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Department of Hype and Overreaction

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I slept in this morning. But when I awoke, there really wasn’t much snow at all.

Dog's Eye View

People said the yesterday was going to be awful, but it didn’t snow until after 5 pm.

Barn

And in the evening, it just was a nuisance snow, by 10 AM, mostly all removed.

Heavy Snow Falling

… So I’m just a little annoyed by the hype.

Yeah for the Snow

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Today marks the second day of the winter when we’ve had snow. That’s good, because until this point it’s been largely a snowless winter, and last year was pretty snowless.

Snowshoe Path

But snow is both essential to the economy, the environment, and way of life in New York State. It provides a surface for skiers, snowmobilers, and snowshoers to get back into the woods.

Climbing out of the Ravine

It refreshes the natural environment, by insulating the ground, while killing off excessive deer, mice, and ticks.

Snowmobile Tracks

… So yeah, to another snowy day!

Managers Median Annual Wage

Those Five Hours of Darkness

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Every day nowadays seems to end with 5 hours of darkness. Here is how I use them when I am out camping.

5 PM. Build campfire, catch up on the news.

6 PM. Cook dinner and eat dinner.

Albany

7 PM. Sit back and enjoy the night by the campfire

8 PM. Listen to a podcast or read a book

9 PM. Head to bed early, as it’s best to get up early in the morning to maximize the daylight.

November Days Are So Short

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One of the things you have to consider about camping in November is how short the days are so darn short. Literally, you get up to darkness, and by 4 PM, you have to get camp set before the impeading darkness.

First Day of Snow at the Albany Airport, Past 30 Years

Literally, you won’t see the sun most mornings until 6:45-7 AM, so you wake in darkness. And total darkness overtakes the landscape by no later then 5 pm. While artificial light can help make the nights a little shorter, it really cuts down on time for the day’s adventures.

Camping Set Up

I’ve found the best way to handle the long nights is to get up early. Set up the alarm clock and be up prior to dawn. Cook breakfast under the camp lights and wait for morning to come.

Coon Hollow

Then at the break of dawn, get on to the day’s activities. Try to make the best out of your limited hours prior to dusk appearing once again at 4:30. It’s just the nature of this time of year.

When Will This Rain Ever End?

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This past October has been one of the rainest and cloudest months in recent memory. I can’t seem to remember such awful weather in a long, long time. Maybe it will break eventually, but for now this dreary weather pattern seems unending.

It just seems to rain and rain. The 7 day forecast just says more rain. No chance to get out and walk, as it’s always pouring. And when it’s not raining, it’s cloudy and damp out.

Snake Mountain 12

Normally, I like the October weather, but this year has been awful.