Smugglers’ Notch is a narrow winding pass that snakes through huge rock outcroppings in the Green Mountains of Northern Vermont. This area has a rich history, starting with Vermonters who used its many caves and rugged terrain to avoid capture as they smuggled goods to and from Canada during the Jefferson embargo of 1807. Then again, as part of the Underground Railroad to smuggle runaway slaves into Canada, and finally to smuggle liquor during the prohibition period. There were many places here where trees grew right on top of the rocks but this spot intrigued me because of this large sentinel like tree that was perched on the edge of a small cliff, held there by a long serpentine root that just seemed to keep growing until it wound around the rock anchoring itself. I loved all the texture but, as usual, I took some liberties with the details in order to provide more contrast in the background and more clarity in the foreground.