?

2011-05-13T13:27:00.028-04:00

I always enjoy seeing the New Hampshire hardwood forests “bloom” with the first blush of color from flowering trees and tender new leaves that offer many hues of green. My 3-yr son decided the flowers that fell from our maple trees last week were spiders, with their gangly appearance, as he is always looking for the mobile critters in his nature walks.

Red maple flowers.
Photo by Louis-M Landry

Whether looking for crawling critters or plant life these sunny spring days of May, before the black flies peak, provides a great opportunity to stroll along the trails here in the White Mountains. The early woodland flowering plants can provide even more joy to these hikes, such as red trillium, hobblebush, and trout lily. Some are more inconspicuous but worth the time to scrunch down and take in their dainty flowers. One such low profile plant is the Canada mayflower, which has yet to bloom in my neck of the woods. This plant is one I have been tracking as part of AMC’s Mountain Watch program, a citizen science program where hikers can report what they see in flower along trails. I will confess to being one of AMC’s coordinator of Mountain Watch, but it is hard to call walking along the trails near Pinkham Notch looking at flowers work. Seems more of a perk than work!

You can help us with this kind of “work”. By veiwing our online tutorials or by attending a webinar this Weds May 18th at 7:30 pm (email us to sign up) you can learn more about the why AMC is tracking flowering and fruiting times of mountain plants and how to participate. Your observations, when entered into our online system, will let others know what is blooming in your neck of the woods through our flower map. This new flower map will be accessible to all and displays flower reports from the past week by volunteers and our summer staff. If you logged in as a registered volunteer you will have access to even more map features and plant observations.

Mountain Watch flower hunting can be a family activity or an in depth commitment if you choose to adopt a section of trail or a peak. We have family friendly materials on our web site that are design to introduce the younger kids to the wonders of flowering plants.

Help us mark the map this spring and summer by joining us in our plant observing along the trails.

Finding a "match" using a Canada mayflower picture

Georgia Murray, AMC Staff Scientist

Spring Arrives to the Notch

2011-04-29T14:41:00.002-04:00

Warm temperatures have filled our parking lot with cars and eager skiers and boarders- a sure sign of spring's arrival. The parade of skiers on the trail to Tuckerman Ravine isn't the only sign of spring, however. This morning, for the first I spotted a Red-winged Blackbird. Red-winged blackbirds are one of the first birds to return from their southerly overwintering locations.

The males, with their jet black bodies and flashy wings, are the first to arrive. The earlier they arrive the more time they have to find and claim a territory. Red-winged Blackbirds claim their turf using songs and displays. The most commonly known territorial display is called the Song Spread. The dominant male will spread its wings, revealing red patches and emit a metallic-sounding gurgle. (Birders, those super-patient people with binoculars, say it sounds a bit like male Red-winged Blackbirds are singing "Oak-a-lee".) Males are fiercely territorial during the breeding season, spending up to 25% of the daylight hours defending their claim.

Those showy feathers aren't what attract the much duller females to the males. Instead, the female Red-Winged Blackbirds select the best piece of real-estate and take the male that goes along with it. They look for a territory that will be relatively safe for nestlings as well as one with lots of food. Chances are the best territory has been staked out by the strongest, showiest male. Thus, the brightness of a male's wings is not directly related to how many females choose him, but it is related.

Keep an eye out for the bright red flash of a Red-winged Blackbird laying claim to the land. It's a sure sign that soon many birds will be returning to these summer breeding grounds, complementing "Oak-a-lee" with their own voices, and starting their own little families.

Boreal Winter by Mike Jones

2011-02-10T08:41:00.011-05:00

For my part - not that anyone asked - I only tolerate winter.

From November to March my mind races and whirs with variations on the following theme: little rivers, sloughing ice on spring mornings, bloodroot flowering white along the banks. There is such a profusion of life in the little streams of the White Mountains during this time that it is difficult for me not to feel buoyant, present, and calm.

That said: I’ve spent time in the White Mountains in winter, where life is stripped down to its basic boreal units: fir, spruce, birch, and ravens.

This morning, I woke up from my 225th night as the winter caretaker at Carter Notch, a windswept, gaping pass in the Wildcat-Carter-Moriah range where the AMC has operated a very dignified little hut since 1915. On stormy days, like today, it feels as though someone switched the color mode from RGB to grayscale. Pondering the chaotic mess of swirling snow it’s possible to forget that in a few months, the Carter Lakes will roil with breeding amphibians and the elder, mountain-ash, and raspberry around the hut will have gone to flower.

But on calm, quiet, winter days, there comes a bounding, snorting, chuffing reminder that the Notch in winter is an important, living, boreal environment: marten.

The American marten is a medium-sized mustelid (of the same ilk as the fisher and wolverine, both of which were beaten out of New Hampshire through over-trapping and habitat loss in the 19th century, as well as the various sables and marten of the Old World) distributed throughout the boreal zone of Canada and the U.S. In New England, marten once ranged into western and central Massachusetts, but they now reach south only as far as the southern White Mountains. Even this is an improvement over the first half of the last century, when they persisted in Maine but were extirpated, or extremely rare, elsewhere.

Over four winters I’ve been lucky enough to see marten or marten sign in just about every corner of Carter Notch, from the spine of the Wildcat Ridge to the ice-caves under the talus of Wildcat A, on the upper slopes of Carter Dome’s Rampart and on the alpine prow of Mount Height, and over in Zeta Pass and the Carter Ridge. In Carter Notch, as elsewhere on the White Mountain National Forest, it is possible to see marten in broad daylight, prowling through the forest around the various buildings. Some winters there seem to be more than in others.

There are at least four marten about the place this winter; I can tell them apart in my photographs by the shape of their yellow throat-patch and the various little scars on the face and ears (for example, one has suffered a severe injury to its right eye; others have distinct injuries to their ears).

When it’s warm enough to sit quietly on the bunkhouse porch, I sometimes see them as they wander from the Rampart toward the Lakes. Sometimes I hear them first, when they make a hesitant, purring growl from dense cover, and bob their heads for a better view as I walk by. Some are quick to stand on their hind legs for a better view and others seem to seldom do this. Each of them is probably familiar with the whole notch – typical marten’s range encompasses several square kilometers.

