Rapidly blowing clouds created a dramatic scene from the summit of Whiteface Saturday. The mountain was socked in for most of the climb, with little to no visibility. Near the summit the skies began to clear, and swirling clouds changed the scenery every second. The backdrop was worthy of a much better camera, but unfortunately I had only my phone with me. Note the Whiteface slide in the third photo.

Mourning dove sunning in my front yard...one of many.

Panther Gorge holds a place in my heart like no other in the Adirondacks. The remote wilderness, deep forested valley and magnificent rock on all sides tickle my imagination and curiosity every time I bushwhack it. Pillars of stone in front of towering fractured walls…nature’s masterpieces guard the northern entrance; the south is gentler along Marcy Brook though it’s a test to enter or exit from any direction.

The sunrise from above the clouds on Algonquin was breathtaking. If you haven't been on a sunrise hike, put it on your bucket list!

View from the top of Azure Mt., featuring the Adirondacks and the early signs of fall.

A beautiful sunrise on the St. Lawrence River at around 6 am. Blue herons were hunting along the shore while seagulls flew over the water.

A beautiful sunrise with a purple sky. The clouds covered the island as the sun came peaking over the trees. This was at about 5:30 AM. I was sleeping on a dock at Camp Canaras in Saranac Lake, New York when I was leading a pre-trip.

Summer wildflowers most students miss out on seeing (to compare to my September 8th post).