Any way you look at the snow this year, whether praising it or cursing it, every one agrees the snow is amazing.
Clearing crunch. Residents clearing snow from decks and driveways have run out of room to push and pile the snow and many have been forced to revert to snowblowers and throwers from snow ploughs and shovels.
Sledders pleased. Sledders claim that the fresh and deep snow on trails and cut blocks in the surrounding hills is the best they have ever enjoyed this year.
Melting snow. Winter residents are keeping a watchful eye on cabins for sliding and melting snow with the current daytime warming trend. While it is unlikely we will experience the same amount of damage to structures from sliding ice as last year, the build up of snow and resulting melt water could put some residences at risk of flooding.
Trekking in the snow. The Boultbee gals have wisely set aside every Sunday as “snowshoe day” instead of the regular noon walk on the road. The ladies have been exploring the many trails and destination points close by and despite the hundreds of dead trees that litter the forest floor and infrequently-used trails, the deep snow covers much of the debris and aids snow shoeing on some of their more rugged routes.
Lake snow. Deep snow on the lake has its pros and cons. While sledding on the lake is better with deep snow than on just bare ice, walking with only boots is difficult unless on an old and hardened sled path. As always, the weight of the snow will force overflow water up through cracks and natural holes and despite the cold snap of -20 C nights in February, there were several inches of slush all around Rock Island.
Skiing on snow. Spring skiing on the lake has always been popular and it just got a whole lot better. Several Boultbee Road residents pooled their resources and inventive spirits and have created a cross-country ski track sled. After several trial runs and modifications, the group is close to having a successful design that would please most nordic skiers on the lake. The last task will be to put up some signs to deter walkers, sledders and snowshoers from inadvertently destroying the set tracks.