Mist curls, rises, swirls over the Snake River in the light of early dawn and a full moon.  It is the morning of the autumnal equinox.  The air is calm and chilly, about 42 degrees.  A touch of autumn color tints a few trees.  Pileated woodpeckers and a northern flicker sound their ringing calls in the woods.  A small group of black-capped chickadees gurgle softly to each other as they hunt for insects in the hazelnut bushes on the riverbank.  In a few minutes, the sun will rise, the mist will vanish and the day will gradually warm to 70 degrees.  But for now, the river valley is hidden and serene.

Early morning mist swirls over the Snake River in Pine County, Minnesota.

Autumnal equinox on the Snake River.