Trips: A Walk In An April Snow, 2012

My plans for Earth Day consisted mostly of a short hike in Shenandoah. I expected light rain and hoped to hike a couple of miles to some waterfalls. What I got was a rain that quickly turned into a steady blowing wet snow that painted spring's emerging leaves and woods in several inches of snow. Skyline Drive was closed and so I hiked. About 9 miles. Hours of quiet and only the gentle sound of flying snow in an empty woods. If doctors could create such conditions I think a lot more people could be healed. These 30 images are a little of what I saw and a lot of what I felt.

The first snowflakes of an unusually late April snow begin to fly.  
First Flakes

The first snowflakes of an unusually late April snow begin to fly. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
On the WInd

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Where Dogwoods Grow

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Surprise Catch

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Which Season

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Holding On

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Cold Arrival

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Foggy Dogwood

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

The early young green leaves seem to float in the the ethereal light of fog and snow in early spring.
Ethereal

The early young green leaves seem to float in the the ethereal light of fog and snow in early spring. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Sudden Change

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
The Edge of Spring

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Snowy Blanket

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Confusion

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Mid April?

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

This young evergreen bows under the weight of a heavy wet snow.
Bowed

This young evergreen bows under the weight of a heavy wet snow. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Down the Road

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

The maple at South River Overlook is splendid in all seasons, perhaps especially under a winter snow when Skyline Drive is closed...
Maple Majesty

The maple at South River Overlook is splendid in all seasons, perhaps especially under a winter snow when Skyline Drive is closed and it can only be seen after a substantial hike. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
As Few Can See

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Juxtaposition

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Spring's Emergence

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Sentinel

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Cliffside

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Somewhere

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
One Way

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Embrace

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Hope

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Around the Bend

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

Skyline Drive curves it way through the gathering snow on this early winter morning.
Going Somewhere

Skyline Drive curves it way through the gathering snow on this early winter morning. Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
An Old Apple Tree

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.

 
Concesion

Photo © copyright by Ed Fuhr.