Chestnuts in Arborland: Arctic Freeze

We've got snow, yes we do! We've got snow, how 'bout you?

After a few weeks of warmer-than-usual weather (highs in the high-40's and even low-50's), we finally got a blast of Arctic air. Winter here, without snow, is a pretty boring affair. Everything is gray and gloomy, and it can get pretty cold, but there is nothing beautiful about it. So you can imagine my excitement when the forecast finally predicted snow. I'm still waiting for a blizzard with a real snow-dump, but we did get a good 2 inches.

We woke up to a cold, cold, cold morning:

Which, along with the snow, meant icy roads — of course, we had to drive somewhere that morning. The roads had been plowed and salted, but the salt doesn't work well below about 27°F, and the plows can only do so much. We were left driving on roads that looked like this:

Yup, that's all clumps of icy, dirty snow, and below that? Ice! From the first turn we were slipping and the anti-lock breaks kept engaging, though I wasn't pushing hard. The scariest moment was when we didn't stop, even when I was pressing the brake, and the car in front of us wasn't moving. The tires caught just in time and nothing happened, but it was scary! Immediately following, we took a turn and hit an icy spot, so we just kept sliding in the direction of the turn. Luckily, we were able to continue moving forward, got off the ice, and straighten out. I was proud of myself for keeping my wits and being able to control the car. The best piece of advice I have for new snow drivers? DRIVE SLOWLY! I think that's the only reason nothing serious happened.

When I got back home I went for a walk to take some pictures. The temperature when I left was "15°F feels like 6°F," so, warm!

The snow around our complex had been moved from the driveways and shoveled into piles. Don't they look fun to jump in?

And the trees, as always, were very pretty with their coats of white.

Picturesque fence.

The funny thing about "15°F feels like 6°F," is that your cheeks get so cold they hurt. For about 5 minutes. Then they stop hurting because everything has gone numb. The same with your hands in your not-so-wind-resistant gloves. Once you come inside everything thaws and starts hurting again!

Funny thing #2: Jake and I have been fighting a bit of a cold lately (this isn't the funny part). So, lots of congestion, runny nose, etc. Oh, and if you want a good cold-buster, try some Korean Spicy Tofu Stew, sooooo yummy!

Ok, that wasn't the funny part either. When it's "15°F feels like 6°F," and you have a cold and you go to wipe your nose, it's pretty funny to find your tissue come away with ice on it! Yup, it's that cold.

The park has no winter maintenance, so the paths were full of snow. And, since the Arctic freeze had been accompanied by strong winds, a lot of the snow had really piled up. But, as some fellow park patrons notified me, "Aw, you be alright! You got boots." And so I was.

Note the pretty shadows.

Deep tracks.

The park was very beautiful and calm that day, cold and still except for occasional winds, but noisy! I thought the geese all head south for the winter, but a huge collection of them was taking a break in the warmer side of the river. They were too far for a good picture, though.

The winds left neat tracks in the snow.

A good portion of the river was frozen too, I haven't seen it so solid before.

When I reached the paved part of the river path I noticed that the wind had created another piece of art:

Snowy footprints.

My best guess for why this happens: When people walk on the snow it becomes compressed and possibly melts a little into foot-shaped ice. Then, when the wind blows over that patch of snow, the less compressed snow is blown away, leaving behind snowy footprints. I did say it was a guess!

I had to take the long way home because my usual shortcut was too deeply snowed, so I saw some things I don't usually see. Snow slide anyone?