Communities in northern New York State have endured major flooding over the past several months with extensive damage to homes, businesses and, sadly, loss of life. We got to see the flooding first hand when we visited friends recently who live in the small town of Keeseville, about thirty minutes south of Plattsburgh. We had planned to hike but persistant rain convinced us that climbing the mountains would have to wait until the weather was more cooperative. Instead, we visited a park along the Ausable River and, later that afternoon, walked the rim trail in Ausable Chasm. The river which passes an historic nail factory in Keeseville had subsided somewhat but was still a mighty torrent of waterfalls and undulating currents.
Debris had accumulated along the shore. We spotted a "Wilson" volley ball bobbing up and down in the erratic swells.
Someone suggested that this might be the perfect day to visit Ausable Chasm, a deep canyon which has been sculpted over millennia by the Ausable River and is a popular tourist attraction. The river and views didn't disappoint beginning with Rainbow Falls. I took this photo from an auto/pedestrian bridge which spans the Ausable River.
As we walked the rim trail we were again overwhelmed by the shear force of the water as it rushed beneath our feet.
Near the parking area I couldn't resist taking one last photo of the falls at close range. The over-used word "awesome" was appropriate in this setting.
