Our Pretty Little Valley

Whitehall, NY

NoLL

This morning as we came north on the Champlain Canal, I was struck by the beauty of the surrounding valley. I refer to the area just south of Whitehall, with Wood Creek on the valley floor. It is so beautiful. I say so even though I get only quick glimpses of the valley because trees lining the canal block most of the views.

I wondered how to get a better view. Not from the road, I've driven those. Not from a small airplane, I've flown over here in a Cessna 152. Perhaps from a nearby mountain top in the fall when all the leaves have fallen off. Of course, when the leaves are of the valley isn't green.

Then it occurred to me. I now have my Droid phone. I pulled out the phone and started Google Earth. There it was right on my little magic screen! I zoomed in to a soaring bird's view of the area and watched the scene as we motored up the canal. It was great fun. I'll share a bit of it with you. Below is a Google Earth view of the area seen from 10,000 feet. You can go there yourself on Google Earth and zoom in closer.

Left to right, South Bay on Lake Champlain, a mountain ridge, NY Route 22, the original Champlain Canal (windey), RR tracks (straight), the canal where we were, the valley where Wood Creek meanders. Far left is another mountain ridge then Lake George, NY. Far right is Poultney, Vermont. North is Whitehall, NY.

This is the area which General Burgoyne's army found so difficult to traverse in 1777. For 20 miles they had the choice of steep wooded hilsides or swampy ground on the flats. It was not good for transporting artillery, Burgoyne's furniture and chests, plus other heavy cargo.

Tomorrow, we reach Lake Champlain once again. :)