I remember when I was younger, winter was long and cold. First snow was almost always on Halloween and we were lucky to not have snow left on the ground in late April. Worst yet were the frigid temperatures. I still remember writing finals in high school one year when we had the longest streak of -35C and below temperatures – almost 2 weeks straight! But no more! People may try to burn me at the stake for saying this but I miss real winters.  Okay, I can do without the brutal cold snaps but a long winter has some advantages like winter sports.

But no more! People may try to burn me at the stake for saying this but I miss real winters.  Okay, I can do without the brutal cold snaps but a long winter has some advantages like quiet snowshoe adventures in secluded nooks. There’s nothing like making the first tracks in the white snow!

My last stomp this year was on March 13th. I went back to Chappell Marsh knowing that it would be fairly untouched. But spring was already blowing in, literally. The howling wind almost made me turn around early. But I pushed on knowing that it would be several months before I could do this again. I miss you snow but you’re gone and now that the snow is gone from around my kayak and I can physically reach it, I think it’s almost time for a little tour around the lake!

Note: All photos taken with smartphone