After three months of frigid temperatures and snow, the warm up has begun. This year saw record snowfalls for the region as in many parts of the country. And warm is a relative term. In the Appalachian Highlands, night time temperatures will still dip down below freezing for at least a couple more months.

But day time temperatures are rising, some days into the 50's.

So I went for a hike to the falls. It wasn't easy. The trail was a sheet of solid ice from melting and refreezing snow. I slid down the hill to the top of the falls on my behind and hoped I didn't end up in the creek.

It was worth the delicate balancing act I called a hike. The air was crisp and clean. The birds are singing.

So a few photos of the frozen land before the thaw began. Then one as the ice melt begins and the giant icicles shrink.

Finally some photos of the falls from the top. No way to get down the trail to the bottom. Even I'm not that crazy. :) It was mostly underwater anyway from the snow melt and beginning of the spring floods.