Redstone Quarry has become a part of my routine, and a place for me to find solace from the constant pressure of campus. I first visited this place during parents’ weekend. My dad drove me to the base of the quarry and stood against the car as I walked across the slippery redstone. My parents have never been outdoorsy, and markedly have never made an effort to get me into the outdoors. I think walking across the bridge into the ravine and up to the rock face, while my parents stayed behind helped me fill the gap between where I was before I came to UVM and the places that I was going to go.
From that first visit, the quarry has gone from new and exciting to familiar and comforting. From slippery and wet, to icy and snow-covered, to leaf laden and muddy, the quarry has morphed through the seasons. Stark red maple leaves turned brown and stuck to my shoes and the birches grew bare and gray for a while. The winter can often seem never-ending and all-consuming, but over the past few weeks, I have witnessed the quarry’s natural communities spring back to life. While things aren’t like they were in September, green signs of life are poking through.
I did not take much notice of animal life when I first visited, or really until this semester. I’ve become acutely aware of what is moving around me, and am much better at identifying what those things are. I’ve heard the birds return to these trees and watched the squirrels start scurrying around again. This past visit, the birds were particularly active. In the past, I mostly only noticed Cardinals and Robins. But this time, I heard Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, and Goldfinch in addition to the Robins and Cardinals.
I have come to know the path that winds down from Ledge Road all the way to the pond quite well. I mark each trip with the view from the top of the cliff as well as the view back up.
A new surprise found me on this final visit though as I walked towards the Paper Birch tree I was previously observing.
I am forever grateful to Redstone Quarry for connecting me with the natural world beyond and within Burlington. This has been a great project.
I can see myself revisiting this space many times before I leave Vermont as it has become a safe haven for me throughout this year. I think it provides this comfort to a great number of people, as the neighborhood surrounding it clearly takes advantage of the paths for recreation. I love that this spot can foster ecologically and socially beneficial environments. This place has become a part of my experience at UVM and has shaped the way I view natural areas, I hope to impact this space in as positive of a way as it has me.