We got a warmless sun set in a blue sky and almost a foot of new snow last week. The snow didn't come in a single lump, but rather in several small to moderate events. Strong winds brushed much of the white off the lake and seemed to deposit it on local walks, roads and driveways.
It's harder to ignore the state of Knott Lane, especially when having to maneuver around very large, very stuck trucks.
Late in the week, several low clouds crashed into and condensed upon treetops in what could best be described as a faux ice-storm. Next to no ice-storm, that's the best kind.
Under a few inches of snow cover, the lake ice is sort of 6 inches thick. There's about 4 inches of strong ice topped with an inch of water and then an inch of weak ice. When walking on the lake, the top weak layer gives way and feet stop on the bottom layer. This gives the unsettling impression of falling through the ice with every step.
That did not stop some very determined/crazy snowmobilers from zooming down the lake on Sunday. The canals they cut into the first layer froze up by sundown.
The Second Horsemen of the Snowpocalypse, January, has shown up early this year. We've never avoided this particular apogean rider, and we probably never will. Last year, January arrived after Christmas and stayed around until almost March. We were hoping for a more traditional 31 day visit this time, but January's early arrival coupled with its tendency to freeze around until February, has many stocking up on propane and soup. With the negative aspects of January also comes some positive characteristics; Enough snow for the 29th Annual Lake Lucerne Bottle Rocket War, sledding is great exercise, the feet are already on the ATV, and tee times are plentiful.
-Nemo predicts a white Christmas.
