I’m feeling blue(berries)!

My hiking trip last week was one full of surprises, but possibly the best one of the trip was discovering a tasty treat at the end of our ascent. Wild blueberries covered the mountain top, and thanks  to my knowledgeable guide, Shaun, we were able to identify them and feel safe chowing down.

While in the middle of so many sweet, flavorful berries (these really put your grocery store variety to shame), I felt I had to pic some to share with friends who hadn’t accompanied us, particularly one baking-inclined friend. Luckily I had an empty water bottle to collect and store the berries so they wouldn’t get squished on our way down. After returning home, I felt compelled to find out more about the little blue berries.

A quick snapshot of the blueberries we picked. Photo: Elizabeth Piseczny

Wild blueberries, which are smaller than what you’d find at the grocer’s, are a flowering plant indigenous to North America, so they have quite a resistance to any sort of disease.  They can have oval-shaped or lance-shaped (long, wider middle) leaves.  While there are many species of blueberries, Vaccinium boreale, the Northern Blueberry, grows in an area ranging from Quebec in the North to New York and Massachusetts in the South. Wild blueberries are a low-bush variety (growing up to a few inches tall), but there are high-bush varieties that grow much taller.  They grow well in acidic rocky or clay soils, and they require full sun, so you can imagine they would flourish at the top of a mountain without any trees to filter out light. When blueberry plants grow in a way in which they cover a large area of land (often naturally), it is called a blueberry barren.

Blueberries are often called a “superfruit” because they’re rich in antioxidants, which can prevent and repair damage done to our bodies by free radicals, and are reputed to have many health benefits, including reducing risks of some diseases like cancer and heart disease.  Like the apple is to New York, wild blueberries are the official fruit of Maine.

Depending on location, the peak season for blueberries can vary, but in the early days of August, there were berries everywhere (a lower peak of Jay Mountain).

When I was younger, we used to pick different kinds of berries that ripened in the later summer, hoping to amass enough to make jams. I remember having to remind myself not to eat the berries as I was picking, because the treat of homemade jam would be my reward later! I only wish I’d had the time (and storage containers) to gather enough for blueberry jam!

Bare Feet and Concrete

The back side of the Capitol building is just as impressive as the front.

I sometimes forget that there is another world outside of the Adirondacks; one that is not green or wild. Not everyone can see the sun setting over Lake Champlain, or witness the view from atop Giant Mountain. I can.

This summer, however, things were a bit different. The vistas I saw were not painted with foliage, but with steel and concrete.

At the beginning of June, I traveled to Washington D.C., pursuing an internship and college courses. I didn’t know then what awaited me at the end of my one-way ticket, but I remember I was excited.

After the plane touched down, I took my first breath of Washington air. It was thick, heavy. I wrestled with my luggage and made my way to Georgetown University. I ogled at the tall buildings and city lights. My eyes must have been as wide as the streets. Country girls don’t make it to the city very often—or, in my case, ever.

As the days passed, I noted so many things I had never seen before (there were escalators made specifically for shopping carts!). I mastered the metro system and visited nearly every Smithsonian museum that D.C. had to offer. I saw the memorials of four presidents, and I even visited the home of Barack Obama. Everything I saw was spectacular, but I noticed that things I did at home didn’t quite translate in Washington.

A look inside the National Museum of Natural History.

Instead of hiking up mountains, I hiked up a dozen blocks to the store each week, stocking up on groceries. My commute to work was a bus ride to a metro station, and no longer a quick mile on a bike. My morning jogs migrated indoors to an air-conditioned track because of the oppressive summer heat. Formal dress was not a decent pair of khakis and a polo, but a jacket, skirt and heels. And jazz in the garden wasn’t really in a “garden,” either.

I was surprised by the supermarket’s idea of “fresh” produce, and shook my head when I called home, only to hear about everything that’s growing in our garden. Thanks, Mom.