Whether or not the marten will recolonize central New England much beyond the White Mountains remains to be seen – its bulkier congener, the fisher, has (by some accounts) exceeded expectations in its efforts to recolonize the southern tier of its former range. Conversely its even larger relative, the wolverine, only haunts the very edges of northeastern America, reluctant to make any sort of comeback, even to the vast wilderness of Québec and Labrador. For the time being, the precautionary principle should continue to dictate our relationship with the pine marten: known populations in the White Mountains and Coos County should be given wide berth and treated with a degree of reverence.

Mike Jones is the winter caretaker at Carter Notch Hut, the executive director of Beyond Ktaadn, and a postdoc biologist at UMass Amherst.

Time Lapse Video: Fall to Early Winter Transition on Mount Washington

2010-10-28T16:07:00.008-04:00

Mount Washington from Square Ledge, Pinkham Notch, NH

This video was taken from October 2nd - October 28th using a plant camera. Despite the unseasonably warm weather we've had in the past few days, it is winter on the peaks, so plan and dress accordingly!

Carolyn Loeb, AMC Naturalist Guide

Curiosity about Bones

2010-10-24T11:58:00.009-04:00

Ever been curious about what type of animal a particular skull belongs to? A person can study a skull and its features to learn about the animal’s behavior, diet, habitat, and relation to other animals. Studying a skull to determine different things about the animal involves using one’s eyes, hands, and brain.

In the process of inferring information about an animal from the animal’s skull, one can understand the relationship between the skeletal structure and the animal’s environment. An animal’s environment influences how the animal develops based on the adaptations and structures that the animal requires to survive. Animals develop into three environmental categories of lifestyle: carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore. Two indicators of each of these lifestyles are the shape and arrangement of the teeth, and the structures of the jaw.

Animals have two jaws: the mandible (the movable, lower part of the jaw that is attached to the rest of the skull with muscles that help with chewing and strengthening of the jaw), and the maxilla (the upper, immovable part of the jaw that is fused to the main portion of the skull). The jaws provide stability and leverage for the teeth to hold, tear, and grind food. Jaw shape is a good indicator of the type of environmental lifestyle that an animal exhibits.

The jaws of a carnivore are designed to eat insects and animal flesh. Carnivores are adapted to catch prey using their speed, strength, and special appendages like claws used for hunting and killing. Carnivorous jaws have a curved mandible so that there is more strength at the front of the jaw for the incisors (front teeth) and canines to hold prey and tear flesh.

Try the “roll test” to determine if the skull is carnivorous: rest the skull on the mandible, on a flat surface. Place your hand flatly on the dome of the cranium and push the skull forward and backward in the plane of the nose. If the skull roles, it is most likely carnivorous. If it does not roll easily then it is the skull of an omnivore or an herbivore.

Carnivorous teeth are also specially adapted for chewing animal products. Carnivorous teeth have sharp points and serrated edges used for tearing and cutting flesh, because animal tissue is softer than plant tissue and tears more easily. The incisors are sharp and effective at cutting and piercing.

Animals that lack pointy teeth and curved jaws are built for eating other types of foods: plant material. These roughage-seeking animals are called herbivores, and they subsist mostly on plants. One of the herbivore’s major physical characteristics is the design of their teeth. Herbivores have flat molars and a typical absence of canine teeth and bicuspids. Three groups compose the category of herbivore, all of which possess special adaptations. The groups are rodents, ruminants, and perissodactyls.

Rodents, such as chipmunks, rats, and mice, wear a single pair of long, flat incisors in the mandible and maxilla.

Ruminants, such as cows and moose, have incisors on the mandible but not the maxilla. Their molars are flat and slant inward with ridges on the grinding surfaces. The final group belongs to the perissodactyls, which include animals like horses. These animals boast wide, sharp-edged incisors on the mandible and maxilla, unlike the ruminants and rodents. Flat and ridged molars slant inward for better use of grinding plant material.

All of the herbivores have flat-bottomed jaws. The mandible tapers from wide near the ears, to narrow at the nose. This arrangement allows for more strength to be exerted on the rear portions of the jaw, where herbivores are grinding plants. Some herbivores’ jaws, like those of the rodents, do not follow this model. Rodents’ mandibles are curved, which allows for increased strength in the incisors and molars, as rodents need to gnaw hard foods and then grind them.

The herbivores and carnivores compose the extremes of the animal kingdom with respect to environmental lifestyle categories. The animal group that resides in the middle belongs to the omnivores. Omnivores are a variable, blended group. They are designed to eat any kind of food depending on what is available: vegetation, animals, or left over meat from a recent kill. Omnivores can adapt their diet easily depending on the food that is available, which lends them a versatile skull. Tooth characteristics are a good indicator of an omnivorous animal because these animals share a lot of common skull features with their herbivorous and carnivorous counterparts, as they eat components of both types of diet. Omnivores have a well developed set of teeth: incisors, canines, bicuspids, and molars, on the mandible and maxilla.

Omnivore jaws also share characteristics of herbivorous and carnivorous mandibles. There are three shapes that omnivorous mandibles occupy: short and flat (for example, humans), long and flat or slightly curved (for examples, bears and pigs), and long and curved (for example, dogs and opossums).

The animal’s jaw structure and tooth arrangement can be used to distinguish animals in each environmental lifestyle category, and further research can be conducted about the specific diet and behaviors that the animal exhibits. For further information about an animal and its classification, one can also study other skull structures, like the nasal cavity, the orbits or eye sockets, and the cranium, which is the dome portion of the skull that protects and secures the brain.

Animals are innovative, independent, unique, and widespread. Have fun appreciating their features and learning about relationships between animals by observing their skulls and bones!

Sources:

Searfoss, Glenn. Skulls and Bones. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 1995

White, R. S. Animal Skulls. A guide for Teachers, Naturalists, and Interpreters. Tucson: International Wildlife Museum, 2002.

Meaghan Murphy

AMC Naturalist

Up to Bat for Bats

2010-10-08T12:33:00.027-04:00

Why they need you rooting for them

For us, shortening daylight hours may make it harder to stay awake in the evening, but for bats, it foreshadows another kind of sleep: hibernation. And in the face of a long, cold winter ahead and the increasing threat of a deadly new disease, bats need you rooting for them more than ever.

