December 3, 2023: Winter is Close

By close, I mean geographically.  The snow we received last week is essentially gone from around the lake, but just 20 miles north - as the crow flies - there are a few inches on the ground, and quite a bit more at elevation.

Snow on the ground and rime ice on the trees.

That's from the summit of Mt. Tecumseh, the lowest elevation of the 48 mountains that make the list of New Hampshire's 4000 footers.  At lower elevations, up to about 2500', bare branches let the sun shine through on the fresh pristine snow.  

But as the forest transitioned to spruce, the terrain became shaded, with the snow contrasting against dark green needles and blue sky.

There were mountain ash trees scattered along the trail above 3500' with the red berries either falling off or being plucked off by the birds, as there were bright red spots that looked like drops of blood on the snow.  The berries right at the summit were frozen solid, covered with rime ice.

Rime ice on the mountain ash.

Streams are still flowing well and icicles have started to form where water drips over rocks and ledges.

I saw absolutely no birds on this hike, not even a gray jay or a boreal chickadee like I saw when I was here about this same time last December.  The only wildlife was a brave chipmunk still out collecting food for the winter.  

Back at the lake, winter is starting to take shape; our cove had its first full skim of ice form on Thursday.  On Monday morning the cove was still open water as the moon set to the west.

By Thursday morning, ice had crept out about half way across the cove.

Thursday, November 30th.

And by Friday the entire cove was skimmed over.

Friday, December 1st.

On Saturday there was even a skim of ice growing up the main part of the lake from the southern end.

A warm, foggy Saturday morning.

You can barely make out a path where what was probably the last boat on the lake made its way through the ice to the boat ramp.

Warm weather yesterday melted much of the ice away, but with snow forecast for today it will probably fill up with slush and ice and be ready to freeze solid with one good cold snap.  The possibility of ice on the lake and snow on the ground means winter may be about to creep down those 20 miles as the crow flies south from the mountains to the lakes.

We're ready for winter!