This Weeks Winter Weather

Down state Wisconsin is still getting more snow fall then we are up north. But, some good news, our snow is starting to add up. We are getting help from lake affect snow, and 3-4 inches of snow falling for the last few days. Those little snow falls each day has added up to finally a nice amount of snow. Not that we do not need more, we still do.

The snowmobile trails should be in “good” condition. I will be going out riding tonight for the first time this year. I have talked to a few locals on Sunday, that have been out. We had some bad ruts still, and bumpy spots. The snow that has feel Saturday and this week all ready should extremely help our snowmobile trails. We cannot forget about our “silent sports” this snow will also help out the ski trails and snow shoeing too.

Ice fishing has been hit and miss the last few days and this past weekend. The walleyes are starting to move in deeper waters. My husband caught one small walleye in 15 feet of water. The ice on the lakes are at a foot plus. My brother was the first to drive out on our favorit winter lake. No, not something I would advise doing if you do not know the lake well. Check at our local bait stores for information on ice conditions. Our local paper has all the fishing information in the outdoor section.

Our highways are not bare right now. The weather for awhile now has been to cold for the salt to work well. The back roads are mostly ice covered and very slippery. As of this morning we are still using sand on the highways to help. I cannot stress the importance of slowing down! When you are coming to a stop, start slowing down way in advance. Four wheel drive will not help on ice. If you loss control going 55mph, and are in four wheel drive, you are less likely to recover. Slow down even if you have 4 wheel drive! You still cannot go as fast as you do on bare pavement!

The weather service is calling for freezing rain starting on Friday. If this does hold true we are not in a good way at all. We will then have layers of ice, snow, more ice, then again snow. Keep track on the weather and on the roads. This time of year is a good time before leaving to check out this site, “Winter Road Conditions.” http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/road/winter-roads.htm As I look today, not one place in the state of Wisconsin is in good driving condition. It is winter, it is time for us all to slow down.

Filed under: outdoors in the north, Todays Thoughts, Weather

“At Least The Sun Is Out”

Today it has warmed up, it is a balmy 8 above zero! Mother nature loves to fool with us this time of year. She does have a sense of humor, I will give her that.

The sun is out, we have a fresh inch or so of new snow. The snow hangs to the pine trees, as to say, “let me make you beautiful, I will make you sparkle like a diamond.” The winter birds are singing to the sun, and warming in her rays. That is when mother nature plays her joke on us humans.

 We look outside, think what a perfect day for a winter walk, looking at all Gods glory. We open the door, the warm sun hits our face, a few more steps outside, “bam” the joke is played. The nose begins to run, eyes start to water, saying to our brain, ” hey stupid it is freezing out here!” With our heads hung low, as some how that is suppose to help keep the cold away. The walk gets faster, now only to the mail box is in our thoughts. By the time we turn around to come back into the house, we are now running. The sting of the cold air is hitting every inch of our face, mumbling to our self, about how cold it really is. We open the door as fast as we can, the birds I swear by now are laughing, the trees give a slight wave as we go inside.

“How was your walk,” asks your significant other. Not bad, at least the sun is out!

Filed under: outdoors in the north, Todays Thoughts, Weather

Winter Weather Part 2

The cold artic air came through late last night, with it came wind and dangerous wind chills. The temp. was still dropping early this morning when I got up at 5:30. It was still above zero, not by much, but hey, above zero, is above zero. We did not then get above zero all day. 

The real danger is in the wind chills, and that is why we are still under a wind chill advisory till 3 am. Even then we can hit at times 20-30 below. Skin can get frost bit in 30 minutes if not covered.  The most common areas on the body are the ears, tip of the nose, and fingers and toes. 

As for snow, we did not get much at all in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. The snow we did get was blown around by the wind, it was to light, and not a “good snow,” as we call it. We like the heavy wet snow that makes a good base for the winter sports. It helps to pack down the trails for our cross county and down hill skiers, and the snowmobile trails.

This type of weather is perfect for one winter sport, ice fishing. The cold weather helps get a nice solid ice, and lack of snow helps the lakes freeze up better, plus you do not have to fight the slush. As of Saturday we have a nice solid eight inches of ice. The walleye fishing is still good, and they are still bitting in the shallows, easy fishing the way I like it. That is if you are brave enough to go out in this cold weather with out an ice shanty, and this girl is not.

The highways do have a layer of thin ice. The weather is to cold for the salt to work. Driving slow is still a must. Taking a few extra minutes is all you have to do. We have the most automobile  accidents in the beginning of winter as people have to learn to drive again on ice and snow covered roads.

The snowmobile trails open tomorrow, we still need more snow for the trails to be in good riding condition. We still need to “THINK SNOW.”

Filed under: outdoors in the north, Weather

Cold Start

We had a cold start to the day. Yes, winter is here! I woke up to 8 below zero this early morning. The folks like my husband that have to work outside in the cold sure have to bundle up warm with mornings like today.

The cold weather we have been having so far is great for the ice. And the ice fishing has been good so far this ice fishing season. The nice thing about early fishing, you do not have to fish in deep water. We fish for walleye, this time of the year you can catch walleye sometimes in only three feet of water. That was the case the other night when my husband caught a 27 inch walleye. 

I would say the ice is now around 6 inches deep. I am sure with the cold air last night it added some more good ice. The ice is not yet drivable, maybe for ATVs and snowmobiles. You still have to know the lake you are fishing, and know where there are springs, and running water. It really does not matter how much ice is on the lakes, in those spots it is never safe. This time of year is one of the best times to get out and go fishing if you can get out. This fishing is easy, and you do not have to go far out on the lake for walleye.

The sun is at least out today. It makes it seem much warmer then it is outside. I call it snot freezing cold. When you go outside, well, you can only guess. I will leave that thought up to the imagination.

Filed under: outdoors in the north, Todays Thoughts, Weather