We finally had a nice weekend weather wise, for all the events that went on. The pond hockey Adirondack Bowl had good conditions for the event with very little wind for the spectators to contend with and temperatures that kept the rinks in good shape for the players. The Zippy riders had god trail conditions for snowmobiling and temperatures that were done right enjoyable for riding. It was a hopping weekend in Inlet with a little new snow each day that made it good for x-country skiing and temperatures in the twenties, above that is.
I got down and watched a few pond hockey games on Friday and took a few pictures. It’s not the National Hockey League but it was fun and the players seem to be enjoying themselves. The spectators changed with the teams that were on the ice so there seemed to be a following for each group. I didn’t go down when they had the games under the lights but I’m sure that was neat also. The parking lot was sure lite up with the bright highway lights.
We have the most snow on the ground than we’ve had in a long time, well over twenty inches and mostly light powder. It’s fun to snowshoe in with my big shoes, I don’t know how it would be with the smaller shoes on a unbroken path. I see a lot of people with the smaller shoes going on a broke trail but not many just going off through the woods on their own.
I did some trail breaking on the x-country ski trail along Limelikn Swamp with skies Saturday and it was very nice. I had three following me and on the way out I let them go first so I could get a nice glide in the broke track. I was with my daughter Erin, grandson Jacob and his friend Dillon. Dillon had fallen twice in the same spot on the way in and since he had marked the spot I stopped there to take his picture on the way out. Well he didn’t disappoint me as he fell right on cue in the same spot as was taking his picture.
Jacob and Dillon had downhill skied and snow boarded all day Friday at McCauley Mountain, they said the conditions were great and the price was right. They started at nine and ended when the lifts stopped running, I guess they got their moneys worth that day. After we x-country skied Saturday they went over to the sliding hill at Fern Park and played until dark so they had two full days of outdoor air and fun.
Friday night we played a new card game that Dillon had brought Card Monopoly, which was interesting. I won the first game, which was to get three monolopies. Since no one told me that was the object of the game and my turn had passed so when it came to Grandson Jacob’s turn he also got three and declared he had won. I cried fowl and we played another hand and I don’t remember who won that one. It certainly doesn’t take as long to play this as a real game of Monopoly for sure.
This light fluff snow is sure good for the Grouse to spend their cold nights in. I don’t know how many times I’ve been going through the woods and a Grouse has come right out from under my snowshoe. That will get your heart pumping for sure. There are many birds that use the snow as and insulator. Many of the northern birds that come here for the winter have learned this trick to survive in their harsh climate. I was watching the Common Redpolls the other night as they literally fluttered in under the snow on my back porch for the night. At first I thought they had hit the window and were struggling to get air borne again. Instead they were flitting to get under the snow where they stayed the entire night. If these birds don’t plan right and an ice storm or freezing rain comes during the night they will be sealed under the snow. I’ve heard this has happened to Grouse but never have seen this myself. Many times in the spring you will find a pile of Grouse droppings in one place and this was where one had spent the night under the snow during the winter.
A Perch fishing I will go but that’s another story. See ya.