New Hampshire’s Bats

New Hampshire is home to eight species of bats, six of whom are of conservation concern. They include the Eastern red bat (Lasionycteris borealis), Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), Tricolored bat (formerly the Eastern Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus subflavus), Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), Endangered small-footed bat (Myotis leibii), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus).

Little brown bats. Photo by Susi von Oettingen, USFWS

While the Hoary bat, Silver-haired bat and Eastern red bat are summer visitors who migrate south to overwinter in warmer states, the other five species are year-round residents.

Despite their small size, bats are remarkable. They belong to the order Chiroptera, the second

largest group of mammals after rodents, and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. To

the envy of many people, bats are the only mammals to obtain true flight. The tiniest bat ever recorded weighed 2.4 grams (making it the smallest mammal in the world), while some of its relatives amass over 1,000 grams- more than 400% larger! New Hampshire bats who make it through their first winter will often survive for 10 years or more, depending on the species, though individuals of over 30 years of age have been identified. Compare that to a mouse of similar size, who may survive for a year or two at most.

Endangered small footed bat. Photo by Susi von Oettingen, USFWS

The change in seasonal activity that New Hampshire’s bats experience may surprise you. In the spring, they leave their hibernacula and gorge themselves on insects while migrating up to 200 miles to summer roost sites. The New Hampshire bats roost in both dead and living trees in mature forests, waking at night to hunt. They use echolocation to trap their prey, and many individuals will eat half their body weight in insects each night, with pregnant females eating up to 100% of their weight. The amazing ability of individuals of different species to return to the same roost sites year after year makes it especially important that we avoid logging or habitat alteration in these locations. The summer is also an important time for birthing: pregnant females are usually colonial, while males and females who are not pregnant will roost singly. Bats have a low reproductive rate, with females giving birth to between one and three pups per year. Long life spans and low reproductive rates indicate that bats will not rebound quickly if something threatens their numbers.

In late August and September, bats gather in large groups at hibernacula across the country to breed and to commence their long winter nap. While some bats may make use of human habitations, most hibernacula are located in mines and caves characterized by high humidity, constant temperatures and low levels of disturbance. During hibernation, bats generally huddle together to conserve heat. Their body temperature plummets from an average of 100°F to an icy 32°F. Bats heart rates also slow from a galloping 210 beats per minute to around 8 beats per minute. Any attempt to reduce human temperature and heart rate by even a quarter of those ratios observed in bats would quickly kill us.

White Nose Syndrome: A New and Deadly Threat

Our furry friends are already snug in their winter hibernacula by the beginning of October. So why should you be concerned?

In 2006 in New York, scientists identified a deadly new disease among hibernating cave and mine bats that they nicknamed “White Nose Syndrome” (WNS) for the strange white markings it produces around the noses of some infected individuals. As of 2010, WNS has spread to nine northeast and mid-Atlantic states, with cases suspected as far west as Oklahoma. And the numbers are shocking. Over a million bats have already died of WNS, and the death toll is expected to continue to rise. In some hibernacula, the death rate has sometimes been as high as 90-100% of all individuals.

Little brown bat with WNS. Photo by Susi von Oettingen, USFWS

Researchers are still piecing together a preliminary understanding of what White Nose Syndrome is and how it may work. The fungal infection observed on sick individual has been identified as Geomyces destructans, a new species of the Geomyces genus, a commonly found group of fungus that has soil associations and grows best around 40°F: typical hibernacula temperatures. While biologists are unsure as to whether the fungus itself is the culprit or there may be a third party in the large numbers of deaths, it is believed that Geomyces destructans invades skin to create ulcers and alters typical hibernation patterns. Some scientists hypothesize that the fungus is extremely itchy, arousing bats and causing them to burn critical energy reserves.

Not all infected bats have the classic white markings of White Nose Syndrome; and because most bats groom themselves when awake, it is rarely visible on active individuals. Signs of WNS include visible fungal infection, abnormal arousal, moving to hibernacula areas with cooler temperatures, and flying or visibility outside of caves during the winter months when insects are absent and bats should be hibernating. All dead bats show very low percentages or no body fat: essentially they have woken up too early and have starved to death. Scientists believe that transmission of the fungus occurs bat-to-bat and surface-to-bat. Thus, the fungus infects new caves if it is transported in on clothing, gear, or infected bats.

Why You Should Care

What would our world be like without bats?

That’s a question that biologists are now seriously asking themselves.

As White Nose Syndrome spreads further every year, scientists are becoming increasingly worried about the possibility of losing whole bat species. The little brown bat, previously the most numerous bat in the Northeast, has been hardest hit. The Indiana bat, a federally endangered species, has also been identified as having contracted the disease. The tri-colored, northern long-eared, big brown, and small-footed bats have been affected. As WNS spreads, it is predicted that the cave myotis and endangered Virginia big-eared and gray bats will also experience mortalities. Over 100 partners are working on the White Nose Syndrome mystery, and biologists are holding their breath.

Eastern red bat with WNS. Photo by Susi von Oettingen, USFWS

The New Hampshire bats are voracious insectivores. We have reason to say thank you to them, for without our bats it is likely that an abundance of pests would chew through our forests, fields, and make themselves increasingly comfortable in our homes and gardens. And bats across the world are important seed dispersers, pollinators, prey, as well as major predators of insects. Scientists don’t have a complete understanding of the ecological role that bats play, or the chain of consequences they would set off if they were to disappear.

How You Can Help

In order to better gauge populations, researchers are continuing to tag bats across the country. Click here to count bats for conservation.

Help researchers keep track of WNS. Report any abnormal (winter) bat sightings in the state of New Hampshire by clicking here.

If you have bats on your property, please give them a better chance of survival and allow them to stay put. For information for homeowners on how to deal with bats, please click here.

If you are a caver or spelunker, please respect cave closings. When visiting caves, please do not disturb bats, and disinfect or change gear or clothing that you have worn in other caves. Scientists suspect that cavers are responsible for some of the observed transmission of the fungus between caves.

