Frozen Winter Runoff

A half-frozen winter runoff flowing into the Rogue River—gentle tones of water and ice recorded on a cold Midwest day. The longer I spend listening to nature… the clearer the subtleties become. Winter has fully arrived here in the Midwest, and during a quiet walk through the town of Rockford, Michigan, I went searching for something worth capturing. Near the boardwalk, I came across a small runoff feeding into the Rogue River—partially frozen, partially flowing, and full of delicate textures. What drew me in was the contrast: the steady movement of water beneath and around sheets of ice. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the soft shifting tones created as the current weaves through frozen edges, bubbles under ice, and breaks into open water. It’s a simple scene, but one that holds a surprising amount of detail the more you sit with it. This recording was captured in ORTF stereo using the LOM BasicUchos and a Zoom F3. For the best experience, listen with stereo headphones to catch the spatial movement and subtle character of the winter runoff. This is Outdoor Sounds. Links Rogue River Boardwalk | alltrails.com