Terrifying Effigies
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terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Terrifying Effigies
@terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
610 followers 230 following 620 posts
🇺🇸 He/Him // Volunteer trail maintainer and sometimes photographer. Find out about how you can help preserve the outdoors in the VA/DC/MD/PA area at www.patc.net
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terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
The perennial trail maintainers' game of "rock tetris" - 'now where does this one fit?'

Despite the ongoing government shutdown, #PATC volunteers recently got approval to continue working on the #AT in Shenandoah NP (but not side trails). #nationalparks #hiking
Two Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) volunteers work on the finishing touches of a new rock check dam on North Marshall Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park. One volunteer tries to insert a small rock into a crevasse.
October 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Above the coastal clouds, Marmot Pass, Olympic National Park 📷 #photography #landscape #monochrome #nationalparks #nature
Black and white photograph of fir-covered ridgelines receding into the distances above a white cloudscape.
October 15, 2025 at 11:19 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
On the Continental Divide 📷 #photography #landscape #nature #hiking #monochrome #rmnp
Black and white photograph of snow-covered Hallett Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park. In the foreground three skiers prepare to descend.
September 27, 2025 at 9:33 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Another successful Trail Maintainer Workshop for the books - over 30 volunteers spent the weekend in Shenandoah National Park learning best practices for trail maintenance from #patc instructors, as well as enjoying the chance to socialize with fellow hikers #hiking #trails #nationalparks
A PATC trail maintenance instructor talks new volunteers through how to assess a blow down for removal, including how to identify and mitigate challenges such as bind and spring poles. New volunteers work on rehabilitating water bars on Traces Trail, Shenandoah National Park, as part of learning the basics of trail water control structures. Trail Maintenance volunteers enjoying camaraderie around the campfire after a long day's work.
September 22, 2025 at 1:16 AM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Nature reclaiming its own on Pocosin Trail, Shenandoah National Park 📷 #photography #nature #plants #fungi #nationalparks
A tree stump covered in ferns, mosses, lichens, polypores, and other small plants and fungi.
September 18, 2025 at 1:40 AM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Can vouch for Little Henry's, I put in two this spring - lots of white flowers in summer, and now they're just starting to turn bright red for fall
Little Henry sweetspire with white panicles emerging
September 16, 2025 at 12:41 AM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Morning mists in Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park 📷 #photography #landscape #nature #nationalparks
Misty fog over a small pond in Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park. In the foreground a tree stump sticks up out of flat calm waters. Trees, snags, and blowdowns can barely be seen in the background through the fog.
September 15, 2025 at 11:07 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Four hours of work, but completed Phase 2 of building out my miniature #nativeplants garden - one serviceberry tree for the birds and some aromatic aster and white beardtongue for the bees. #gardening
Brand new serviceberry tree planted to replace some lawn Digging through the clay hard pack. Aromatic aster and white beardtongue planted around the serviceberry
September 14, 2025 at 11:35 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Smoky drive through the Olympics 📷 #photography #landscape #nature #nationalparks
Photograph of a two lane road winding up a forested ridge, taken from Kahhane Ridge, Olympic National Park. A single car can be seen driving up the road. In the background rises a range of mountains veiled in smoky haze.
September 13, 2025 at 12:27 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Juba skipper (?) enjoying an alpine aster, Olympic National Park 📷 #photography #inverts #flower #nationalparks
Photograph of a skipper butterfly (Juba skipper?) perched on an alpine aster. The butterfly is small with yellowish-orange and brown coloring and small white markings on the wings. The aster has long thin petals of a pale lavender color, with a center of golden yellow to dark caramelized brown.
September 12, 2025 at 1:43 AM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Came across on the local trail, really not sure if it's supposed to be a crime scene or not.
An apparent gnome facedown in the dirt with two signs, a small mushroom, and miniature rabbit by his side. One sign says "Please do NOT touch or take anything from the set up. Do NOT intentionally ruin or destroy set up. This art is for everyone to enjoy." A second sign says "Do NOT touch"
August 26, 2025 at 12:32 AM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Cascades above Seydisfjordur 📷🇮🇸 #photography #nature #landscape
Photograph of water cascading down steep slopes and outcroppings of rock above Seydisfjordur, Iceland. The terrain is steep and devoid of trees, with grassy slopes broken by rocks and cliff faces. The upper heights are obscured by low hanging clouds. A bit of sunlight lights up a white stream of water among the cliffs.