Interested in learning more about the natural history of the White Mountains? Join a Naturalist Guide at the AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center for a guided walk or hike! You can also call (603) 466-2721 for program times and details. Have a natural history question that you would like answered in this blog? Send an e-mail to amcpnvcnat@outdoors.org

Carolyn Loeb

AMC Naturalist Guide

Sources for this blog:

Reynolds, S. Batting 4,000: Researchers work in barns and belfries to bring bat science into the light. Wildlife Journal. September/October 2007. Online at http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/Nongame_PDFs/Batting_4000_SReynolds_NHWJ.pdf
“White Nose Syndrome Significantly Affecting N.H. Bats” http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/granite_state_stuff/archive/2010/04/12/White-Nose-Syndrome-Significantly-Affecting-N.H.-Bats.aspx. Accessed 19 September, 2010.
“Bats of New Hampshire.” http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/bats.html . New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Accessed 19 September, 2010.
“White Nose Syndrome: A New Threat to New Hampshire’s Bats.” New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/bats/wns.html. Accessed 20 September, 2010.
“For Cavers.” New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/cavers.html Accessed 19 September, 2010.
Science Magazine Podcast Transcript. ScienceNOW. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/data/329/5992/697-b/DC1/1 Accessed 19 September, 2010.
“Investigating White Nose Syndrome in Bats” US Geological Survey. July 2009. http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/pdfs/2009-3058_investigating_wns.pdf Accessed 19 September, 2010.
“The white-nose syndrome mystery: Something is killing our bats” United States Fish & Wildlife Service. May 2010. Online at http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/pdf/White-nose_mystery.pdf Accessed 19 September, 2010.
Orff, E. “New Hampshire’s Hibernators.” http://www.nhfishandwildlife.com/seven.php Accessed 19 September, 2010.
“Species Profiles:” Lasionycteris borealis, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Myotis septentrionalis, Pipistrellus subflavus, Lasiurus cinereus, Myotis leibii.” New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan. Available online at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/bats.html Accessed 24 September, 2010.

Photographs: All photographs courtesy of Susi von Oettingen, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Fall Foliage Update 10/8

2010-10-08T10:46:00.018-04:00

A few rainy days and gusty winds at Pinkham Notch have started to blow down leaves, but fantastic fall colors are still on display.

Also in the news, last night (10/7), Mount Washington got 0.8 inches of snow!

Pictures taken on 10/8 next to Route 16, on the Square Ledge trail, and from Ladies' Lookout.

Photos: Carolyn Loeb, AMC Naturalist

Peak Foliage is Here!

2010-10-02T15:22:00.038-04:00

Peak fall foliage is happening now!
Photos taken October 2nd

The swamp across from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, next to Route 16

On the Square Ledge Trail

On top of Square Ledge

Photos: Carolyn Loeb, AMC Naturalist

Heading towards peak foliage in Pinkham Notch!

2010-10-01T09:22:00.015-04:00

This photo was taken from the wooden bridge as you walk through the beaver swamp across the street from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.

Hobble Bush and Maple leaves and on the trail, respectively

Views from the top of Square Ledge. Excuse the fog.

Spotted Salamander caught crossing the Square Ledge Trail.

Photos taken midday on September 28th. Enjoy the colors!

Meaghan Murphy
AMC Naturalist

Furry Alpine Friend

2010-09-24T14:29:00.004-04:00

During a recent visit to the alpine garden trail where at this time of year the Bigelow Sedge, Deer Hair Sedge, and Three Forked Rush are golden and gleaming in the sun, a furry caterpillar was spotted on the trail.

Caterpillars are intriguing because they are beautiful and bear no resemblance to their airborne counterparts. They undergo a traumatic and exquisite change during their life cycle that transforms them from a terrestrial insect to one that can fly.

The life cycle of a moth or butterfly is intricate. All true butterflies and moths undergo a process called metamorphosis, which is a grand transformation through four phases from an egg to an adult. The egg is laid by an adult on or near a substrate that the caterpillar feeds on. The egg phase lasts from six to fourteen days depending on the species of moth or butterfly, and whether or not the eggs are over-wintering. When the eggs hatch, larvae called caterpillars emerge.

The caterpillar is the growth stage of this insect, during which the caterpillar functions as an eating machine. In some species the caterpillar increases its body mass by 1000 times! With this change in size the caterpillar must molt, or shed, its skin to accommodate itself. The larva usually molts from five to six times. The larval stage between each molt is called an instar. After the final molt the instar begins its journey into pupation by building a protective and fixed cell around itself. A butterfly larva builds a cell called a chrysalis that usually hangs off of a plant branch or another structure; a moth larva builds a cell called a cocoon that is wrapped in many fibers of silk and looks like a small, elliptical pillow, usually in leaf litter or soil.

Within the cocoon or chrysalis, a dramatic change transpires: the larva becomes a pupa which then rapidly transforms into an adult. Most of the larva’s tissues and organs are absorbed and rearranged into the adult body structure. In some species the pupal stage lasts for seven to fourteen days, while other species pupate for over a year. This is the case for the furry caterpillar that was seen in the Alpine Garden. The name of this caterpillar is the Great Tiger Moth Caterpiller (a threatening name for such a cuddly-looking fellow), Arctia caja. It is also referred to as a “woolly bear” caterpillar because of its soft, woolly looking body.

The Great Tiger woolly bear can be found moving on rocks or on its food source. Foods that this caterpillar enjoys munching are extensive, as the woolly bear is polyphagous, meaning that it eats a variety of foods. Such foods include alder, cherry, lilac, and willow leaves, although up in the alpine zone few of these woody plants exist.

This caterpillar is an arctic species, meaning that its habitat is arctic tundra, which is similar to the environment above treeline. This also means that tree line is the lower boundary of this moth and of several other moth and butterfly species found in alpine communities. If the climate grows warmer over time and the lower boundary of the alpine zone elevates, these arctic species will have no where to go and will perish.

If the Great Tiger Moth caterpillar is spotted during a hike on the alpine garden trail, observe the furry creature and handle it gently if you wish. Soon this caterpillar will find a cozy place underneath rocks, soil, or plants, where it will hibernate for the winter in the larval form. In May or June when the snow begins to melt, the caterpillar will exit its sanctuary, finish developing as a larva, and then build a cocoon for the transformation into adulthood. These caterpillars, just like other alpine animals and alpine plants, withstand trying conditions during their lives above treeline. Please be respectful of all plants and wildlife by hiking on the trail and handling them with care!

