December Snow

Warm Springs Bay has a microclimate that is a little colder than the surrounding area and we have historically been a snow hole.  Until recently, we would get at least 10 feet of snow each winter and our big year was almost 37 feet!  The last two winters have had a total of only three feet of snow, so we were glad to see four feet of snow by the end of December.

We had a 15 inch snowfall in early December.

It took us two days to get the snow cleared because both snowblowers broke down.  Our big snowblower burned up a belt as soon as I started it up.  The second, pictured here, did fine until it got to the slope of this ramp when it gave a backfire, a puff of black smoke, and then it died!

Replacing the belt on these snowblowers takes a while because you have to dismantle it to get at the belts.

A few hours later, we were back in business with the big snowblower (a Honda 1132).

Up the ramp and onto the deck.

This is a lot of snow for the snowblower and I have to go slow so the augers don't clog up with sticky wet snow.

I start at the lodge and clear towards the edge of the deck.

The back of the lodge is always tough to clear snow because the roof sheds there.

This is a big load of snow to clear!

Getting started....

One bucket at a time!

Taking five!

Getting close to boardwalk level.

Although this looks like I'm snowblowing through the forest, it's actually our path up to the creek and hydro shed.

"Now, where did I leave that snowblower???"

We get to shovel off the boats as soon as we get the dock cleared.

Watch that first step.  At least there's no slippery footing to worry about!

Jen shoveling out the skiff.

Almost done.

Feral supervising snow clearing operations.

Glynn clearing a spot to roost.

Rowing over to the neighbors to borrow a cup of sugar.  In the cold weather, the control cables in the skiff freeze, so this winter, we've been using Prime Time's skiff.