Ausable, New York - August 21, 2008
Most call it Ausable Chasm, others-- the Little Grand Canyon of the East.
A masterpiece of sandstone chiseled and worn away by nature's awe-inspiring artist.
"This is pretty amazing. You have gorges that are 150-feet deep," said Robert Milford, a visitor from Montreal.
But no matter what you call it, or how many times you've been here, there's a side to this canyon most of its 50,000 annual visitors never see: Ausable Chasm after dark.
"It's a completely different experience. It's really, really nice here," said Deborah Marshall, of Montreal.
Linda Stump of Maryland agreed, "It's a nice aura. It's kind of exciting. It's picturesque."
Matt Pray first started giving lantern tours of the chasm 6 years ago.
Guided only by moonlight and propane lanterns, visitors see all the major sights-- aided by their imaginations.
"It really gives you a different perspective on things cause you're really listening to the waters and it's your imagination really determining what's around you rather than what you're seeing," Marshall explained.
The tour descends into the bottom of the canyon. Light from the lanterns throw dancing shadows off the canyon's walls.
Visitors travel right along the water's edge-- trusting their feet and instincts to see them through.
Don Stump of Maryland said, "In the daytime I'll probably say, My God! I came through here?"
"The really cool thing about the lantern tour is that it shows you what Ausable Chasm really looks like at night," Pray explained.
"It's kind of neat to see it at night and walk around when it's completely black," Milford said.
After a brief stop in the bottom of the chasm, the steep climb back up begins.
But a sweet reward awaits you at the top-- marshmallows roasted over a glowing fire.
After a short break the tour resumes. It's back across the chasm to the canyon's rim.
An impressive view in the daylight, a never ending abyss after dark.
But all good things must come to an end.
From there, it's back to the gate house-- a string of lights bouncing through the dark.
A one-of-a-kind tour in a one-of-a-kind place that leaves you begging for even more.
The lantern tours cost $20 a person and leave every Friday and Saturday night just after sundown. However, the tours are only offered during the summer and reservations are required so you'll want to plan ahead.
Click here for more information on Ausable Chasm and visiting the Ausable area.
Keagan Harsha - WCAX News
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