Meaghan Murphy
AMC Naturalist Guide

Sources:

Wagner, D.L. Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2005.

Bell, Allison and Slack, S.G. Field Guide to the New England Alpine Summits. Boston: Appalachian Mountain Club, 1995.

Bug Guide. Iowa State University Entomology. September 12, 2010 http://bugguide.net/node/view/26615.

Fall Foliage Update 9/23

2010-09-24T08:55:00.006-04:00

It's early fall in the White Mountains!

Photos taken September 23 on the Square Ledge trail

From Square Ledge near the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center

From the swamp next to Route 16 across the street from the Visitor Center

Check back for new fall foliage updates each week!

Photos: Carolyn Loeb, AMC Naturalist Guide

The Monarchs Are Here!

2010-09-09T09:20:00.012-04:00

Stepping outdoors to see Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) chewing their way through the leaves of swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in the Pinkham Notch Native Flower Garden at the end of July, I knew that late summer had arrived in the White Mountains.

As a child, I caught the fat caterpillars and watched them change into beautiful orange-and-black-winged beings. I must confess that I am still thrilled when I see these small, interesting creatures, and this year, like many others, I decided to capture a Monarch and watch it work the magic of metamorphosis.

The Monarch caterpillar I found arrived in the Pinkham Naturalist Office in late July in a large glass container filled with milkweed cuttings and a few well-place twigs. With a plant camera taking photos every hour during daylight, I have been able to capture its amazing transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to adult butterfly. Watch the time lapse video here.

1) Life as an egg

Photograph by John Owens

The Monarch I captured, like all Monarchs, began life as a tiny white egg the same size as the head of a pin. An adult female Monarch butterfly may deposit 400 to 600 eggs on milkweed leaves, which is the only food that the caterpillars will eat. The egg gradually turns from white to cream yellow to gray with a black dot when the larva is ready to emerge.

2) Larval Stage- Birth

Monarchs are born with a tiny green body and black head anywhere from 3-15 days after the egg is deposited. The baby caterpillar, or hatchling, typically takes 1-3 hours to eat their way out of their egg casing, and then devours the casing as a source of food.

3) Larval Stage- Growth

Newly hatched caterpillars eat as much milkweed as possible- probably 20-30 leaves on average. Milkweed contains a toxic alkaloid that would kill most insects. However, Monarchs have adapted to ingesting the alkaloid and in fact become toxic to would-be predators.

Photograph by John Owens

As larva, Monarch caterpillars grow at different rates, depending mainly on temperature. All Monarch caterpillars, however, go through five different “instars” or molts, before they become a chrysalis. Each time, they will shed their exoskeleton (including the exterior of their head) to make room for their rapidly growing body. Their old skin quickly becomes a nutritious meal. Monarch caterpillars have 12 simple eyes to help them see.

4) Larval Stage- Behavioral changes

At this stage, I watched our Monarch caterpillar roam all over the glass tank, for once unmindful of tasty milkweed. The caterpillar is now about 3000 times heavier than at birth. After trying unsuccessfully to find a comfy spot on the ceiling, our caterpillar was content with a twig.

At this stage, Monarchs carefully weave a small white “button” on the twig that must support their weight as a chrysalis. This is an important job, and a caterpillar won’t begin to change until it is sure that its button is adequate. When the caterpillar is ready, it turns around and uses crochets, special hooks on its back legs, to hold on to the button.

Now the Monarch hangs upside down in a “J”.

6) Pupal Stage- Chrysalis

Big changes are taking place in the Monarch’s body. The caterpillar’s antennae shrivel up and their body shows a green tint near the head. The old skin then splits, and the newly formed yellow-green chrysalis is visible. The caterpillar must wriggle around in the chrysalis to remove their old skin. Simultaneously they must jab a black rod, called a cremaster, into the button before they shed their old legs. Otherwise, they could fall.

Once inside of the chrysalis, the Monarch is a pupa. Even in a new chrysalis, you can already see the formation of many parts such as the antenna, eyes, and legs of the butterfly-to-be. Six holes, called spiracles, allow the chrysalis to breathe.

A new chrysalis will take 15-20 hours to harden, until which it could be easily damaged even by a blade of grass. When the chrysalis is hard, the spots on the outside will turn golden.About two day before the adult Monarch is ready to emerge, the chrysalis turns from green to green-blue to gray-blue.
A few hours before rebirth, the orange and black of an adult Monarch is visible. Most Monarchs spend 10 to 14 days in their chrysalis before emerging. The Monarch we photographed spent 14 days in its chrysalis.

7) Adult Stage- Emergence

When the Monarch breaks free of its chrysalis, it has a short, fat body and small, crumpled wings. The proboscis, or tube used to sip a new diet of flower nectar, has also developed in two parts, and the butterfly must “zip” them together before leaving the chrysalis. Adult Monarch butterflies have compound eyes.Monarchs must pump fluid into their four wings and wait about 2 hours for the fluid to harden before their wings are suitable for flight. During this time, Monarchs must sit still, as any pressure on their wings could permanently deform them.

8) Adult Stage- Migration and Reproduction

When our Monarch hatches, I can determine that it is a male. Male Monarchs are identifiable by thinner wing-bands then their female counterparts, and they have two black dots (scent patches) in the middle of their lower wings.

Photograph by Margaret Nation

We set our Monarch free as soon as it’s wing were dry. Monarch butterflies are long distance travelers, completing a migration from Mexico to Canada in four generations. Most individual butterflies will live for only 2 to 6 weeks, during which they travel, mate and deposit their eggs. However, the last generation of individuals born in early to mid fall will survive for longer, saving up food that they store in their abdomens and flying hundreds of miles south to overwinter. There they will form dense clusters with other Monarch individuals to escape the worst of the cold and will remain relatively inactive for four to five months before breeding and perpetuating the migration.

I hope you’ll join me in welcoming the offspring of Monarchs in your gardens across the country. There are about 2,400 different types of milkweed that grow around the world, and some of them like the Common Milkweed, (Asclepias syriaca), grow in many places across the United States.

