Deep Winter

By last week's end, January, the most feared and dreaded of the four "Horseman of the Snowpocalypse", was upon us. In the before time, high temperatures were close to thaw and the roads were sort of clear. That changed. For the better, if you like your winters cold and hard. For the worse, if you're sane.

Earlier in the week, before the intrusion of January and Deep Winter, it snowed. We didn't get much. It was almost pleasant.

By the end of the first snow event, the lake had a fresh few inches of cover.

The snow was less deep on top of the crabapples.

After the first snow, there was an uptick of activity at all the local bird feeders.

The deer shaped suet feeder on Knott Lane was even more popular.

The second snow event of the week started on Friday and ended on Deep Winter.

By the time it was over, we had half a foot on the ground.

It was a good time to have proper snow removal equipment. Or better yet, know someone with proper snow removal equipment

After the snows, Knott Lane's condition was very un-summer like.

For reasons unknown, the start of Deep Winter and the arrival of the second Horseman of the Snowpocalypse always seem to coincide. It is a profound, cold mystery. The good news for even those with no love of Deep Winter, is that it only lasts a week or three. The second bit of good news is that the ice should soon be thick enough and the snow plentiful enough to hold the 33rd Annual Lake Lucerne Bottle Rocket War. Huzzah! To avoid the overexposure issues that plagued the 12th Annual Lake Lucerne Bottle Rocket War (the combination of moon light and long exposure times, fear it), the new event date will be either February 3rd ot 10th. We'll let you know as soon as we know. We did get an ice thickness check near the end of last week. Lucerne currently has 4.5 inches of good ice 20 feet out from the edge. We really hate the involuntary swim, so did not get a check further out.

-Nemo perfers a less ice chunky time for swimming.

Deep Winter

January 8th through 14th, 2024