Monday, December 18, 2017

ONE THING I DISLIKE ABOUT WINTER

    Usually I like most things winter...my winter which is snow, ice and low temperatures to minus 30 C ( Minus 22 F) or more.

    However, there is one thing about my winter that I dislike intently and that is rain. Our ground is frozen so when rain hits the ground here in winter it freezes and leaves a treacherous layer of ice. 







   We had such a rain three days ago. We are prepared and equipped to drive on ice. Walking is another issue. We don't have much to take ice off sidewalks so ice stays until snow covers it. If we get enough snow it will pack on the ice and cover the ice.

   I've counted birds in one area here for over 40 years. I could not count on Sunday as the ice made footing too risky and I wasn't going to go out and fall on the ice. 

   The rain we had made the layer of snow we have quite solid in most places. This places stress on many of our native critters that depend on soft snow to survive. For example, mice stay under the snow all winter and make miles of tunnels to get food. Coyotes and foxes dive into the soft snow to catch mice. Deer paw the snow away to reach some plants otherwise they browse on trees and shrubs. 

    So we are prepared for snow , cold and wind but rain makes our winter more challenging and dangerous.

39 comments:

  1. You got hit hard with the rain and freezing. Hopefully you'll get a thaw soon and then just snow. I feel for the animals who can't get at their food due to poor conditions. They have ways of surviving the winter but sometimes those ways can't overcome what nature sends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We likely won't be so lucky to get a thaw.

      Delete
  2. You're a better man than I am.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We get ice storms here in the Seattle area, and they are devastating, but they are soon washed away by warmer rain. I had not thought of the consequences of an ice storm that doesn't melt until spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fortunately some combination of dirt, snow and thawing make things manageable.

      Delete
  4. I agree that rain and snow make for dangerous icy conditions. Last year we had ice rinks in many parking lots here and they stayed for months. I hope this winter is milder this year for us and for you. Merry Christmas to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many of our parking lots are very bad as they were hard packed snow. Now they have the coating of ice.

      Delete
  5. You Albertans are hardy people. I couldn't bear your winters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everybody has their own challenges. I don't like heat or much rain. Our annual precipitation is 12 inches.

      Delete
  6. That ice because of the rain and frost together is so scary. I try to avoid going out and fall on the street. You can easily break an arm or leg...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really can't cope with anything remotely slippery and it amazes me that people manage to live with frozen paths!
    I hope things get a bit more steady underfoot soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After a few days there's some dust and dirt and then snow goes over the ice and it's okay.

      Delete
  8. Be careful since an aging body is less forgiving when hitting the hard ice. I have crampons, but have not used them in years past. We get ice but not like you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This aging body has suffered some damage from falls on ice so I make sure I have shoes with suitable soles.

      Delete
  9. That's true for everyone. We are getting ready for a cold onslaught that will cause us to have treacherous walking for awhile, too. Time for me to try out my brand-new microspikes, which strap onto my boots. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to have to look for some micro spikes.

      Delete
  10. One of the few reason I'm glad I live down south, rarely do we get ice

    ReplyDelete
  11. That ice can be treacherous. We liked it as kids, you could skate everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For kids, large sheets of ice are a godsend.

      Delete
  12. Deep snow, blizzards, bottomless freezing temperatures, living in igloos, rubbing noses with our wives we tough winter hardened Minnesotans, we can thrive in it all@!!!! Ice several inches under a thin layer of snow. It is impossible to survive and also hurt our friends the deer who starve...:(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are hardy when it comes to winter. No matter where you are there are challenges.

      Delete
  13. Poor critters! I'm sure they have ways of coping with weather like this, but still, it's got to be hard on them. As for you -- maybe you need some special non-slip mountain-climbing shoes?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right they have ways of coping but many still parish.

      Delete
  14. Ugh, I do not miss that ice. Walking and driving are treacherous and no fun at all. Be careful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Freezing rain is one of those things I dislike too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Freezing rain is just much slicker than packed snow.

      Delete
  16. Ice is so much worse than snow, and so much more dangerous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The frozen rain seems to be much slicker.

      Delete
  17. I hear you, I hate rain when it freezes too. We have spikes for those occasions if we need them. I love them and they work fine. I also had some chains that you put over your shoes but if you need them a lot, they break, at least mine did. Spikes though IMO are the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to have to look for some spikes. I don't want to stay in all the time.

      Delete
  18. We too will get a lot of ice as the season continues. It always takes that very first ice storm to get a lot of people into the ditch. I have more fear of someone coming on me from behind or head on crashes are not nice. Be careful to out there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People coming from behind or the side are the dangerous ones.

      Delete
  19. This is the part of winter that I cannot stand. We had freezing rain overnight but thankfully the temperature rose and everything melted. Ice is very dangerous to walk and drive on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now that's fine if the temperature rises enough so that the ice melts. It isn't going to happen here because of the frozen ground.

      Delete
  20. Oh my goodness I could not agree more!!! We had rain on snow the other day and now everything is ice... I hate it! So dangerous. After hitting my head on the driveway last winter when I slipped on ice, I am being extra careful this year. Give me a thick blanket of snow any day!

    ReplyDelete