Interested in learning more about the natural history of the White Mountains? Join a Naturalist Guide at the AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center for a guided walk or hike! You can also call (603) 466-2721 for program times and details. Have a natural history question that you would like answered in this blog? Send an e-mail to amcpnvcnat@outdoors.org

C. Loeb
AMC Naturalist Guide

Sources for this blog:
1. My Monarch Journal by Connie Muther, 2000.
2. “Monarch”. Nature Works, New Hampshire Public Television http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/Monarch.htm
3. “Monarch (Danaus plexippus)”. Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2 June 2009. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/Monarchbutterfly/

Photographs:
1. AMC Photo Library
2. “Monarch Butterfly Egg” by John Owens, 28 June 2005. Wikipedia. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
3. “Caterpillar and egg” by John Owens. Wikipedia. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
4-15. C. Loeb, AMC Naturalist, Plant Camera
16. Margaret Nation, AMC Volunteer

The Bear Facts

2010-07-01T11:23:00.006-04:00

I took a stroll with a friend on the Lost Pond trail last week, excited to stretch my legs and make some new natural history discovery or other. We had gone all of 100 feet from the trailhead and were crossing a swamp bridge when my friend said “Whoa!” and stopped in her tracks.

“Something” had torn up half of the bridge! People? Moose? Beaver? Who would have wrecked such havoc, and why?

Much of one end of the bridge had been shredded horizontally. We identified claw marks along the top of the bridge and small puncture marks along a supporting beam. Looking more closely, we eventually found and pulled out a piece of grey-black hair.

What has five claws, sharp teeth, and grey-black hair? The “something” must have been a black bear!

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a relatively common but easily misunderstood North American mammal. From Smokey to horror movies to Yogi to teddy bears, we have identified bears with our worst fears and highest hopes.

It’s time to get the bare facts on black bears.

The truth is, most black bears would rather avoid people than socialize with us, and it’s not uncommon for a dog to tree a startled black bear. Black bears are omnivores by nature, eating nuts, acorns, fruits, insects, and greens, and occasionally supplementing this diet with meat where food is scarce. They are good climbers, runners, and swimmers with a keen sense of smell and sharp up-close vision, traits that come in handy for a life in the woods. Adults are solitary, and males and females only meet for a short time during mating season, which occurs from late May to July or August. Cubs are born in January or February and usually stay with their mother for about 19 months. During the winter months, bears curl up in their dens and take a prolonged nap, although they are not considered true hibernators.

How big is a black bear? Typically, an adult will measure from 4 to 7 feet long, with males being larger than females. At birth, cubs weigh only ½ to 1 pounds. However, an adult female usually weighs between 90 and 300 pounds, and an adult male may weigh from 125 to 500 pounds. The biggest wild black bear ever weighed, a male captured in North Carolina, was 880 pounds!

You may be surprised to learn that black bears don’t growl. If they do choose to make noise, they will often grunt. They may also clack their teeth and make loud blowing noises if afraid. Black bears have been described as having a resonant, human-like voice.

Perhaps the most common misconception about black bears is that they will attack people in defense of their cubs. While I would never advise getting between a bear (or any animal!) and their young, there have been no recorded black bear attacks on people in defense of cubs. The best thing you can do if you see a black bear is to make your presence known to the animal by yelling “Hey bear!”, clapping your hands together, and looking as imposing as possible. Don’t ever try to outrun or outclimb a black bear- I guarantee they’ll win.

So why would a black bear rip up our bridge? Black bears are highly aware of other black bears, and they commonly mark posts or trees in their territory by biting, scratching, and rubbing up against wood to leave their scent (and sometimes their fur). They may also leave nearby scat.

Most black bears are diurnal (active during the day), and thus we may encounter them from time to time. The individual that damaged our bridge was later sighted and appeared to be a juvenile making a statement: here I am!

Carolyn Loeb
AMC Naturalist Guide

Sources for this blog:

1. North American Bear Center (http://www.bear.org/)
2. Ulev, Elena. “Ursus americanus” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis)

Photographs:

1. “Bear Bridge” by Hazel Stark, AMC Naturalist at Cardigan Lodge

2. “Ursus americanus” from the Mount Washington Observatory at http://www.mountwashington.org/

Let the Bloom Begin!

2010-06-01T08:57:00.015-04:00

The AMC's Mountain Watch program turns hikers into "citizen Scientists." Hikers collect date on air quality and mountain weather and monitor species of forest and alpine plants.

Check out the video, taken by one of the new AMC Mountain Watch Plant Cameras. The video, taken on Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains shows a Diapensia lapponica mat melting out of snow, and finally blooming- pretty cool!

For more information or to get involved with AMC's Mountain Watch:
http://www.outdoors.org/conservation/mountainwatch/index.cfm

Why should you help?
Plants in cold limited ecosystems, such as alpine and other mountain environments, may act as sensitive bio indicators of climate change. Scientists are paying particular attention to alpine and arctic ecosystems around the world. Although alpine areas in the Northeast are rare, they are economically, socially and spiritually a distinct part of the Northeast mountains. AMC scientists will compile these data and produce a web-based database of the observations. As this collection of information grows, it will be analyzed for trends indicating climate change. The information will also be used for public education, to raise media attention, and advocate for appropriate environmental policy to address climate change.

Interested in learning more about the animals and plats in the White Mountains? Join a Naturalist Guide at the AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center for a guided walk or hike. Call ahead (603-466-2721) for program times and details. Have a natural history question that you would like answered? Send out an e-mail to amcpnvcnat@outdoors.org

Welcome Joe Dodge and Cardigan Lodge Naturalist Guides

2010-05-25T11:34:00.010-04:00

Spring is upon us and summer is right around the corner. Our 2010 naturalist guides will be arriving on June 7. We have many exciting programs planned at both AMC Destinations- join us!

Nicky Pizzo
Senior Naturalist/ Program Manager
I've been working with the AMC for ( oh my gosh!) 14 years! I've spanned many departments over the years and I've worked with hundreds of adults and children in all seasons. Currently I coordinate our free and premium programs based at the Joe Dodge Lodge and Pinkham Notch Visitor Center- from our popular Family Adventure Camps to our annual International Dinner and Adventure Series. When I'm not geeking out on plant identification I enjoy gardening, mountain biking, snowboarding but mostly following my daughter through the woods and seeing the world through her eyes.

