Storm King
The Hudson Highlands and Storm King Mountain from Cold Spring
A stormy day with periods of heavy rain and low lying clouds has descended upon the Hudson Highlands today. What could be better than a photograph of Storm King Mountain and the Highlands given these conditions?
The geology of the Hudson Highlands is characterized by ancient Precambrian bedrock primarily composed of metamorphic and igneous rocks, such as gneiss and granite, which formed over a billion years ago. These are some of the oldest exposed rocks in the nation! This region, part of the Appalachian Mountain system, underwent significant tectonic activity, including uplift and erosion, shaping its rugged terrain. The Highlands exhibit evidence of multiple orogenic (mountain-building) events, notably the Grenville and Taconic orogenies, which contributed to the complex structural geology visible today. Much later, about 10,000 years ago, glacial activity sculpted the landscape, leaving behind distinct features like glacial grooves and erratics and rounding off the mountain tops.
That rounded off top of the tallest mountain seen in the image above led the Dutch to name it “Boterberg” (Butter Hill). In the 19th Century, however, writer Nathaniel Parker Willis penned, “ The tallest mountain is looked upon as the most sure foreteller of a storm. When the white cloud-beard descends upon his breast in the morning, there is sure to be a rain-storm before night. Should not ‘Storm King’ then be his proper name?”
And today, Storm King is indeed living up to its reputation. The photo taken this morning from the east bank of the Hudson in Cold Spring displays that “cloud-beard” Willis spoke of, and the heavy rains were soon to follow. The image below was taken later in the morning from the Western shore along the “old Storm King Highway”. The rain had started to fall in earnest by this time.
Storm King lives up to its name…..
There were a couple of fine birds which were also visible along the banks of the Hudson prior to the storm’s arrival. This Osprey and a nearby American crow were found just south of the Highlands at Croton Point Park. Finding any birds in sight was a challenge once the storm hit. Most, large and small alike, preferred to hunker down out of the elements and wait for calm clear weather to arrive. Birds are smarter than we think. Do birds read the signs that Mother Nature hands us as well as author Nathaniel Willis did? One has to believe that is probably the case.
Osprey - Croton Point Park
American crow - Croton Point Park
