Profile Falls
by Patricia and James Cummings
Autumn is the best time for hiking in New England and this year was no exception. By that time, any annoying deer flies or horse flies are not buzzing one's head, looking to remove a chunk of flesh, given half a chance. The mosquitoes are pretty much subdued after the first frost, and the pesky, little black flies that are apt to fly up one's nose, into an open ear, or bite at the nape of the neck, are also gone, having done their most feisty acts of procreation earlier in the spring and early summer.
By fall, the only creatures visible in the forest are a few squawking blue jays, announcing the intrusion on their turf; a squirrel or chipmunk or two, scurrying in their annual collection of nuts and seeds, bunking them up for the oncoming winter. Occasionally, a deer might appear, and if so, are usually seen from behind, their white tail lifted as they flee across open fields and stone walls.
Luckily, we have never met a bear in the woods of New Hampshire, although there are many of those, and we know folks who have chanced upon them. The local black bears are not comparable to the more menacing grizzlies or polar bears of the north. They are a smaller and more docile creature, preferring berries as their special food, though they are also prone to raiding backyard bird feeders for seed.
The sun was shining warmly when we arrived at the park, but even so, it was a crisp morning when we chose to investigate this area known as Profile Falls, in Hill, New Hampshire. I had heard of the place long before but only through newspaper accounts of diving accidents there. Having heard that it is now a park maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, we were absolutely delighted with the improvements. A paved road and a parking lot, picnic tables, and bathroom facilities, have been added. The park itself did not have a bit of litter to clutter up the natural beauty of the river running through it, the gorgeous waterfalls, or the trails.
That day, we were the only two legged beings afoot. We heard the scolding of the red squirrel as he noticed our approach, while a little chipmunk who was not quite sure where he would be safest, kept flitting about in search of a refuge. At one point, he skittered into his hole at the base of a tree trunk, only to pop his head up seconds later to be caught on film by Jim. Unfortunately, without the right film speed or lens, the picture came out dark and blurred, but we laughed at the animal's antics, at the time.
First we hiked up one trail to as close as we could before signs warning of loose rocks and danger, caused us to backtrack. Then, we realized that if we went over a little bridge further along on the paved road, then we would get a good vantage point for viewing and photographing the falls. We could hear the crash of the water, not as deafening as Niagara Falls, but pretty exciting for us New Hampshire home bodies. The maple trees were shedding their yellow and red leaves; and the oaks their rust and brown ones, as we listened to acorns cascading down like rain and almost bopping us on the head. They sure made a lot of racket for something that is so tiny. The yellow ferns along the river's edge were a lovely harbinger of the more severe New England to ensue in short order.
As we walked around, my eye happened to spot an orange salamander, just sitting on a log in the middle of a path. This resulted in a call to action for Jim to get out the camera again. I have loved salamanders forever. When I was in the fifth grade, I used to visit my friend Jan quite often on Saturdays. Her Dad was a rabbit hunter and would find salamanders in the woods and bring them home. One day he brought home two. She placed them in a small aquarium, among leaves, and placed some water in there, too. The next day, there was one half left. We learned the sad lesson and that, in captivity, the beautiful little creatures will turn not only cannibalistic, but suicidal, as well. Nonetheless, they are one of my favorite creatures, orange being one of my favorite colors. If you come across one, just remember to leave them in the woods where they belong.
One of my quilts is entitled, "Where is the Salamander?" A visual illusion of sorts, it is a watercolor quilt. After giving a few clues, I leave visitors on their own to find the salamander. Some people give up trying to find the creature which is hidden by the use of a principle called "simultaneous contrast." Other folks, with much ado, finally locate the amphibian, that is "hiding". It was a fun quilt to make and originally I had made it for a class I was giving on Color Concepts.
Nature is very inspiring to both Jim and I. On the day that we visited Profile Falls, I also collected many different leaves, which I have put into the flower press to dry. They can and will be used for authentic leaf images for appliqué. Although we spent just one morning there, hiking, collecting leaves, and viewing wildlife and birds, we came away invigorated and convinced that we need to visit more often.
With no entrance fee, it just means the price of gas to get there. It can't get better than that. We feel very grateful for land conservation advocates who are striving very hard to insure that the lands of New Hampshire do not get overdeveloped or "clear cut". With any luck, there will always be woodsy areas around so that those of us who love outdoor activities and nature can walk and enjoy seeing wildlife and plants within their natural habitats.
©Copyright 2001. Patricia and James Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, New Hampshire. pat@quiltersmuse.com