forester.jake's photostream  

Exploring among the erratics well below the summit of the Pinnacle on Sunday I found this active black bear den that has been abandoned from last winter. I've been observing this den for a number of years now and appears to be used every winter. Most all of our bears are on the roam right now until fall when they'll den up & hibernate for next winter. I've often wondered how many generations of bears may have used an ideally suited den as this one... they are such fascinating creatures that never fail to awe and amaze me!

Cool moss & polypody fern covered glacial erratics litter the steep forest around the exposed summit cone of the Pinnacle inviting endless exploration & photographic opportunities

Ridgelines from the Pinnacle in Stowe yesterday

Lush green woodland carpet of hay-scented fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Looks quite vivid in lightbox!

Early record heat waves in March up here in northern Vermont (zone 3b, 1700') caused the buds to swell, followed by deep freezes which fried the poor buds brown for this season... perhaps next year...
Magnolia x loebneri 'Merrill'

Explored!