river talk

Wonders of winter wandering

By SANDY LONG

Posted 2/10/26

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river talk

Wonders of winter wandering

RR photos by Sandy Long

Leave the shoreline behind and explore a frozen lake from the point of view enjoyed by those who ice fish. Before heading out on the ice, check out important safety tips from the Pennsylvania Game Commission at www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/newsroom/anglers-encouraged-to-keep-safety-in-mind-when-ice-fishing.

The Upper Delaware River region is ripe with forested paths and landscapes. (Consider two parks in our area: the Promised Land in Pike County and Lackawanna State Park in Lackawanna County). Be the first to blaze a trail through unbroken snow and soak up the vibes of a beautiful view.

Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2026 2:51 pm

Love Litter

There—

on the lake—

someone’s taken the time

to lay a crusty pinkish

line, in the shape of a heart

melted into the snow.

That’s love art

lying there, like the

lettered love that lingered

in the snowdust

on that lonely road

I strode.

“Bill loves Sue forever.”

I smiled

at this scrawled promise,

at all the love

littered through this landscape,

at pink hearts melting

into lakes.

By SANDY LONG

The winter landscape offers boundless opportunities to creatively interact with its natural finery—blank palettes of snow, the sweeping arc of crystalline skies, the interplay of cloud and light. Remaining inside while the vitality of the natural world roils around us can dull the senses and darken the mind. Bundle up and opt outside for a health-restoring time.

Invigorate the body and spirit with fresh air and sunlight. Increase your cardiac capacity and expand your access with snowshoes or cross-country skis. Pack a little picnic and hot beverages to warm the body and soothe the mind while you’re out and about.

Take time to kick back a bit and contemplate the wonders of the winter world and how humans interact with it. You might be surprised to find, as I did one day, an expression of love scrawled across the snow, inspiring a poem. Happy Valentine’s Day!