Winter

Winter Time.

ο»ΏWinter is a long cold time here in the frigid Northeastern United States. After you few years spent in the winter here, you can see why people are moving out of New York left and right – it’s the winters plus the unfriendly enforcement-first culture that dominates politics. Many cold blustery days, road salt encrusting everything, high heating bills, and slippery sidewalks for months on end. Fortunately, climate change has made the winters a bit less severe but they aren’t going away tomorrow.

Cold Road

I plan to tough it through another winter. I have warm gear, and I don’t mind winter camping, but the snow makes it hard to be back to the remote campsites I like to camp in the winter. Colder temperatures are tough on all the gear, and the the many gray and short days of winter aren’t much fun. It’s not too bad in the sense that it’s often one of the busiest times of year at work for me, so I can focus on the long days at work, and then relax on the weekends at home, just going for short walks down to the library or other places.

 Cold

Staying close to home, I tend to save more money in the winter then the summer, despite the higher heating bills. I try to get keep the heat down low in the winter, so it really only adds $40-50 to my utility bills, which is easily offset by not taking trips and burning through gasoline, food and supplies. I try to live fairly modestly in the winter, so I can have enough money saved up for trips come the summer. Nothing beats a hot weekend out at the potholers or other Adirondack swimming hole.

 Cold Afternoon

The cold and blowing snow will certainly come to an end. They’ll stop spreading salt on the roads, the ice will melt. And maybe it will it be an early spring. One can hope.

It seems summer has all but bit the bucket, despite the muggy weather tonight

Scientists alarmed by massive amounts of road salt used in the Northeast – News – The Herald News, Fall River, MA – Fall River, MA

Scientists alarmed by massive amounts of road salt used in the Northeast – News – The Herald News, Fall River, MA – Fall River, MA

While Americans may dream of a white Christmas, living with snow the rest of the season is driving a nightmare salt habit.

Each year, Americans spread more than 48 billion pounds of salt on roadways to ward off the effects of winter weather. But it comes at a cost: De-icing salt degrades roads and bridges, contaminates drinking water and harms the environment, according to a slate of scientists expressing growing alarm.

“The issue of road salt has been out in front of us for decades but has received very little attention until the past five years,” said Rick Relyea, a biological scientist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute near Albany, New York. “Then we see, my goodness, it is everywhere, and it is a growing problem.”

Winter is Here – It’s Time to Head Outdoors!

Good Nature: Winter is Here – It’s Time to Head Outdoors!

There are many benefits to spending some time outdoors in the winter. One of them being that it will be less crowded, allowing you to really take in the peace and quiet that winter in the outdoors provides.

Other benefits include:

A great time for stargazing! The colder nights and dry temperatures make for clear night skies. A great time for birding! The bare trees make it easier to see and identify birds. A great time for scenic views! The change in the trees and landscape offer new ways to see and experience the natural world -- especially when covered in a blanket of snow.

 

What happens during the winter solstice?

The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs around December 21st. But why is winter in the Northern Hemisphere colder than the Southern Hemisphere, even though the Earth is closer to the sun.