I'm excited to introduce you to our summer naturalist guides based at Joe Dodge and Cardigan Lodges. We look forward to sharing the natural world with you.

Joe Dodge Lodge Naturalist Guides

Meaghan Murphy
My name is Meaghan and I am currently a senior at Stonehill College. I will be earning a degree in biology. I love spending time outdoors, and relating what I have learned in my biology studies to the environment and to human health. I really enjoy working for the AMC because I am able to promote things that are important to the environment and encourage people to use the outdoors wisely. My favorite things to do are run, bike, ski, and hike. Next fall I will be leaving for Africa with the Peace Corps to teach science to kids in the sub-Saharan region. I am very excited for this journey, and for the summer season to begin.

Carolyn Loeb

Hello! My name is Carolyn. I was born and raised in Maynard, MA, and have loved hiking and camping since a young age. I graduated from Macalester College in 2008 with a degree in Environmental Studies and a focus in Ecology, and since then have been exploring my passion (the environment) and traveling (a bit of) the world! Among other things, I have been a biology research assistant studying endangered mussels in MN, a park ranger and visitor use assistant in Acadia and Glacier National Parks, an Audubon camp counselor, and an English teaching assistant in French Guiana, South America. I am currently interning with a sustainable development organization in Hungary; however, I'll be back in June and look forward to meeting all of you then!

Cardigan Lodge Summer Naturalist Guides:

Hazel Stark

I am from the small town of Winterport, Maine where I spent my childhood exploring the streams, fields, and woods behind my house. I will be going into my senior year at College of the Atlantic in the fall, where I will receive a BA in Human Ecology. My interests include ethnobotany and herbal medicine (I spent last summer as an apprentice to an herbalist in England), knitting, basket-making, playing music, contradancing, and anything related to the outdoors. I love helping people realize the wonders of nature and I'm therefore thrilled to work as a Naturalist Guide for the AMC this summer!

Pat Mitchell

I am happy to be returning to New Hampshire where I have taught, raised my children, and got my degree in environmental education. Born and raised in the Boston area, I clearly remember my first trip to the White Mountains...camping at Dolly Copp and climbing into Tuckerman's Ravine...in the winter! When I moved to NH, I began my "career" as an environmental educator by cleaning animal cages at the Science Center of NH and returned for many summers as a naturalist/teacher. I've worked for a camp in the White Mountains for 12 years, taught first-graders in Ecuador for a year, did a stint as a deck -hand on a schooner in Maine, and spent this past winter with the Audubon Center in Brooklyn, NY. This will be my second season with the croo at Cardigan Lodge and I am looking forward to being back on the trails...exploring, learning, and sharing

Spring Skiing in the Pinkham Notch Area

2010-03-20T11:05:00.002-04:00

The last weekend in February brought much needed snow to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The Appalachian Mountain Club's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center got slammed with fresh snow- around 23" inches. This latest accumulation is attracting skiers and riders from all over the Northeast and Canada- at the Hermit Lake shelters (just below the base of Tuckerman Ravine), there is an estimated 71" of snow, with hundreds of inches in Tuckerman Ravine. Numerous backcountry ski trails around Pinkham Notch provide ample opportunity for wildlife viewing and tracking, an activity not always thought of when one ventures on skis into the Whites.

The Blanchard Ski Loop is a short but sweet trail that circles up behind the AMC Joe Dodge Lodge and Visitor Center Facilities. After adjoining the Tuckerman Ravine Trail for a short distance, the trail drops back to the east, sloping down to the Old Jackson Road Trail (OJR). OJR, which is part of the 2, 172 mile Appalachian Trail, is also designated a ski trail. There are a few options to take at the junction, but no matter what way is decided upon, moose sign abounds. Pay special attention to striped maples (Acer pensylvanicum) and mountain ash (which often bear marks on their trunks left by hungry moose. Using their lower, or bottom, incisors, moose scrape up along the surface of the tree, removing the bark and the cambium layer.

The tracks of red squirrels zig-zag everywhere, running back and forth in the snow between trees. Smaller than the gray squirrel, the red variety is abundant in the notch due to the large number of red spruce and balsam fir; they feast upon the seeds found in the cones produced by these evergreens. Listen for the chattering of these creatures overhead while cruising along the trail.

Other popular ski trails that are accessible from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center include the John Sherburne (referred to as the "Sherbie") Trail, the Square Ledge Ski Trail, the Avalanche Brook Ski Trail, Connie's Way and the Gulf of Slides. The Tuckerman Ravine Trailhead is also found here; thousands of people make the climb each spring season to the ravine; many believe that the most extreme skiing on the East Coast is found there. Make sure to check the daily avalanche advisory which is posted by the U.S. Forest Service's snow rangers. The picture to the right is a view of Mt. Washington from Wildcat Ski Area- Tuckerman Ravine is to the left of the summit.

Headed to Pinkham Notch for some spring skiing? Make sure you stop in the AMC's Visitor Center for last-minute trail updates and conditions as well as any supplies you may need (or that Tux sticker you want for your helmet). There is a $45 (plus NH state taxes) lodging and breakfast special starting March 28th which runs through May 27th 2010. Call AMC Reservations at 603-466-2727 for more information (ask about the "Tuckerman Ravine Spring Skiing Lodging Special").

Interested in learning more about the animals in the notch? Join a Naturalist Guide at the AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center for a guided snowshoe walk. Call ahead (603-466-2721) for program times and details. Have a natural history question that you would like answered? Send out an e-mail to amcpnvcnat@outdoors.org.

Happy Spring!
Kassie Fenn
AMC Naturalist Guide

**AMC file photos

A Winter's Worth of Sleep

2010-01-31T13:01:00.005-05:00

After experiencing a January thaw here in Pinkham Notch, the cold temperatures are back, and with a vengeance. Bundling up in extra layers, cranking the thermostat, loading up the wood stove, and spending more time indoors are ways many of us who live and work in the White Mountains adapt to sub-zero conditions. Animals that remain in the region for the colder months also adapt in various ways, and a few species even sleep or hibernate throughout the winter.

