Although the ice on the big lake looks very inviting, it is no longer recommended for either travel or play. Test holes early in April indicated the lower layer of ice is very soft. Since most of the ice melts from the bottom, the ice may feel firm on top from cool night temperatures, but it can have very little substance below.
Litter bugs residents
Garbage along the side of the Highway 24 and secondary roads is a surprisingly huge problem, and the fact that half of the litter is empty liquor containers is disturbing. Spring cleanup is underway with several residents adopting portions of the highway and rural roads. Thanks go to all the neighbours who take the time to pick up after the hundreds of thoughtless travellers who continue to litter this pristine area.
Final ride
Easter Monday’s snowmobile excursion proved to be this year’s last ride for local sledders. By all accounts, the typical spring ride was excellent. There are several destinations in the northern hills that can only be accessed with very deep snow to cover stumps and other development hazards and the repetitive late winter snowfall provided just enough snow to accommodate. With relatively few injuries and equipment failures among the neighbours and their visitors, this year’s snowmobiling season was labelled “excellent” by local riders.
Water watch
An early ground thaw is welcomed by those residents troubled in the past by overflowing ditches and frozen culverts. Much of this year’s melting snow is draining directly into the ground rather than flowing above ground. While there is still plenty of snow melt to come down from the hills, the warm days and cool nights seem to be self-regulating the runoff and saving local roads and driveways from excess water and washout.
Burning ban
Many residents conducted yard burning right up until the open burning bans went in place on April 15. For most land owners, snow was still piled high in yards and on burn piles making earlier burning a real challenge. By holding off as late as possible, some residents were able to rid their yards of winter’s debris, but many seasonal residents will have to wait until after Sept. 30 for their cleanup work.
Changing times
Despite the very mild winter we enjoyed, residents are anxious for the longer and milder days of spring and all the changes that can be expected. Receding snow banks are revealing toys, tools and thousands of little rocks that went astray during snow storms or were pushed when plowing driveways. Indoors, the changing angle of the sun reveals window streaks, cobwebs and dust bunnies that were previously hidden by the darker, shorter days of winter. Open windows fill the otherwise silent neighbourhood with unfamiliar sounds of music and voices and also let in the occasional fly, which prompts the hunt for flyswatters and bug zappers stored away in the fall. The distraction of flies and butterflies outdoors take some getting used to having been absent for so many months. Even our neighbours adjust to the spring with shorter haircuts, lighter jackets and different treads on their summer boots, which take a little getting used to.
Spotting wildlife
A bobcat was seen near Peaceful Cove at the east end of Lac des Roches at the end of March. Several sightings of deer herds have been observed near Boultbee Road and deer and moose have been observed repeatedly along the side of Highway 24. No bear sightings yet, but there are green shoots of grass coming up in the bare pastures, which could attract hungry bears.