Water in typical lakes mix at least once a year, but meromictic lakes, like in Green Lake State Park, New York, do not mix. Meromictic lakes are exceedingly rare because they require a very deep lake with little surface area, coupled with the right climate. Green Lake is small, but 195 feet deep. The local Onandaga Tribe considered it bottomless.

The significance of a meromictic lake? Without mixing, the sediment is undisturbed. This gives environmental scientists an exciting look into the past environmental and aquatic conditions of the lake. The sediment is so undisturbed that scientists can track changes over thousands of years using a variety of indicators, like pollen. There are only about 30 known meromictic lakes in the U.S.

After we left Green Lake State Park in New York, we started a beautiful drive through the changing Fall colors of New York. An unexpected discovery was Chittenango Falls, which we saw from the side of the road and immediately stopped to investigate. The falls are 167 feet high and the bedrock is 400 million years old. “Chittenango” means “where waters divide and flow North.”

The Battle of Johnstown was the last battle of the Revolutionary War, and it happened 6 days after Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in Yorktown. About 1400 men were engaged in the battle, and 23 died. We stopped at the battleground, and it hasn’t changed at all since the battle was fought. Except there was no cell tower. Or power lines. Or paved road. And the field wasn’t cleanly mowed grass. And there was no Vanagon. But otherwise, it is unchanged…

Next was the Green Mountains in Vermont. We stayed here for two nights and hiked some of the Appalachian Trail. We lucked out with some great weather, a dispersed campsite to ourselves, and peak Fall colors.

While Abbey and I were camping, two other Vanagon Westfalias came by. They slowed, honked, and waved before continuing on. Those are the only two other Westfalias we’ve encountered while camping, and both off some tiny forest road in the Green Mountains.

While hiking in the Green Mountains, an Ent suddenly grabbed Abbey. After initial panic and squirming, she was able to convince him that she was not an orc, and then he let her go.

Cheers!