Porkies 2013 Winter is here a few weeks earlier than in recent history. The below average temperatures and above average snowfall have a lot of people cursing old man winter and praying that mother nature will deliver spring in a similarly early fashion. But, I would say, don't swear off winter just yet. Winter offers everyone a unique look at an otherwise familiar location. The once leaf littered branches and trails have become powder coated tree limbs and pathways. Your favorite scenic overlook that allowed you to view the vibrant colors of autumn now displays a palette of grays and white. And, that peaceful lake you pulled a wall-hanging walleye out of just a couple months ago has become a giant sheet of 12" thick ice. To be honest, those descriptions would typically get an "I know, it sucks, doesn't it?" response from the majority of people I meet in my hometown, but if you take a closer look at what you are viewing, you may just develop a greater appreciation for the gift of seasonality in the Great Lakes region.
If you spend anytime in a undeveloped area this winter, take a few minutes to look around and observe the differences. The wildlife trail that has been trampled into a muddy pathway for the past 6 to 8 months is now refreshed by each new snowfall and shows distinguishable time-stamped footprints of deer, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, maybe even a coyote or wolf. The Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay that you could previously hear chirping in the trees behind cover of leaves, needles, and pine cones now is a bold accent against the monochromatic gray backdrop. The newly frozen water adds the entire State of Rhode Island to Wisconsin's explorable seasonal land mass. And, for those that build up the courage to discover some place new, but were always afraid of getting lost, know that your footprints in the snow always allow you to remember where you came from.
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me, an invincible summer." Albert Camus
If you spend anytime in a undeveloped area this winter, take a few minutes to look around and observe the differences. The wildlife trail that has been trampled into a muddy pathway for the past 6 to 8 months is now refreshed by each new snowfall and shows distinguishable time-stamped footprints of deer, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, maybe even a coyote or wolf. The Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay that you could previously hear chirping in the trees behind cover of leaves, needles, and pine cones now is a bold accent against the monochromatic gray backdrop. The newly frozen water adds the entire State of Rhode Island to Wisconsin's explorable seasonal land mass. And, for those that build up the courage to discover some place new, but were always afraid of getting lost, know that your footprints in the snow always allow you to remember where you came from.
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me, an invincible summer." Albert Camus
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