Winter photos

By Gordon Harris on January 16, 2022 • ( 4 Comments )

Every day is different in Ipswich.

Salt marsh ice formations — Argilla Rd. near the entrance to the Crane Estate, January 31, 2022

Skiing in dunes — Cross country skiing in the dunes at Castle Neck, January 31, 2022

Cross country skiing in the dunes at Castle Neck, January 31, 2022 — Cross country skiing the Green Trail in the dunes at Castle Neck, January 31, 2022

snow in the dunes — The strong winds at Crane Beach during and after the January 29 storm blew the snow off the dunes.

Saturday, January 8, 2022 : skiing at Appleton Farms

The trails at Appleton Farms Grass Rides were groomed. The snow was perfect for just one day.

It was so cold on Saturday January 15 that we only went for a drive, but Sunday was a sunny and calm 20 degrees, perfect for long walks at Crane Beach and the Castle Neck Dunes.

View from Gould's Creek bridge, January 2022 — View from Gould’s Creek bridge, January 2022

Gould's Creek, January 2022 — Gould’s Creek, January 2022

Frozen Fox Creek, January 2022 — View of a frozen Fox Creek from Argilla Rd., January 2022

Dune trails Crane Beach — Photos below are from this hike

Thursday, January 6, 2022: a hike in the dunes at Castle Neck

Cladonia and Hudsonia beside the trails at Castle Neck.

Snowy owl at Crane Beach — Snowy owl in the dunes, January 2022

Crane Beach, with dune in the distance January 2022

Sand formations after high tide, January 2022

Looking down at Crane Beach from the Castle Neck dunes, January 202 — View of Crane Beach from the Castle Neck dunes, January 2022

Dune trail, January 2022 — View from the dunes, January 2022

Frozen dripping water, Steep Hill Beach, December 2021 — Dripping water freezing at Steep Hill Beach, December 2021

Crane Beach, January, 2005. Charles Wendell Townsend wrote, “Ice formations on the beach and ocean are suggestive of the polar seas. During severe frosts an ice cliff forms at the upper edge of the beach, and this presents to the advancing tide a sea-wall from two to eight feet high. Against this the waves beat, and the spray flung up on the top freezes and adds to the height.”

An ice cave, January 2005, Crane Beach. Townsend wrote, “While the top is fairly smooth, except where it is eaten away by the waves that have broken through it, the sea façade is hollowed into caverns or built out in parapets and festooned here and there with icicles.”

Winter photos - If you don't go outside, what's the point of winter?

Postcard of the sand dunes at Ipswich Beach

The missing dunes at Castle Neck - The "Great Dune" at the end of Castle Neck has disappeared, the point is retreating, and the opening to Essex Bay between Castle Neck and Wingaersheek Beach has widened.

The Epes’ farm at Wigwam Hill - Symonds Epes bought a large tract in 1726 and built a substantial farm and orchards at Wigwam Hill, named for a group of destitute Indians who briefly camped there. The protecting pitch pines were later cut for lumber, and the farm became a large dune.

Crane Beach, Easter weekend 2020 - The Crane Estate has been closed by the Trustees because of Covid-19, but Crane Beach, Steep Hill Beach and Castle Neck are open to residents of Ipswich with a Crane Beach sticker Friday - Sunday.

The Ipswich Dunes, photo by Sharon Scarlata

Photos of the dunes late on a winter afternoon - See more photos by Sharon Scarlata. Related Posts

Trails in the dunes at Castle Neck in Ipswich

The dunes at Castle Neck - Crane Beach and all of Castle Neck are protected by the Trustees of Reservations. Pitch pine and scrub oak rise from the masses of marsh grass, sage green hudsonia and dune lichen lining the trails that wind through the dunes.

2018 photos from Crane Beach and Castle Neck - After weeks of rain and a record-breaking cold spell, this was a beautiful day for a hike at Castle Neck, returning along Crane Beach.

Homes of the Appletons - Appleton Farms was gifted to the Trustees of Reservations by Francis and Joan Appleton in 1998. Originally granted to Ipswich settler Samuel Appleton, it is the oldest continuously operating farm in America. The farm continued in family ownership for seven generations, and the extended family built homes along Waldingfield Rd. and the nearby vicinity.

Appleton Farms and Waldingfield Road - Owned by the Trustees of Reservations, Appleton Farms is America’s oldest working farm, with 12 miles of walking trails, a visitor center, and Community Supported Agriculture program.

219 County Rd., Samuel Appleton “Old House” (1794) - Appleton Farms is one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the country, gifted to the Trustees of Reservations by Francis and Joan Appleton. It was originally granted to Ipswich settler Samuel Appleton. The farm continued in family ownership for seven generations. The property consists of forests, fields, […]

Categories: Nature

Tagged as: Castle Neck, Crane Beach, Dunes, winter

4 replies »

glenn Harris says:

January 16, 2022 at 5:25 pm

You all are so lucky to live there. I enjoy coming for my vacation. I need to get there more often.

Joan B Mc Farland says:

January 8, 2022 at 5:50 pm

I miss Cranes Beach and the dunes, will get back some day

Nancy says:

January 8, 2022 at 5:43 pm

I’ve always wanted to cross country ski…but walking the dunes looks great, too!

Andrew C Reid says:

January 8, 2022 at 4:20 pm

So much fun. We skied at Appleton Farm today too. Bluebird day.