Green Barren

Trail to Green Barren, Lundy

I woke on Saturday morning and saw how beautiful it was outside. Enough snow fell to cover the ground. The sky was clear. I decided I would go to Larry’s River then loop around to Route 16 and follow that back. If the tide was low I would go to Forster Island. Depending on the cloudiness of the sky I would stop in each little community to poke around. Usually the sky grows more overcast as the day wears on so I didn’t intend to be in one spot for long.

Donahue Lake from highway, Lundy

I encountered only one problem. When I reached Larry’s River there was no snow.

Snowy trees

I hadn’t even noticed while I was driving so gradual was the transition. I live 100 meters above sea level as well as inland from the ocean which often means snow for me but rain elsewhere. Only when I was in Larry’s River did it fully register that the snow I was so eager to photograph wasn’t actually there.

Trail to Green Barren, Lundy

Plan B: double back to a place with snow. As I thought about it I decided Green Barren would be a good spot to check. To get there I would be gaining elevation which would mean more snow, not less. Luckily there wasn’t too much snow at the trail head. I was able to park completely off the road without any fear of getting stuck.

Trail to Loon Lake, Lundy

I very quickly discovered there was just enough snow to conceal a lot of ice underfoot. Usually it’s possible to avoid slippery spots by walking on the raised section between wheel ruts. I also encountered a large puddle which hadn’t frozen. There wasn’t much water where my foot went through but some puddles can be deep enough for a good soaking so a good policy is always to keep to the edge.

Green Barren, Lundy

Rock outcrop at Green Barren

Rock outcrop at Green Barren

The outcrop shown above is a wonderful place for sitting. Usually there is strong wind here. No matter what direction the wind is coming from you can always find a protected spot. Sitting in the lee with a howling gale roaring around you is great especially coupled with an expansive view.

Looking west-northwest from Green Barren

Looking northeast-east from Green Barren

In the photo above the Lundy Firetower is about a quarter of the way in from the left side and is probably about 6 kilometers away. It is 100 feet in height but barely registers on the horizon. Part of Donahue Lake is visible through the center. My house is actually visible as a white dot about an eighth of the way in, center left.

I really enjoyed getting out to Green Barren even if it wasn’t what I set out to do. I’m still hopeful winter is going to provide some snowy conditions even though I like not having to shovel or plow much so far.