Blizzard!

January 49th through 55th
There was sun last week. The sky at the start of the week was as blue as it gets. There was also the kind of cold that defines Deep Winter. The air temperature eventually got off the schnide and brought with it a little snow. Before the snow events of last week, the lake was covered with a 16 inch layer that was divided into 13 inches of snow with a 3 inch slush base. The lake ice was about 20 inches thick with a good 2.5 inches of slush-water on top. Waterproof boots are strongly recommended. Twenty inches of ice is safe to walk/sled on, but the slush and snow on top has made such treks way too exhausting. The now ancient ruins of the bottle rocket war forts are still recognizable. The southern citadel is a little tippy. Even before the snow, several area picnic tables needed a little brushing off. Before the snow storm, right turns continued to enjoy the freedom from stopping. After the blizzard, all you can make out is part of a mostly buried red octagon. The condition of Knott Lane could be described as snowy and narrow. The after the plow guy cleared the lane, we carved a hole in the packed snow/ice layer of the road to see how thick it was. We've got a hard, frozen layer of 5 to 6 inches of winter covering the plowed lane. The icing followed by the snows have been particularly hard on the trees. Many branches were spotted on the ground before being covered by yet more snow. The warming weather lead to the formation of some truly impressive icicles. The bar's icicles reached the snow drifts . This gave the view out of the windows a real un-Summery feel. Until clouds, snow, and the lunar progression blotted it out, nights were bright thanks to a full super-moon. Early in the day last Thursday, the main lodge at Ski Brule was very unpopulated. The hills had some of the best snow we've ever experienced. That changed. To our surprise and horror, over 300 sixth graders descended upon the hill. Tow lines grew longer and the snow got chunked up. Still, it was a great time. Despite the snow and cold, the first elements of tree tapping have started. The ATV with the feet was dispatched to break trail to the sugarbush. With many areas holding snow over a yard deep, it looks like snowshoes will be the rule rather than the suggestion. Twenty four hours after this image was captured we were hit with a blizzard. Over a foot of snow whipped up by 25-35 mph winds (gusting to 55 mph!) made for an interesting day. I'm sure there has been more snow on the ground in the past, but we can't remember when. It's currently -10°F. January, The 4th Horseman of the Snowpocalypse, has supplanted February and seems to have his icy eyes on March. Don't put the sleds away just yet.<br><br>-Nemo demands more skiing, fewer sixth graders.