Author Archives: rivertoprambles

About rivertoprambles

Welcome to Rivertop Rambles. This is my blog about the headwaters country-far afield or close to home. I've been a fly-fisher, birder, and naturalist for most of my adult life. I've also written poetry and natural history books for thirty years. In Rambles I will mostly reflect on the backcountry of my Allegheny foothills in the northern tier of Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York State. Sometimes I'll write about the wilderness in distant states, or of the wild places in the human soul. Other times I'll just reflect on the domestic life outdoors. In any case, I hope you enjoy. Let's ramble!

Pine Creek Anticipation

Posted on March 4, 2021 by rivertoprambles

Suddenly the sky was clear, and the temperature rose well above the freezing mark. Although the ice on local streams and rivers was only now beginning to crack and drift away, I drove to Pennsylvania eager to prepare for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged angling, anticipation, hiking, history, Izaac Walton, literature, nature, Pine Creek, reading, Sketch Book, Spring, Thomas Jefferson, Washington Irving, writing | 15 Comments

Winter Break

Posted on February 16, 2021 by rivertoprambles

The nasally, low-pitched notes of the nuthatch enter through my bedroom window (open even in winter and appreciated from beneath the comforters) and I sense my own reawakening. The white-breasted’s wha-wha-wha notes enter non-committedly, sliding in softly from the maples … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birding, hiking, home, nature, photos, poetry, Spring, transitions, winter, writing | 27 Comments

The Phantom Bus and Other Observations

Posted on January 21, 2021 by rivertoprambles

So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left with… From the stunning piece, “The Hill We Climb,” by Inaugural Poet, Amanda Gorman, 1/20/21. Amen. Walking slowly up the hill, I had the best chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "The Hill We Climb", birds, changes, confrontation, fantasy, hiking, nature, phantom bus, preservation, ravines, science, tracking, travel, trees, wildness, winter walk, writing | 28 Comments

Two Ravens (Twa Corbies)

Posted on January 5, 2021 by rivertoprambles

The first days of the new year were an icy mess, although I still had a pleasant walk on the trail developed near the house. It’s been years since I’ve kept a feeder in the yard, but I still need … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birding, birds, hiking, myths, nature, poetry, Raven, solitude, Twa Corbies, winter, writing | 21 Comments

A Glance at the Rearview Mirror

Posted on December 15, 2020 by rivertoprambles

As 2020 drives itself into the ground, a lot of us would say, Just let ‘er rip. Most would agree that the past year has been odd, to say the least, and, in some cases, down right tragic. From this … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2020, cheer, Colorado, fishing, fly-fishing, holidays, Montana, national parks, photos, rearview mirror, Rocky Mountains, travel, Wyoming | 22 Comments

Looking for Survivors

Posted on November 21, 2020 by rivertoprambles

No, I wasn’t out investigating a local tragedy or searching the rubble in some post-apocalyptic nightmare, thankfully enough. I was simply on my autumn trout streams looking for survivors of a brutally hot and dry summer season that, reportedly, took … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged drought, environment, fishing, Genesee, literature, nature, poetry, rainbow, rivertops, search, survivors, trout, weather, Wings Over Water | 26 Comments

Upstate Brown and Salmon Time

Posted on November 11, 2020 by rivertoprambles

The tumultuous U.S. election events have finally been resolved, or have they? This is not the time or place for lingering on politics but I’ll say that, over all, I was pleased with the results while acknowledging that there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Beautiful Like a Mayfly, brown trout, Cayuga Lake, Fall Creek, fishing, friendship, landlocked, nature, November, politics, salmon, spawn, Walt Franklin, writing | 8 Comments

Ruminations (Salmon River)

Posted on October 29, 2020 by rivertoprambles

I had sworn off October visits to the Salmon River long ago, but when a friend invites me to go fishing with him I do not decline unless I’m sick, already anchored to a schedule by divine authority, or dying. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beer, camping, Election, fishing, friendship, nature, politics, salmon, Salmon River, travel, trout, vote, wine, writing | 19 Comments

Thoreau’s Cape Cod

Posted on October 16, 2020 by rivertoprambles

The kids arranged a pleasant cottage rental for us on Cape Cod. The large pitch pines and pin oaks standing by the roadside in the Town of Dennis caught the pre-dawn hooting of a great horned owl and staged the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Atlantic, Cape Cod, desert, freedom, hiking, history, minke whales, national seashore, nature, Nauset, Pilgrims, Provincetown, sea, shipwreck, Thoreau, travel, Wellfleet, writing | 22 Comments

Owl Farm (Redux)

Posted on October 7, 2020 by rivertoprambles

This will be a short post that reflects a busy time here in the shire. I’ve been working feverishly on a new book (Covid-free!), helping with the house improvement projects where I’m able, prepping for a short visit to Cape … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged autumn, birding, country photos, environment, hiking, homestead, nature, Owl Farm, poetry, writing | 27 Comments