April's Green is Gold

Almost a year has gone by and I can't help comparing walks from either side of the solstice. In this case, April had the same light as August and even looked humid and stormy. Yet it was cool, and we were amid the new pale greens of spring. The walk had a good turn-out with many "first-timers" joining us. I am growing more reflective as this project nears completion, yet am happy that it has some afterlife--not just for me, but for those of us whose perceptions have broadened and whose sense of connection has been enhanced. The following are comments made by this month's participants. Thanks so much to all of you who came out! "Such a beautiful idea and experience. We should do more things silently." "A year has gone by so quickly. I was getting used to walking in the dark and really enjoying the challenge and drama of it! Will miss this wonderful ritual." "Winter took a toll. I can see more clearly." Can you see the post? "As the seasons change, there is always beauty all around on the Silent Walks, an experience everyone should have. " (O.P. age 8 and participant in four walks so far) " More than the view or the wonderful breeze, the trees and plants stole the show. Like Robert Frost's "nature's first green is gold" the light green leaves and golden glow are so enchanting. I'm so glad to hear that the Silent Walks may continue on past next month. I'll always be looking forward to more." Here is the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. "I was very aware of the beat of the footsteps." "It was really good to be able to enjoy the natural beauty and silence of nature with so much company. Thank you." "Hard to believe it could get any better than this. Plenty of new people, plenty of regulars, gentle breeze in the air and leaves in the trees. The road doesn't seem as loud as it did the first few times. Becoming more and more about the woods and less and less about the group and me." "Lovely walk. I liked that company was sizable, but we couldn't talk. Instead, we had to listen to our surroundings and each other. Definitely meditative." "Simply beautiful! Instead of listening to what our neighbors had to say, we were able to listen to how we felt." periwinkle "Noticed the little lone violets here and there poking up at the edge of the trail. Memories of another similar mountain. Regrets that this discovery couldn't be shared with a friend who died recently, the wonderful feel of the wind..." "uphill. breathing heavy. self aware. determined not to slow down. pride. beautiful vista. large grand universe. quiet downhill. slower breathing. return to another world." "Noticed the wind sounding like waves of noise building and crashing in the tree tops. The pattern it created on the surface of the river was the same as the ruffled silhouette of the leaves in the trees." All visual documentation of the walk was made by our talented and dedicated photographer, Thom Munterich.

widow maker, sock-leaf, deer biscuit

Please join us for the LAST Silent Walk on the Half Moon on May 20th at 6pm. Anyone who has participated in a Silent Walk over the course of the past year is invited to the SWHM cook-out on May 22. Details to follow.

How did our entomologist come up with this sweet, humorous poem so quickly? Inspired by Robert Frost no doubt. "Silent walk, your sound is golden! How our senses become emboldened. We have to see, we have to hear, but louder still we are than deer! We hear the wind, we hear the trees. What a lovely idea, this idea of Jackie's."

The eleventh walk is Wednesday, April 21

Please join us at 6pm on Wednesday, April 21 for the eleventh Silent Walk on the Half Moon. We meet at 6:00pm at the trail head on Mountain Road in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. Carpooling is recommended.
The forecast as of today is clear and cool, so dress for spring. The dark walks of winter are behind us, so leave those flashlights at home.
Come tune in to the woods and the river with us! Bring a friend.

Interested in learning more about the SWHM project? Click here.

Walkers participate at their own risk.

Common Ground--like minds coming together

Ramapo College of New Jersey is hosting a symposium on collaborations between Humans, Music, Art and Nature next week on Thursday and Friday afternoon, April 22, 23. The event, called Common Ground, was the idea of student, Emmy Black. Ben Neill, Professor of Music and several others have joined her in creating this event. I will be discussing the Silent Walks on Thursday.
The line up of speakers include artists and musicians and ecology-minded activists from the Hudson Valley and from across the country. This symposium is sure to inspire.

The Wet Walk

Part of what has been so illuminating about the Silent Walks is seeing our path through the woods change with each month. Being part of the landscape when it has been annoyingly buggy and humid, to magically autumnal, to snowy and dark, to damp and cold like it was this past walk, is exactly what this project is about. Yet I understand how walking in mud and drizzle and cold isn't necessarily as appealing as pristine sunshine. Each walk has been surprisingly representative of the time of year, and March held true to that pattern. The Mud Season. Having acknowledged all that, it was remarkably beautiful.

The following are reflections from the few of us who braved the wet accompanied by photographs and video taken by the SWHM photographer, Thom Munterich.

Yes, this is the trail.

"Delightful. Try as I might, I could only find the smallest signs of spring--all the snow melt running off the mountain, the earth feels, smells moist and fertile. It's like it is a completely different place from last month. Loved it."


