The Big Blizzard of 2019

Sunday morning, the 23rd day of February.The meteorologists were calling this the biggest storm of the winter, and it soon became apparent that it was going to hit us dead center, with snowfalls in the 12-24 inch range and wind gusts up to 60 mph.  It had been many years since I had seen a real old fashioned blizzard, and this one lived up to its billing.  Like all blizzards, it began slowly with a southeast wind and steadily falling snow.

The wind picked up during the afternoon and the snow got heavier.  

The visibility decreased.  We heard that all schools had already been cancelled for Monday, which was delicious news when I was a kid.  

The snow piled up.  We hadn't gone outside all day, but I had to feed my animals.

Sam decided to heat his sauna, so I put a towel in a bag and headed out on snowshoes.

I'll have to admit, that this storm was a doozy.  It stacked up well against other blizzards I have seen.

Earlier in the winter, I had marked the path to the hayshed with 42-inch posts that I use with my electronet,  but now the posts were totally buried.

Rather than shovel out the door,  I simply stepped over the fence.

Returning after taking a sauna at Sam's.

The snow was very soft and my snowshoes sunk foot with each step.  One of the down sides of blizzards is that you tend to start feeling cabin fever and want to get out and do something, but there's very little you can do outdoors that is enjoyable.  

The wind continued through the night and gave birth to Himalayan mountains on our back deck.

Monday morning dawned cold, but the wind had lessened and the snow had stopped falling.

The bottom of this hanging feeder was under the snow,

The south deck would have to be shovelled.

As would the back deck.  I have begun to seriously question the wisdom of building decks on houses in the Copper Country.

The greenhouse and hayshed.

Looking out the window in our old kitchen.

Looking out the garage door.

My plow truck would have been helpless against these drifts.

Wind driven system snow is dense and heavy, so unlike the fluffy lake effect snow that we get throughout the winter.

Our driveway was filled, bank to bank.

During winter I back my tractor into the garage for reasons that are obvious in this photo.  

Marja had her work cut out for her.

And so the ball begins....

The drifts were higher than the snowgo.

My new blower is considerably heavier and more rugged than my old one, but I am thinking of getting chains on my front tires to increase traction.

The first cut is always the hardest because you have to push the entire width of the blower into the snow.  You can take smaller cuts on subsequent passes.  

I was pleased to find that the changes I made to my homemade cab were successful.  I didn't get any snow blown into my face.  My feet got chilled, but that is to be expected when its five degrees and windy.

I also cleaned out the snow in front of my plow truck so I could get it out.

When I had finished here I drove over to Sam's driveway, where the drifts were much deeper and more solid.  It took me almost an hour to cut through the length of the driveway.  In one section the drifts were four feet deep and solidly packed.  I had to hammer away at it with the blower, backing up and hitting it again and again,  advancing about a foot each time.  It was like hitting a bank of plowed snow. 

Marja shoveled off the front and south decks, but left the Himalayans for later.  We also learned that all the public schools were cancelled for Tuesday as well because there were still so many roads and streets that were still snowed in.  The plow drivers will be working a lot of overtime this week.

Winter Days

Our artist at work.

Reading with friends.

The Supermoon

Shopping for groceries.

Life is good.

Supermoonrise

Snowshoes and toboggans are indigenous to North America; they were common mode of transportation among the northern Indian tribes.

I have often noted how well snowshoes and toboggan work together.  The toboggan is narrow and long, and naturally follows your snowshoe tracks as you wind through the woods.

And has a curved prow to ride easily over snowdrifts.  It is an excellence mode of  conveyance in heavy snow.

The train game.  

Blowing Back the Dunes

Preparing to do battle with old man winter. First line of defense: an insulated pair of Carhartt bibs.  One doesn't  generate much heat sitting on a tractor.

Next, a heavy fleece sweater.

Then an insulated Carhartt jacket, a woolen toque and two pairs of woolen mittens inside leather choppers.  Two pairs of woolen socks and felt-lined Sorel boots on the feet.  You really can't overdress when the temperature hovers around zero.

There was no point in using my plow truck.  I was running out of space to push the snow.  A friend once joked that a Yooper's vision of heaven was having a big new plow truck and an empty lot where he can push his snow.

Up here we have to move a lot of snow.

Advancing dunes threaten to overwhelm the oasis.

They must be attacked!

Again and again.

The Sahara can get a bit chilly this time of year.

Downright cold.