August 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
This was considerably more than a normal day (putting it mildly), but it can be pretty crazy how much stuff Park Rangers end up having to deal with.

And by "smashed by fallen tree", photo from another hiker:
Row of parked cars damaged by a large fallen tree that fell straight across them.
August 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Wet summer on the East Coast caused a lot of erosion on the trail, so this month we worked on rehabbing a washed out section of #AT just off Rt 211 in Shenandoah Natl Park. 11 new checkdams and 3 waterbars should help with the problem. #hiking #patc #nationalparks #snp
Trail crew after installing 14 new water control structures to help restore a washed out section of the Appalachian Trail. The crew stands on either side of the trail holding tools such as a fire rake, rogue hoe, shovel, and cross cut saw. Two trail crew members work on installing new wooded check dams to help catch water washing down the trail and prevent erosion. An AT thru-hiker making use of the newly restored trail. Original washed-out condition of the trail before the trail crew got to work, including an +8-inch deep gully carved out of the gravel bed by runoff.
August 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle - Shenandoah National Park 📷 #photography #nature #invert
Close-up photograph of an Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. The beetle is long and narrow with a black shell covered with white speckles and two large false eye spots.
August 13, 2025 at 10:27 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Upper Doyles Run Falls, Shenandoah National Park 📷 #photography #landscape #monochrome #nationalparks
Black and white photograph of upper falls on Doyle Run, Shenandoah National Park. The photo is a long-duration shot which turns the two cascading falls into white veils across the wet dark rock.
August 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
One optimistic sunflower - lots of woodland sunflowers (Helianthus divaricatus) currently in bloom in Shenandoah, this one decided to take up residence inside of a tree trunk 📷 #photography #nature #flower #nationalparks
A single woodland sunflower bloom (Helianthus divaricatus) peeking up from inside a rotten tree stump. The flower is yellow with several long narrow petals and an inner darker yellow central disk with black stamens.
August 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Grand Teton coming down Hurricane Pass, Grand Teton National Park 📷 #photography #landscape #nationalparks #nature
Photograph of Grand Teton from the Teton Crest Trail, descending from Hurricane Pass into Cascade Creek. A jagged rocky peak rises over descending cliffs, scree piles, and bands of spruce and pine with a few scattered dots of late summer snowpack. In the foreground grasses, wildflowers, and a stand of trees cover a small shelf that abruptly drops off to unseen depths below.
August 7, 2025 at 1:19 AM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Crossing the Saskatchewan, Banff National Park 📷🇨🇦 #photography #landscape #nature #nationalparks
Photograph of Mount Murchison rising above the Saskatchewan River in Banff National Park. The river meanders across a broad sandy floodplain with heavily forested slopes rising towards a rocky, snow-crested peak hazed with smoke.
August 4, 2025 at 11:12 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Purple mushroom along the AT near Swift Run Gap - Shenandoah National Park 📷 #photography #nature #fungi #nationalparks
Dark violet mushroom with a slightly damaged cap emerging from leaves - maybe Cortinarius iodes?
August 3, 2025 at 8:07 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Blooming sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens 📷 #photography #flower #nature
A sacred lotus blossom starting to open at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The outer green petals have opened to reveal light pink and cream inner petals that in their partially opened state looks a little like the head of a swan.
July 20, 2025 at 2:51 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Sometimes visitors show up - guessing a polyphemus moth? #invertebrates #nature #bugs
Large brown moth with brown and tan mottled wings Large moth seen face on, enjoying the sun
July 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Enjoying a snack - belted kingfisher with a minnow at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens 📷 #photography #birds #nature
A belted kingfisher perched on a branch with a small minnow in it's beak. The kingfisher is navy blue with a white and burnt orange chest and spiky tuft of feathers on it's head. The minnow is not having a good time.
July 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Video of Rocky Run after the downpour #dcweather
July 12, 2025 at 11:47 PM
terrifyingeffigies.bsky.social
Upper end of Rocky Run at FFX County Parkway after 2 hours of downpour - lot of water in the streams right now! @capitalweather.bsky.social #dcweather
Rocky Run after 2 hours of downpour, with a red ball floating away from someone's yard Rocky Run at normal water levels
July 12, 2025 at 11:44 PM