Finally, Winter
Snowed in at Last
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I look forward to being snowed in. There’s something about the solitude and time to reflect in the calm quiet winter landscape. It’s magical, centring and I love it. This year it seemed like it was never going to happen.
El Nino For North America
Most of North America has experienced a very odd winter season this year so far. Earlier, the west was walloped with wind, waves and deep snow. Although mild temperatures were a common theme, a brief but vicious cold snap froze us. Then, just as the East began to wonder if they’d have any winter at all, they got a historical snowfall.
While western Canada thawed and eastern Canada started shovelling, I sat on my mountain with only a couple of feet of snow. I began to wonder;
’Where’s my winter?’
Though I got the cold snap, my snow had yet to get deep enough to have fun on the snowmobile. We were still able to drive the road into January (albeit hectically)
At the end of the month, it began to rain and turned the little snow I had into slush. I do not like snowmobiling in the rain! So, I decided to start plowing the road down. Then at least the spring thaw might happen a bit more easily.
The Last Push
We made one last trip down the mountain in Curt’s truck. My plowing job helped with the trip down, but we didn’t make it back up. Just too deep and steep for the blue Tacoma, the slushy snow acted like a brick wall against the front cross member. We tried digging out, and then getting a run at it, to no avail. I am finally officially snowed in.
That night we had a beautiful walk home by moonlight.
Thankful for What’s There
Though I can’t have as much fun in the snow as I usually would, I’m thankful for the beautiful blanket of snow that’s fallen. The perfect depth and hardness for tobogganing, new courses down the slope are in our future. It’s also a great depth for snowshoeing. Deep enough to make the underbrush lay down, but not fluffy enough to sink snowshoes. It’s made for some incredible hikes to areas I haven’t been in years.
With Curt’s snowmobile dead, we double on mine. Neither of us enjoyed being on the back of a machine- until now! Now, we’re embracing it. It’s a crazy ride, holding onto the driver for dear life but it’s also a ton of fun!
Curious For Summer
I’ve heard a lot of speculation about what summer will be like following a winter like this. Common thought seems to be that with minimal snow pack on the mountains, the ground won’t take in enough water and it will be dry and hot.
I’m not sure that I buy it.
Though there isn’t much snow, there’s been tons of rain. The forest is more mossy than I’ve ever seen it. Time will tell. For now, I’m loving this unique winter but it certainly has me looking forward to spring!
It's so hard to tell these days what the weather will bring. Grant, my neighbour who has lived in the Cariboo for almost 80 years has not seen weather like this before. Hard to predict what will happen, but it's always good to be prepared for the worst ;)
Might be a really good year for mushrooms.
Enjoyed the read very much. I think it was nice for you guys to have such a variety of weather. Maybe it will start snowing soon and you’ll get a late winter.