What a difference 24 hours can make. Yesterday's glassy lake has been turned into a pristine layer of white by last night's storm. Although it's been winter for quite some time, this is the first time it's really felt like it, with the first measurable snow of this season. Due to the lack of snow late last winter, it's been over 10 months since we've had snow - not a record, but close. Lake Wicwas finally looks the way it should in late December.
We received 8-10 inches of dry, light powder, though the strong wind made it hard to get an accurate measurement. It was enough to allow XC skiing on the lake and on the well-graded trails, but not enough to provide cover for rougher terrain.
By noon time there was enough of break in the clouds to have a little sun shine through, but the wind was whipping up the snow into miniature tornadoes that were blowing from north to south down the lake.
Sometimes the visibility was poor even after the snow had stopped, but it made for interesting patterns on the snow, not unlike what you might see in the desert.
In the hemlock forest, the winds were kept at bay, and the snow stayed in the trees well into the afternoon.
Let's hope this is the start of good winter weather for Lake Wicwas.
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