It’s easy to curse it this year, as the piles have become akin to alien moonscapes of hardened boulders. Breaking fences, caving roofs, and letting the pesky deer step over 6-foot fences as if they are a mere logs, harbors some resentment. But, the ephemeral quality of the snow requires constant interaction to fully appreciate its various cycles.
From fluff to crust, the snow in its many forms makes for a transient medium on which to explore the natural world and reason for appreciation. Each episode of snow holds new ways to travel through it, requiring varying equipment from skis to snowshoes to boots. The cold encrusted surface that we’ve recently experienced is soon to melt away, with warmer temperatures forecasted. But, during the last couple weeks, crust-cruising by foot has been the modicum of travel for many creatures big and small in the entire animal kingdom.
When the surface holds, it’s often a great time to go tracking on the hardened layer by foot. Skis work too but can be unnecessary unless distance is your goal. Early morning is of course the best time to head out on the crust, when a layer of surface hoar, or frost, reveals the who’s been traveling and the snow pack is still frozen, so as to avoid post-holing.
After a light snow fall is also a great time to explore the crust. Based on recent outings, snowshoe hare, squirrel, otter, racoons and coyotes are among the common resident creatures moving about the snow, though of course there are many more. It’s always fun to follow the tracks and see where they dive under the snow to a burrow or food cache. Finding a kill can be especially easy this time of year.
As the snow has compacted and hardened, it’s also become a medium for some very creative snow buildings. A winter pastime for children of all ages, snow fort building offers boundless possibilities for sculptural and structural exploration. Around town, this year’s massive piles from snow plows offer unique opportunity for some serious fortress fortifications. Industrious residents on the corner of Johnson Street and West Twisp Avenue have managed to pile a one-story block stronghold topped with a flag, claiming their dominion.
Fortresses aside, other snow structures have emerged. Ramps for sleds, slides, and jumps for skis and bikes have popped up on side streets and back yards. Light fixtures and spray paint have also been utilized in snow structures around town too. I am still waiting for the 9-foot snowman to pop out — perhaps this week as the snow gets mushier, he’ll make an appearance.
With the thaw upon us and the longer days lighting our way towards spring, the opportunity for unsightly items, once buried and frozen, has arrived. My puppy has already eaten a host of mysteriously grotesque biological objects, causing minor stomach illnesses. I am bracing for what more will come as compost piles thaw and the layers give way to earthen patches, some of which are already appearing on south faces under rock outcrops. Fleeting as it may be, Phil the groundhog did see his shadow, so we’ve got at least six more weeks of winter to explore.
