No matter where I hike in Western Maine, I now see wind projects. Above is the Roxbury project. Last weekend while in the Whites, I could see the Woodstock project (only steps from Jim's camp on Concord Pond). My favorite hikes - the ones I hike all the time because of proximity - are now desecrated. And for what? We will see who gets rich - or who sees a difference in their power bill - or how much wind energy decreases our dependence on foreign oil. They lie. They straight up lie to get approval and from there, the damage is done. The land owner who leases it to the wind company? S/he gets rich. She makes money.

There are test projects everywhere. Just heard they are putting a test tower on Jim's family's own Black Mountain - the mountain that the big hay field sits below. Wouldn't that suck? I can only hope for gusts that make the project a no-go. That is what happened (thankfully) to the Black Mountain (in Rumford - right next to White Cap) - the winds there were too gusty, too strong at times. But don't worry, the view of the Roxbury project from White Cap is enough to make you hurl. I am no NIMBY - if Wind Energy was really going to make a positive environmental impact, I would be for it -- it is renewable. But I know better than to trust corporate America and former governors of Maine.

It makes me really sad. I am going to have to hone my cropping skills while taking photographs.

My favorite rock on this trail.

Just a dusting of snow up there - so pretty. I couldn't capture it, but the way the crystalline snow looked on the emerald green, plush moss was enough to make me cry - it was beautiful - and I was alone and so happy.

Thought of another big reason why I simply love November. With the trees without leaves, you can see ridge-lines, rivers that are typically obscured by the treeline that surrounds them, bodies of water and a whole lot more.

My partner.

Old Blue to the left - Little Jackson just to the left of Big Jackson (Big Jackson is the one covered in Spruce and closest to me - then Little (the snowy-ish one) then Old Blue farther back)