During the eight weeks I spent in Washington, I saw so many beautiful buildings. The Capitol at night is particularly breathtaking. But as much as the city had to offer—frozen yogurt, sidewalk concerts, and a Starbucks on every corner—this country girl needed her space.

I missed waking up to see the sun chase away the fog, to fall asleep listening to the crickets’ playful chirps, and walking barefoot through a plush grassy lawn. This final piece is a guilty pleasure of mine. I could walk for hours, twisting the green blades between my toes. Let me be the first to say that going barefoot through city streets is NOT the same as going barefoot through the Adirondacks. Yes, I tried. You can be sure the first thing I did once I got home was pull off my shoes and take a stroll around the little plot I call home.

It has been more than two months since I last saw Vermont, or since my weary eyes have rested upon anything truly green, for that matter. Sure, there were plenty of little parks, but the general idea of green in the city means something that’s energy efficient or eco-friendly. One thing is for sure: I won’t be taking “green” for granted any time soon.

For eight weeks, I traipsed the streets of D.C., looking for a slice of home. I didn’t find it. Where I did find some small strip of grass, there was no quiet. I couldn’t wait to get back.

Sitting in my coach seat of a train destined for Rouses Point, I smiled as I first saw the sparkle of Lake Champlain. I was getting close.

A fountain near the Capitol.

As the car jostled back and forth, I took a deep breath and ran through the memories I made this summer in D.C. When I look back, thinking of the lights and great marble buildings, there will be no doubt in my mind that it was a wonderful experience. I really do love D.C., and heck, I may even miss it. It’s a beautiful, fast-paced place, and there’s no shortage of things to do. Though it definitely doesn’t have the small-town charm, the people are nice enough, and the streets are surprisingly clean. Will I ever go back? It’s quite possible. But boy oh boy, it sure feels good to be home.

Try everything once. You never know– You might like it!

I think I’m addicted.

To hiking, that is. After just one taste, I want more.

The view from a lower summit on Jay Mountain Photo: Elizabeth Piseczny

Last weekend, joined by Shaun Kittle and Emma Vance, I hiked up a mountain for the first time. And despite a day of soreness afterward, the experience was well worth the effort. Since Emma and I had never gone hiking before, we weren’t sure what to expect, but the feeling of achievement, combined with just… amazement at the beautiful view, was such a reward.

We set off at 10 A.M. and drove about 45 minutes to Jay, New York, where we hiked a trail on Jay Mountain, to a lower summit on the mountain. While others may have chosen to hike another mile and a half to the actual summit, we were content with just viewing it from afar.

Shaun advised us to wear durable sneakers or hiking boots, sweat-wicking clothes (or at least not 100% cotton, he recommended), and to bring a long-sleeve shirt or windbreaker, a couple of liters of water, food, and a backpack to carry everything in. After the experience, I also recommend bug spray, sun block and, if you‘re like me and want to know what everything is, a guidebook about plants and animals in the area. Luckily, with an experienced hiker with us, Emma and I didn’t need to worry about anything else.

Shaun explains some characteristics of ferns to us. Photo: Elizabeth Piseczny

The hike up was a challenge, and I could feel my heart rate increase and my muscles burn as we tried to keep a steady pace. Along the way, we stopped and looked at a lot of things I’d never seen before, like Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora), different types of ferns, and several types of mushrooms, which caught my eye with their bright colors. The scenery was peaceful and beautiful, and we saw only a few other people while we were making our way. Besides being enjoyable just because of the environment, it was an educational experience, too.

There were several memorable moments, but one of my favorites was when we emerged from the trees only a few minutes from our destination. We stopped to rest and viewed what seemed like an extraordinary amount of dragonflies. They were everywhere, in colors of red, blue or yellow, but flew so quickly that I couldn’t catch a picture of them.

The people we met on our way, or while we stopped for lunch, were some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Possibly the best reward for all our hard work was discovering the delicious wild blueberries that covered the summit. I was surprised to find them there.

I really have only positive things to say about our experience. I can’t wait to see what I’ll find next time!