Thinking Differently About Winter Weather
Now that I am a snowmobile owner, I am thinking differently about winter weather. In the city, snow might mean shoveling at home. But now snow means better riding, a great reason to head out to the Cabin for a day, a weekend, or a week.
There is still the need to shovel that snow, at home and at the cabin, but each shovel full is a reminder that it’s time to pull the start handle, strap on the helmet, and rev up the engine for a ride on the snow.
A Late Spring is Welcomed
This year we have had a long Spring. Winter has been hanging on, fading away, then roaring back. Just this past week, we had 15 to 20 cm of snow, turning a crusty set of fields and ditches into some pretty rideable conditions. Not mid winter powder conditions but considering it’s April 19th and I’m gonna be heading out for a ride shortly, that’s a rarity.
This late spring will push back the start of fishing season. The ice is still over a half a meter thick and I don’t yet see signs of the melt / run off along with mid-April sunshine taking out the ice along the north shore. Normally I want to get out on the water for May 5th opening day and hook a few fish on my fly rod, but this year I am just as happy to keep the snow and ice around a little longer and instead spend the time behind my handlebars.
Looking Forward to Next Winter
With a temperature forecast in the high teens coming next week (a little cooler further north), it’s unlikely these abnormal snow conditions are going to last much longer. Summer will be full of it’s own recreation. Fishing, Sea-Dooing, boating, swimming, kayaking, relaxing on the deck or watching the flames in the firepit. That is always worth a look forward and happy anticipation. But in about 6 months when the water toys get put away for winter, the snowmobile will be shifting to the star of the outdoor recreation.