True hibernators are few and far between here in New Hampshire; they're limited to little brown bats, the woodland jumping mouse, and woodchucks (also know as groundhogs). These animals just don't sleep through the winter- they're able to decrease their metabolism rates so much that they're pretty much in a state of supsended animation (for all the science fiction fans out there). They're body temperatures drop precipitously, as do their heart and respiration rates. Many people have heard about the white-noe syndrome, a fungus that is devastating bat populations throughout the Northeast. First seen in New York State, it has since been tracked East through Vermont and into New Hampshire. This fungus draws bats out of hibernation early, when there aren't enough food resources for them. The bats then are forced to rely on stored fat, but due to the increase in their energy use/metabolism rates, the fat is quickly and detrimentally diminished.

If the above species are the only true hibernators in New Hampshire, what about all the other animals that we hear about sleeping through the winter?

Black bears (Ursus americanus), are well-known for their deep winter sleep. These omnivours mammals spend the months of autumn eating nuts and mast in the hopes of building up body fat to help nourish them throughout their winter rest and can often be roused from their slumber during periods of increased temperatures or thaw. Female bears give birth every other year in the month of January; the new mothers are able to nurse their young due to their increased body fat that they developed in autumn.

Another "super-sleeper" found in Pinkham Notch is the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus). Due to their inability to store enought body fat, this precocious member of the squirrel family is active periodically throughout the winter. During the fall, chipmunks can be seen and heard running throughout the forest floor collecting seeds and nuts to cache, or store, for the upcoming colder months. Burrowing through the ground, chipmunks create a network of tunnels where they store food and evade predation. They wake-up from their naps in order to eat.

Interested in learning more about the natural history of the White Mountains? Join a Naturalist Guide at the AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center for a guided snowshoe walk or hike. Call ahead (603) 466-2721 for program times and details. Have a natural history question that you would like answered in this blog? Send out an e-mail to amcpnvcnat@outdoors.org

Kassie Fenn
AMC Naturalist Guide

2010-01-15T10:42:00.007-05:00

Hello Everyone!
I’m Molly and for the past week I’ve been interning with the AMC Naturalists Guides at the Pinkham Notch Vistor Center; so far life as a Naturalist in the Notch has been wonderful! In addition to office work I’ve been able to get outside a fair amount and join Kassie (Naturalist Guide) on her snowshoe walks and weekend ski tours. I’ve learned about animal tracking, identifying trees, and the local history.

Aside from those activities I’ve also had the chance to attend the first two dinners in the AMC International Dinner Series. This year is the 20th anniversary of the International Dinners, and we’re off to a great start! So what exactly is the International Dinner Series; well, every Wednesday at the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center there is a dinner, served family style, followed by a speaker. The menu is planned and prepared by our own chefs and is carefully crafted to reflect food from the country of the night. The delicious four course meal is followed by a speaker who shares his or her experiences about the country. These presentations will spark your interest in travel and adventure and are a nice compliment to the dinner.

Last week’s International Dinner, which also happened to be the start date of my internship, featured Australian food followed by a presentation from the AMC’s own Bryan Wentzel who recently toured Australia’s East Coast. This weeek’s dinner and talk highlighted Tanzania. The food was great and included coconut bean soup and Zanzabari chicken. Jane Gibbons gave a very informative presentation where she walked us though her recent climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro and safari throughout Tanzania.

If you’re interested in attending one of these events the upcoming schedule is as follows:
January 27- Travels through Jordan, cuisine of Jordan
February 3- Hiking and other adventures on the Isle of Arran, cuisine of Scotland
February 10- Trekking in the high Japanese Alps, cuisine of Japan
February 24- A storyteller’s journey among the Kurds, cuisine of Turkey
March 3- Waterways of Russia, cuisine of Russia
March 10- Two weeks among the Incas in Peru, cuisine of Peru
March 17- Ireland: the countryside as seen from the saddle of a bicycle, cuisine of Ireland
March 24- A trek across the Anti-Atlas mountains, cuisine of Morocco
March 31- 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, cuisine of Czech Republic

Reservations are recommended since these events are quite popular. The AMC members price is $21 and $23 for non-AMC members, with children’s rates available. For more information visit AMC website at: http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/pnvc/intl-dinners.cfm or call 603-466-2727.

As extra incentive to join us for this series we have a mid-week special going on at the Joe Dodge Lodge. The special ($57 for members, $62 non-members) includes a day ski pass at Great Glen Trails, the four course International Dinner, after dinner presentation, a great night’s sleep in the lodge, and breakfast.

If that’s not enough we also have a free raffle at every International Dinner where we give away the latest edition of the White Mountain Guide and a one-year AMC membership.

We look forward to seeing you in the future!

California Dreaming

2009-10-29T13:18:00.005-04:00

All the leaves are brown
And the skies are gray
I went for a walk
On a winter’s day…
California dreaming

That’s how the song goes and I have to admit to a little California dreaming myself. The landscape has that steely gray feel to it where the dull hue of the trees almost matches the color of the clouds overhead. The passionate flury of fall activity has slipped into a monotonous wait for winter. Ok that is a little grim, but it does seem like a long wait for the white stuff.

I am not alone in my impatient desire for the snow. While trees have marched along to a state of dormancy to avoid this challenging season many birds and mammals are well adapted for cold temperatures and plenty of snow. Snow provides an insulating blanket so birds such as grouse can burrow in for a cozy night, other small mammals can maneuver their way around somewhat protected in the layer above the ground but beneath the snow. Snowshoe Hare use their huge paddle-like feet to float on the surface of the snow enabling them to reach food sources that were previously out of reach. And humans… we have all sorts of ways to get around on the snow; cross country skis, snowshoes, snowboards, downhill skis. Bring on the big flakes! Then maybe I’ll stop dreaming about California.

Photos taken from the Bemis Bridge in Hart's Location and Square Ledge in Pinkham Notch on 10/29/09 by Nancy Ritger

Fall Foliage Update 10/19/09

2009-10-21T08:06:00.002-04:00

October 19, 2009: View from Square Ledge in Pinkham Notch.
Fall Foliage Update 2009. Check in for weekly fall foliage updates from AMC Naturalists through October. We will post weekly photos from Pinkham Notch and across the AMC backcountry huts. Check back and follow fall across the White Mountains.