Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam, CT

devil's hopyard

On September 22nd, 2013, I went with my girlfriend, Buddy and Rigs, and two friends to Devil’s Hopyard, a state park in East Haddam, Connecticut. It’s mostly known for the waterfall pictured above, which is beautiful. Although I’d been there before, I hadn’t ventured far from the falls, and there are some nice hiking trails there. What struck me most was how different the terrain was on different parts of the hike, and how as the terrain changed, the wonderful smells changed. I commented to my friend that I wished I could bottle the smells and experience them all the time. From a waterfall to a grassy field next to the stream to a wet, muddy forest with tall, ancient trees, to a dry, rocky path, to a scenic point overlooking a valley, to a moss-covered, rocky path next to the stream, with all kinds of different plants and wildlife. It was a beautiful day and a great sampling of the nature my state has to offer.

This will just be a post of several pictures from that day. Enjoy.

devil's hopyard
A caterpillar near the falls.
The wet forest with ancient trees.
The wet forest with ancient trees.
Rigs, face still wet from rock diving, hanging out at the scenic overlook.
Rigs, face still wet from rock diving, hanging out at the scenic overlook.
The overlook. We had the somewhat rare opportunity of watching hawks (or whatever they were) flying in the valley, below us. Strange to look down on flying birds.
The overlook. We had the somewhat rare opportunity of watching hawks (or whatever they were) flying in the valley, below us. Strange to look down on flying birds.
A snake at the base of a tree. I don't care to find out what kind, but if you know, comment below.
A snake at the base of a tree. I don’t care to find out what kind, but if you know, comment below.
Another pic.
Another pic.
He kept going up the tree, blowing all of our minds with his climbing skills.
He kept going up the tree, blowing all of our minds with his climbing skills.
Some kind of fungus (or not) growing on a rotting log. It was bright orange and beautiful.
Some kind of fungus (or not) growing on a rotting log. It was bright orange and beautiful.
A rock with some kind of quartz in it, covered in moss.
A rock with some kind of quartz in it, covered in moss.
Some of the earliest changing leaves, glowing red and orange against the bright blue sky. Winter is coming.
Some of the earliest changing leaves, glowing red and orange against the bright blue sky. Winter is coming.

Walking through the forest I always feel an intense connection with nature, with who I am and my place in the world. When I’m in the woods I’m not Chaki. I’m just a human, another inhabitant of our beautiful planet, walking along the path under the trees, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, smelling the different smells, feeling and listening to the breeze, wondering about all the people who have appreciated those woods before me. And the most beautiful thing of all is that the trees, the earth, the snakes and fish and caterpillars and golden retrievers, we’re all made of stardust.

 

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2 responses to “Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam, CT”

  1. Herpetology Unit Avatar
    Herpetology Unit

    The snake is an Eastern Ratsnake. You enjoy nature but don’t care to know what species of snake it is? Odd.

    1. Chaki Kobayashi Avatar
      Chaki Kobayashi

      Does one need to know the human labels of natural things to enjoy or appreciate them?

      Thanks for the info.