As you may have heard, the jet stream curved far north around a ridge of good weather and then curved south, followed by the infamous polar vortex ... or “winter” as we call it. Indian summer had been soooo beautiful, with highs in the 50s! Then Winter came screaming in.
“I’M HERE!!!” announced Winter.
It was -22º F, but my new field assistant insisted we do our daily investigation of the river.
Winter's sudden arrival was a shock, and I can’t say I’m feeling all that great about it. But there are antidotes. One will be skiing once there’s enough snow. Another is ice art. Jack Frost followed close on the heels of Winter, and has been making his beautiful hoarfrost sculptures on the river ice.Ice ferns, needles and stars (click on images to view).
A bit of open water. Wood things in ice are anchored logs – fish habitat.
The frozen surface is covered with a mix of snow and hoarfrost.
What do beavers do in winter when the river freezes? Hibernate in their lodge?Pile of sticks on left is a lodge. Beavers were busy here earlier this year, what are they doing now?
The cottonwood tree on the left is the one I’m following.
I post about ice art every winter. We are so lucky to have it ... thanks, Jack!Jack Frost, from Central Park in Winter by Thomas Nast, 1864.