"Amazing soaked woods. Rich color of umber, deep yellow and the hint of red buds in the trees. Neon green moss. Branches were starting to dry, so they stood out as gray lines against the dark background. Had to step around the water that covered the path. It was light the whole time, but cloudy. I felt so relaxed, watching the ferry boat inch it's way across the river."




"Smelled damp leaves and new earth. Sound of water everywhere."

Note the stream running down the mountain in the background.

"Big deep mountain breaths in time with the swollen creek bed rumblings. Other observations: wet spring. Leaves like deep pile shag--so different from the noisy playful fall leaves. Loved the "Tree Goiter" at the bridge!!"



"So grateful to Jackie for giving me this all too brief time of quiet contemplation! It even relaxed the pain in my gut from wolfing down dinner."

Unlike the past two snowy walks, there were plenty of signs that people had been here, and I don't mean beer bottles this time.

Druids or hikers? You decide. It's not Micheal Graham though, because it doesn't have his trademark round rock at the top. Some of his beautiful cairns are off Deer Trail Road. If you look closely, you can see a new house being built on the far hillside. Wasn't there last fall.

Our tree spider, now in spring.

A rare dry spot in the path.

Please join us next month on April 21st, the day before Earth Day.
Share the experience with a friend!

Spring forward-March's walking is coming on Tuesday.

Please join us for the next Silent Walk on the Half Moon this coming Tuesday, March 23. We meet at the trail head on Mountain Road in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. This will be our first walk in daylight since September, and we may see other signs of spring. Forecast now is for the rain to have finished, but dress accordingly.

Come share a walk through the woods as an aesthetic experience. For more information about the silent walks, please click here. Questions can be emailed to Jackie Skrzynski.

February's Walk--soft snow and twilight

The turn out was surprisingly low for such perfect weather, but a few people did show up to participate. Like the October walk (the other side of the winter solstice) we started out in twilight. Having a bit of light made such a difference. Unlike October when the air seemed filled with the glow of yellow leaves, the pervading color in February was blue--the snow, the shadows and the light, punctuated by glowing electric white and yellow. These two walks--October and February, have had the most magical light. The deepening shadows give rise to our own instinctual relationship to the darkness-fear and safety. The most defenseless animals come out at night because darkness offers protection that balances the risk of predators. In our woods, especially after so many walks at night, I enjoy the dark. We walk as a group-quite similar to a small herd--and the company is calming. Now after so many months, strangers who have shared multiple walks are connected in friendly, informal ways that are blossoming into friendships. For most, the self-conscious nervousness of the first experience gives way to a dilated permeance.

This is community; this is communion. The following are comments made by the participants along with documentary photographs and recordings. They act as reminders and footnotes of an experience, but nothing beats actually taking the walk. Please join us next month on March 23rd.

"The whirling call of an owl and the yip of what might have been a coyote made this walk extra special for me. The mist over the river made the boat lights glow. It was so peaceful watching them slowly float up river. The twilight and the snow offered plenty of light, yet I kept noticing the silhouettes of the tree branches. Glad there was no ice!"

"I am at home wherever I am." --Rumi I did not want it to end. (I'm bringing a snowball home for the dogs.)

"Perfect night for a silent walk. Light going in and snow continued to light the way as dark settled in around us. Good sounds and tasty chocolate covered pretzels at the end!"

A word of appreciation for Barbara Gioia--Many people have faithfully attended several Silent Walks, and we love you all! It's not easy to fit these events into work/home/kids' schedules. We would like to give special recognition to Barbara Gioia (pictured above right) who has attended almost every Silent Walk. We will remember your comment about the chocolate covered pretzels. Dog and deer tracks are everywhere.

"Not surprisingly, I feel invisible and insignificant. I actually felt terrified but also relieved. The woods were quite calm but little noises that crept towards me were not recognizable and alien."

"Today had to be the perfect day for a silent walk in the woods. Soft snow on the ground. No wind. Warm temperatures. I could have stayed all night."

Walking up to the view in the snow. The sounds drift up from the river and the village.

Evidence of the presence of Thom Munterich, the Silent Walk's photographer. Please join us for our next Silent Walk on March 23rd. Questions can be directed to Jackie Skrzynski.

The Final Four-February 22, Monday, is the next walk.

Only four more walks left! We meet at 6pm at the Storm King trail head located on Mountain Road in Cornwall-on-Hudson.

The forecast is predicting light snow. If that happens, it will be the first time the walks have had precipitation. Please be prepared for semi-darkness and possibly icy paths. We will have extra flashlights for those who wish to use them.

Walking in the evening woods as a group in silence is a great way to experience "our" mountain. Please come and bring a friend! We will move at a slow pace and stay together.

Walkers participate at their own risk.