My Afternoon Hike To Eternal Flame Falls, Orchard Park NY

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Today I went to visit a good friend of mine in the nursing home. On the way back to the office I was inspired to see if I could find Eternal Flame Falls. I have lived in this area for over forty years and never once bothered to find the falls. The other day I was reading a web page that gave directions to it so it was fresh on my mind. Seeing it was on the way home I decided to give it a try.

Well, I cannot believe I have never bothered to hike to this falls before. I have passed its location HUNDREDS of times in my life unaware. It is located on Shale Creek – a tributary to Eighteen Mile Creek, in a beautiful section of Chestnut Ridge Park. I was VERY much impressed with what I found. It was only a half mile or so walk through a forest of hemlocks, pines and maples. The path is clearly marked and it is easy to find.

I guestimate the falls is over 40 feet high. The water level was very low considering the time of the year. What is special about this falls is the natural gas feed flame that burns in a section cut out in the Hanover shale behind the water fall. The weird looking trees with the roots exposed give the unique spot an erie feeling. I wish I had my tripod with me as it is a lowlight area. I will have to get back when the water is flowing in a greater volume and get some better pictures for my Gallery.

Click on any image for a larger view
Eternal Flame FallsEternal Flame Falls

Eternal Flame FallsEternal Flame Falls

How Great Thou Art

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SK Hine brought to America a hymn that was the final result of almost seventy years of literary activity, involving several different writers and translators. In 1885 or 1886 Rev. Carl Boberg, a Swedish preacher, wrote the hymn, O Store Gud, (O Great God). In 1907 it was translated into German, and in 1912 into Russian. In 1927, the English missionaries Hine found it and stated using it in their ministry in the Ukraine. When W.W.II broke out Hine brought the English translation of the hymn with him to England and added a fourth stanza. He added the fourth stanza just after W.W.II, when many refugees from eastern Europe were streaming into England. The refugees were always asking, “When are we going home?” In the day we reach our heavenly home will we proclaim, with the hymn,”My God, How Great Thou Art.”

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Chorus:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Interesting day today – from Instanbul, Turkey to Zoar Valley Hike

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The day started out with a long distance call from two friends who just happened to be in Istanbul, Turkey. They are missionaries reaching the people of Bulgaria. They took a trip into Turkey to pass out Christian literature. Last year I was able to go to Istanbul and had the opportunity to speak to some Muslims about the Lord.

Went to work and got the office cleaned up, was out on vacation the last week. Saw that it was a beautiful day with blue sky and nice cumulus clouds and thought – “hmmm need to get the boys down to Zoar Valley one more time before summer is over.”

So we did just that. Hiked from Valentine’s Flat parking lot to Point Peter. This is a awe inspiring lookout point to the Saddle Back at valentine flats.

Looking from Point Peter to Saddleback Ridge & Valentine Flats

We then kept going left on the ridge to a nice lookout point where there is a memorial to Todd Shea, who must have fell there to his death. The date of his death is on my birthday – January 9th. There is a huge “old growth” grape vine near the place – it is has to be 12 inches in diameter. We then hiked back down the path and to one that leads to the creekside. We took the central path to the creek. It is a beautiful path with some excellent bird viewing. We saw a red tailed hawk within 50 yards perched on a tree. No picture as Frankie spooked it before I could get my camera up. I schooled him on how we need to be quiet when we get an opportunity like that.

Well, we made it down to the creek and I took a bunch of pictures upstream toward the Confluence and Saddleback Ridge. Also pictures downstream toward Point Peter, some came out great.

We then hiked toward the Confluence and turned right going upstream on the South Branch. Around the bend was an old favorite spot, “the Point.” It is around 200′ up. I have scaled down the side of the Point numerous times in the past. It is a very difficult climb down – and up, forget about it. Needless to say I was not going to try with my camera equipment and the boys in tow, even though Frankie at age 10 is an excellent climber. Tim is very good to at age 15. Took some good pictures of the Point and then we headed back downstream on the South Branch toward the Confluence.

The Point

We crossed over the Main Branch just past the Confluence and went into the wooded terrace to find Buff Falls. It is located on the north canyon wall in the woods about a third of the way downstream between Saddleback Ridge and Point Peter. It was flowing but not much. Took some nice shots and will have to get back after a good rain for better ones. Located some huge “old growth” trees in this terrace.

We crossed back over the creek and headed back up to the Valentine Flat parking lot for the trip home. We were rewarded by the good Lord with a beautiful sunset.

Pictures and write up asap on my Zoar Valley page and Photo Gallery. That reminds me I need to get some pictures up from my trip to Bulgaria and Turkey one of these days.

Yo, anyone out there? 😎

Looking for some fellow Southside Jr High School friends

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I dug out my Southside Jr High School (Buffalo, NY) yearbook from 1976 today. Wow we really looked funny in the seventies, most of the guys had longer hair than the gals. I would love to know what happened to some of my friends I have not seen since then. So, if any of you who are listed below happen to see this please contact me!

  • Dave Stanson
  • Theresa Fitzgerald
  • Bill Barrett
  • Marco Benedetti
  • Alonso Brown
  • Mike Fahey
  • Randy Hattinger
  • Kevin Kujawa
  • Tony Marinaro
  • Bill Steiner

frankbroughton.us begins

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Welcome to the personal, ideas and banter of Frank Broughton of Buffalo New York.

The aim here is to adroitly comment on society and life! Probably only to myself but that will work