Frozen Waterfall Face

Buttermilk Falls in the Pocono Mountains in late Winter.

It may be early March with Spring just around the corner, but you wouldn't know it by looking at this picture of Buttermilk Falls in the Pocono Mountains.  A thick coating of ice still covers most of the waterfall face.  

The vibrant late Autumn colors of the Pocono Mountains surround this little chapel in Hickory Run state park.  

Autumn Bloom

Ever though we are already into early autumn, there are many flowers still in full bloom here in Northeast Pennsylvania.  I haven't a clue what this one is, but someone suggested it might be an Astor.

Panorama of Wilkes-Barre and the Market Street Bridge

This is a view looking across the Susquehanna River toward downtown Wilkes-Barre and the Market Street bridge.  The River Commons amphitheater can be seen on the far shore of the river. 

Side View of Waterfall

Here is a view of the Bear Creek Dam waterfall seen from the side.

No Trespassing on the Waterfall!

Northeastern Pennsylvania has a whole lotta lakes with a whole lotta little waterfalls.  The little hut pictured here has a sign telling people not to trespass on the waterfall.  

Fiery Rain

We've had record amounts of rain (and lots of flooding) in  Northeast Pennsylvania over the past month.  For this experimental photo I thought it would be fun to see if I could make it look like it was raining fire.

End of Summer Waterfall

End of Summer Waterfall in the Poconos

No Stopping Standing or Parking

I saw this sign at the top of the Francis Walter Dam, and I think it is somewhat amusing.  "No stopping, standing or parking," but you could probably get away with walking very, very slowly.  

Really Big Lump of Coal

This image shows a really big lump of coal at the Eckley Miners Village.

Manning the Barricade

The National Guard was manning barricades at intersections a few blocks away from the cresting Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre and nearby communities to keep people out of the evacuated areas.  The evacuation order was finally lifted yesterday afternoon.

Francis Walter Dam After the Rains

The water level has risen significantly at the Francis Walter Dam reservoir over the past two weeks.  Extensive debris from the recent flooding streams has built up along the edge of the dam.

Swollen Susquehanna River Threatens Wilkes-Barre and Kingston

This image shows the rising Susquehanna River passing under the Pierce Street Bridge that connects Wilkes-Barre on the left to Kingston on the right. 

These pictures from earlier today show the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre nearing the top of the protective dike.  The top picture showing the road disappearing into the river was taken about nine hours ago.  Since then the river has continued to rise and is now only about two feet below the top of the dike. 

This picture shows the dike gate in Wilkes-Barre closed to keep the Susquehanna River from flooding the city.   As of 7:00pm this evening the Susquehanna River is pushing on the other side of the gate and is only about two feet below the top of the gate.

Picture of the flood gate when opened.

Wilkes-Barre River Commons

This is a view of the southern section of Wilkes-Barre's River Commons, looking south.  The Susquehanna River can be seen on the right in this image taken a week ago.  With the remnants of tropical storm Lee dumping about nine inches of rain on the area in the last couple of days, as of this evening the River Commons is likely already under water.  The river is expected to crest three feet below the top of the dike which can be seen in the upper left of the photo.

The Tipple at the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

This is a view of the front of the tipple where the coal cars deliver their load by rail after coming up from the mines.

Once the coal made it to the top of this tipple it was ready to be loaded in trucks like the blue one in the picture that sits ready to receive its load.  The earth beneath the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valleys, from Scranton to Wilkes-Barre, is a vast honeycomb of mine shafts and tunnels, much of which is now filled with water.  That water is now being used as a new source of energy for both cooling and heatingas reported in November 2010 in the Scranton Times-Tribune

Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour is located in McDade Park and is operated by the Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation Department.  This view is of the backside of the coal mine tipple.

Bees on a Bull (Thistle, that is.)

Bees are big fans of Bull Thistle flowers here in the Poconos.

Bull Thistle

Bull Thistle With a Purple Flower in the Poconos

     Bull Thistle weeds are quite common in northeast Pennsylvania.  After one run-in with this plant it is easy to imagine how it got its common name.  The thistles are strong like the bull and ready to gore any interloper!

Purple Hot Rod Snowcat

This hot rod snow cat has seen better days.

After the Rain the Road and Bridge Closings

Hurricane Irene has come and gone.  Actually, it was just a tropical storm when it hit the Pocono Mountains.  While the winds were not as strong as forecast, the rains were heavy and the ground was saturated, so the winds were still strong enough to bring down trees and power lines all over, and the rain was heavy enough to cause widespread flooding of streams and small rivers.  Scenes such as the one pictured here with signs announcing a bridge or road closed were quite common today.