Winter 📍

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Albany Airport – Days Above 32 Degrees in January

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January 2023 had 29 days when the temperature reached at least 33 degrees at the Albany International Airport. That is a new record, previously in 1990 there were 28 days above freezing, and 26 days in 1989.

 

Albany Airport - Days Above 32 Degrees in January

Thematic Map: New York State County Population Density

Seven months of hauling cow shit 🐮 💩

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That’s how a dairy farmer once told me to look at the winter, as they count the loads of box manure spread on fields until it warms enough for spring tillage and ultimately planting come the warmth and greens of May.

Mud And More Mud

The land has a tangy, sharp smell of cow during this time period in Upstate farm country. Is it a bad smell? I don’t know, it’s the smell of land working, nutrition and fertilizer returned to the land that will continue to support the cattle that produce the milk, the cheese, the beef, fats and meats that are important to both us humans and the livihoods of those who farm it.

Down To Moscow Hill Camping Area

Winters really are long in Upstate New York. The months of brown and gray – some days with blue skies – and others with ice and snow are long. The greens of summer are short, what seems like days while the dead kill of frost and winter are long.

Thematic Map: Cedar River Flow Campsites

Ten degrees winter camping threshold ❄

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I find my winter camping gear is good down to roughly about ten degrees. Colder then that things get potentially dicey.

  • My stacks of sleeping bags are comfortable down to around ten degrees, any colder and my feet and hands start to feel cold at night.
  • It seems like my truck’s starting battery and load from thick oil increases at below ten degrees, leading to somewhat sluggish starting after a night of opening and closing doors.
  • My propane heater throws off less heat below ten degrees, the camp stove cooks slower and the lantern is dimmer due to propane and condensate starting to conjeal in the lines and regulators.
  • House / Accessory Battery voltages drop leading to them tripping out due to under voltage much more quickly.
  • Much greater risk of the propane heater or stove malfunctioning due to conjealed lines from condensate and jelled propane, plugging up regulators and propane lines.

I’ve camped a few degrees below ten degrees but it’s not pleasant and leads to more headaches then it’s often worth. But above ten degrees generally things are smooth sailing with the gear and set up I have.

Terrain Map: Happy World Milk Day!

Christmas is History

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The lights of Christmas are dimmed, as yet another holiday season transitions to the cold hard realities of January.

The calendar reminds us that the darkest days of the year are beyond us, but it seems like we really aren’t making that much progress. The Christmas songs have been taken down from the radio, and the Christmas lights are rapidly being dimmed and extinguished every night, as we proceed towards New Years.

Ashokan Reservior

Next comes January. A very cold and dark month, although every day gets a bit longer. Today marked the first twilight at 5 PM in a while, every day will get a bit longer. The weather may still get a bit colder, but we all know what is next in distant future — spring.

Untitled [Expires August 24 2024]

I generally am not a fan of the long cold nights of darkness, when I usually stay in town and try to conserve money for next year’s adventures. But it’s part of living in Upstate New York during the long bleak winters.

Snowmobile Tracks

Skating

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Watching the people skate around on the Empire State Plaza ice rink, looking down from the Corning Tower Observation Deck.

Map: Follensby Clear Pond