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February 20, 1997 - Upstate: Where Winter Really ResidesJ February 20, 1997 • The Suffolk Times • 7A Upstate.z Where Winter Rea In last week's article on the ruffed rays backlighted the trees that had been legs and longish tail, kept moving rouse, I mentioned having gotten the magically transformed into a dazzling us. In he'd go, disappear and th idea of writing from an experience some time ago when Barbara and I were up at a friend's cabin in the Catskills. After I had written the article, the thought occurred to me, why not go back there while there is still snow on the ground? I mentioned it to Barbara and she said, "Sounds good to me," so within the hour we left instructions with the fam- ily to feed the animals and birds, collected food and clothing, and were off by 2 0 p.m. The five -hour ride up was uneventful save for the large numbers of state troopers tag- ging speeders as they headed _ home from skiing or snowmobiling in the mountains. What a way to end a vacation! We did make a stop at the famous Roscoe Diner just off Route 17, where we enjoyed some of their delicious broccoli soup and chili. From there on it was uphill all the way over Cat Hollow Mountain, then around the Pepactin Reservoir that supplies New York City with its water and finally onto a dirt road that became a single lane along- side the brook that took us to the cabin. Luck was with us, for the driveway had been plowed by a friendly neighbor so we could pull right up to the door. There was about six inches of snow still on the ground. We stepped out into a world of total silence — the air was crisp and still and above, through a clearing around the house, the bright stars of Orion's belt glis- tened down on us. Our footsteps crunched on the frozen snow as we emptied the car. Soon the lights were on in the cabin and a roaring fire crackled in the huge stone fireplace that rose 20 feet to the ceiling above. It was time to relax and then, after a bit of reading, off to bed. We woke to a dainty, almost slow - motion snowfall that on closer examina- tion proved to be dainty ice flakes or crys- tals. They were falling ever so lightly that they reminded me of looking into the depths of the ocean where a steady show- er of detritus filters down. Here our detri- tus was white and sparkling. Slowly as the sun rose over the mountain to the east, its array of spiny ice or hoarfrost. This phe- nomenon occurs when the moisture in the air crystallizes and everything it falls on becomes coated in glistening white. Not only was there already a blanket of snow on the ground, but now the trees were decked out in a fresh glitter, mak- ing it truly a winter us wonderland. And n all through this magic, the frozen Nature ice crystals kept filtering down. by Paul We ate a hearty Stoutenburgh breakfast of siz- zling bacon and eggs and were soon out to take in this fairyland of ice and snow. The temperature was 10 degrees. Our footsteps crunched in the snow as we walked down the driveway and across the little snow - covered bridge that crossed the brook below. Its friendly murmurings were muffled by the ice and snow that covered it. In some spots the liquid wanderings of the brook had broken through and revealed dark pools of moving water. Our outing was twofold: one to enjoy the spectacle before us, the other to get a jug of drinking water from the spring down the road. Halfway down to the water pipe that sticks out of the moss - covered bank, I spotted what looked like a big dark squirrel in the distance. We stood still in hopes it would move closer. Then my binoculars changed what I had thought was a squirrel into a dark brown mink. He undoubtedly was out on a forag- ing trek and working his way toward us along the edge of the frozen brook. First we'd see him, then we wouldn't. He'd find an opening in the snow and be gone. Then he'd reappear a short way up the brook and continue running along. We had not been noticed as yet and so our long- bodied friend, with his short Ity Resides toward en pop out again — this time right below us at the edge of the half- frozen brook. Barbara was busy trying to photograph him as I watched through my binoculars. I could see his whiskers and little round natural world in check and not becoming overpopulated. Found Out Then he discovered us and as fast as you could blink an eye, he disappeared into the cold black water below. He next appeared 50 feet upstream in a break in the snow. He was almost comical as his head popped out and he surveyed us with his big black eyes. He was safe and he knew it. Evidently our, mink could find his way under water, under the ice and even under the snow and use these tunnels for his Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenburgh FROZEN BROOK —In warmer times this brook in the Catskills would be flowing over moss - covered logs and rocks. In wintertime it's partly stilled by the icy temperatures that grip this mountainous region. ■ mat. ■ ..11— M. —s_ "OIL a UUUA aIMUn 75 Years Ago Feb. 17. 