Deep Winter

December 25th through 31st

Early last week marked the start of a cooling event. Frigid winds, rapidly growing lake ice, and sub-zero highs all pointed to one crispy cold conclusion. Deep Winter, the second sub-season of Winter, has arrived.

Deep Winter is not without its merits. There wasn't any mowing, nor was there any shoveling. The extremely cold air that covers the area can't hold much moisture. The blanket of snow deposited on the shore during the previous weeks is only 7 inches thick.

The light snow that did fall was not plowed, there wasn't enough of it. Car and truck traffic compressed that snow into an icy topping on all the roads and highways. This has added a heightened caution component to strolls on the lane.

The cold has added a few inches to the lake ice. It's a rare event for the ice to get to a yard thick, but it's well on its way.

It's hardly worth mentioning that anything above the ground is frozen solid, but we'll state it anyway.

Above the frozen pines and wood smoke, the waxing moon was getting closer and closer to full.

On New Year's Eve, a clear sky combined with a reflective snow covering to amplify the lunar light, making it seem as bright as the sun on a cloudy day.

Of the 3 sub-seasons of a 15 week Winter, Deep Winter, commonly lasting only a week or two, is by far the shortest. This is appreciated by the vast majority of northwoods residents who unsurprisingly do not revel in dry sub-zero highs and sunlight devoid of any warmth. This season it came early, creating the real possibility that we might be looking at a rare and dreaded Long Deep Winter. Eew. <br><br>-Nemo, mostly keeping warm. Mostly