January's Snow Face Week

January 9th through 15th

Last week started out innocently enough. It was cool, cloudy, and January (the month). January (the Fourth Horseman of the Snowpocalypse) had shown us his cold face the week before. Last Monday, it was time to pick up a shovel, fire up the snowblower, lower the plow, and gaze upon January's snow face.

After the 48 hour snow event, we had about a foot of white covering our world.

Drifting made the snow somewhat deeper in spots. Standard 36 inch driveway markers were in danger of not being tall enough for the job.

The driveway marker crisis of '17 passed without incident mostly because many driveways were delineated quite well by walls of snow.

All roads to Crandon ended up being paved with packed snow and ice. Driving into town became much more exciting

Cars that were not parked inside were easy to spot. At first glance, it looked like just another random lump of snow, but the wheels and door handles were dead giveaways.

Crandon has cleaned up well using a front loader. The giant piles scattered around town might still be there this June.

It's disturbing that some metal roof snow curls have sprouted teeth.

By week's end, the wind dropped below 20 mph and the sky cleared, giving way to some of the best flying weather in weeks.

Devils Lake is snow covered and appears to be untracked by snow-goes.

Lake Wabikon also remains frozen. The establishment on the North end of Wabikon, Johnnie's Resort, remains popular.

The lake ice on Lucerne is pushing a foot thick.

The snow on top of that ice is also pushing a foot deep. Sure it's cold, frozen, and snow covered, but at least there is symmetry. Huzzah!

Deep Winter, the second sub-season of the snowy solstice, is coming to an end. Temperatures above 0℉ F are becoming common place, bringing with them a feeling of melt. As the Fourth Horseman of the Snowpocalypse rides back to Canada, we welcome Thaw, the last sub-season of Winter. Because of the variable nature of the sub-seasons and the phase of the moon, it looks like the 26th Annual Lake Lucerne Bottle Rocket War will be held during Thaw. Digit inventories after the event, while not as important as when the night air is all sub-zeroy, are still encouraged. Leaving behind a finger, toe, or nose can be embarrassing.<br><br>-Nemo counts 10, 10, and 1.