1922 Smith Property To Be Sold: Thirteen parcels of land at Shelter Island owned by Frank M. Smith of California, formerly known as "The Borax King," will be sold at sheriff sale Saturday, March 18, at 10 o'clock in front of the courthouse in Riverhead to satisfy a judgment of $101,481.60 §ecured by the Central National Bank of Oakland, Calif. Mr. Smith's fine country home is included in the sale. For many years Mr. Smith was the president of and owned a con- trolling interest in the famous "Twenty -One Mule Team" Borax Company, which he founded and in which he amassed millions. Mr. Smith has not spent much time at the Shelter Island estate in recent years. 50 Years Ago Feb. 21, 1947 Brief Bits of Local News: It looked like old times along the waterfront this week to see a fishing boat in with cod fish for sale. The trawler "Fishhawk," owned by Captain Rodman Pell, was moored at Preston's dock with a load of cod, which Captain Pell caught off Block Island. Business was so good that Captain Pell plans to bring in another load of cod for sale next week. ears that stood erect as if trying to detect any bit of information that would lead to a meal. Mink are notoriously ferocious hunters and often kill more than they can eat. This may sound alarming to some but because mink, like other members of the weasel family, have the ability to find their way into the dens of mice, voles and rats, they become an important part of keeping the 25 Years Ago Feb. 24, 1972 Police Move Into New Home: The new police department building is expected to be open the week of March 6, the Southold Town Board announced at its regular meeting Tuesday afternoon. But dedication of the California - style building won't take place until sometime in May "when it's warm enough for people to stand around watching a rib- bon- cutting," said Chief Carl Cataldo later. A feature of the building will be a closed- circuit TV for in- service training of policemen. This will allow officers to see police films in spare time without having to call in the entire force at special pay for a filming. Built into the building is a burglar alarm panel that will ring the police when tripped at one of the local businesses. Rained Out: Last Saturday Greenport Fire Department welcomed John Schmidt, star center of the New York Jets, as guest of honor for the annual George Washington's Birthday Parade, held in Greenport for the past 126 years. This year, for the first time in the memory of all but the old- timers, the parade was canceled due to the severe storm which lashed the North Fork, flooding many streets. The pre - parade party, for fire chiefs and officers of Greenport's five companies, their local guests and visiting dignitaries, went on despite the weather, as did the dance in the evening. long ago. escape. Mink are found almost everywhere there are rats, mice and voles, fish, frogs or anything that moves. We see them on occasion on our own East End. When its close relative, the weasel, turns white in the winter it is then called ermine, once a highly prized fur. Our friend was mostly brown with a white spot under his chin. It was an exciting chgnce to view this seldom - seen hunter on the prowl. We did finally get our jug of water at the spring by the side of the road and headed back for lunch. Our after- noon was spent sightseeing up and down and around the back roads of the near- by mountains. We passed little dairy farms trying to compete with the big mega- dairies of today's world. Many had given up Some farmers had started to spread manure that had accumulated during the deep snows of winter and now complete sections of their farms were covered with this rich organic fertilizer. At one place on a hillside we saw 20 or more wild turkeys gleaning the grain that had been missed in the manure spread before them. We did some window shopping at the country stores and outfitters' shops and then head- ed back to the cabin for more Catskill nos- talgia in front of the big fireplace. The next day we awoke, not to the ice crystals that had drifted down the day before, but to a blue haze in the valley. Was this a sign of the temperature moderating? A good long walk along the road going up the mountain told us yes, the rivulets were bubbling everywhere; all water was mov- ing downhill. Patches of bare ground were starting to show up. There would probably be more snowfalls before the spring wild- flowers broke through the ground, but to the natives in these parts winter's back was broken, bringing thoughts of sap houses off in a distance that, with their plumes of smoke, would soon be active. Cool nights and warm days would start the "sap a- flowin' ". Real maple syrup would be the end result. We'd take a long ride in the country later in the afternoon. We'd see more wild turkeys feeding over the freshly spread manure that blanketed the fields. Each evening when we returned to the cabin there would be deer along the roadside by the brook and after dinner we'd settle down to another evening in front of the fireplace to read and dream of a perfect world.