The weather on our hike through the Upland Trail of Pinhook Bog ranged from mostly sunny to overcast and dark. As we made our way through the stands of beech and pine, we encountered a pond hidden away in the woods. This trail winds through the meadows and woods right next to a quaking bog called Pinhook. Some of the features of that bog could be seen in the distance through the trees - tamarack trees specifically. That portion of the park is only open to guided tours in the summer months, but this trail is open year-round.
I wondered as I walked near this pond, why this area is a pond, and why the area just a few hundred feet away was a bog? I suspect the actual 500 acre bog was formed when an ice block from the last glacial period broke off, stayed in the kettle pit it formed, and melted. Over years, plant materials filled the bog, forming peat. With no exchange of water from streams or springs, the bog water becomes stagnant and nutrient poor. The pond we encountered on this hike, while very close to the bog, seems to be creek fed, therefor the water exchange is much greater, keeping the environment more "normal."
The elevation change on the Upland Trail is only around 90 feet, and it's gradual. On the descent, the pond could be seen through the woods from time to time, creating a bit of suspense as we moved forward. Would the woods open up to a view, or would this be the best view possible? It turned out that the trail offered clear view of the pond at the lowest point of the trail. Frogs, ducks, geese, turkey, skunk, and a variety of birds were all seen during this brief period of the afternoon.
I'm looking forward to visiting the bog this summer, when it opens up, and also to tasting the wild blueberries that grow along the floating walkway.
I wondered as I walked near this pond, why this area is a pond, and why the area just a few hundred feet away was a bog? I suspect the actual 500 acre bog was formed when an ice block from the last glacial period broke off, stayed in the kettle pit it formed, and melted. Over years, plant materials filled the bog, forming peat. With no exchange of water from streams or springs, the bog water becomes stagnant and nutrient poor. The pond we encountered on this hike, while very close to the bog, seems to be creek fed, therefor the water exchange is much greater, keeping the environment more "normal."
The elevation change on the Upland Trail is only around 90 feet, and it's gradual. On the descent, the pond could be seen through the woods from time to time, creating a bit of suspense as we moved forward. Would the woods open up to a view, or would this be the best view possible? It turned out that the trail offered clear view of the pond at the lowest point of the trail. Frogs, ducks, geese, turkey, skunk, and a variety of birds were all seen during this brief period of the afternoon.
I'm looking forward to visiting the bog this summer, when it opens up, and also to tasting the wild blueberries that grow along the floating walkway.
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