the Basin, Franconia Notch, NH

This is the actual "Basin". Is it maybe 20 feet across? Of course it was made by rocks swirling around in an eddy for thousands of years. The picture is taken from a 100% wheelchair accessible location.







Next are two photos showing the paved path. It is part of the Franconia Bike Path.







The paved path is smooth. There is some slope from the parking area. Access is excellent. Many natural features are at hand.







And if you are looking for hardship, there are steps available on the downstream side of the basin, opposite the accessible viewing location.







Moss, trees, exposed roots-- color, texture, detail.







Larger and smaller details-- natural variation can manifest as oddity.







Finer yet, slender columns of ice lift grains of sand and gravel quarter, half, and whole inches above the ground.







Ice on puddles and at edges-- concentric curves created by air held beneath the ice.







Two examples.







Spray from the stream's turbulence freezes to thin branches and builds a crystal chandelier.







The water, the rock around and through which it flows, the moss and eventually trees that take hold-- the poetry- the respite- of which Muir speaks.







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