Snowblowers lay in utter darkness

Old Man Winter is late in arriving this year. By his absence, he allowed us some record-breaking warm temperatures for the month of December, gave us a brown Christmas, and let us see only a dusting of snow. Personally, I’m all right with all of that. We are now well into January and it looks like our above average temperatures are going to continue–at least for a while.

I haven’t yet cranked up the snowblower or pushed a shovel: our city snow plows have yet to suffer any strain. When I take Sammy out every morning and late afternoon to do her duty, I am wearing only a hooded sweatshirt. Sammy can still enjoy sniffing the grass and be grateful her fragile little paws have yet to prance away from below-zero snow beneath her feet. Marc, Shannon, and my grandsons spent a wonderful Christmas day at the homestead with GL (Grandma Lisa) and PPD (Papa Dave). When they arrived, they unloaded gifts and food in the rain; when our celebrations were over, they packed together the gifts they had received and the leftovers, then returned to Mankato–again in the rain.

Grandma Lisa and Papa Dave didn’t have to worry: no frozen highways, no blowing snow, no ice forming on roadways.

I recognize, of course, that whatever my feelings on the matter may be, there are many people young and old who are absolutely disgusted with Old Man Winter’s behavior so far, finding him “naughty” rather than “nice.” Kids who look forward to winter activities are now done with winter break and back in school. College students who came home for the holidays are back in class. Those who went away to warmer climates for the holidays have returned to work. 

Our unseasonably warm weather across the state has created very unstable ice conditions resulting in a (forgive the pun) slippery start to the ice fishing season. Bait shop owners, guides and resort owners who rent out ice fishing houses, snowmobiles and other equipment are feeling the effects.

Mother Nature has dealt a pretty lousy hand to everyone who enjoys outdoor winter activity and to all the businesses which rely on it for their income. Winter skiing, both downhill and cross country, are nearly impossible. Sled dog races–and the celebrations which surround them–are being canceled.

There are ice rinks this year that will never be satisfactory for skating. Sporting goods businesses are still waiting for snowmobile fever to begin. Lots are still full of Ice Castle and Yeti ice fishing houses, and will need to wait for 20 inches of ice before buyers can find a use for them.

It will be interesting to see how many people put their wheelhouses, ATVs, snowmobiles and portable ice fishing houses back into storage unused after deciding they might as well give up and wait to see what next winter brings.

In a typical December, I enjoy taking drives around the area to keep up with all of the activity on our frozen lakes; not so much this year. The afternoon of Christmas Eve day, I observed an angler fishing from a boat out on Clear Lake. Channel 12 news out of Mankato had a piece about some folks water skiing and tubing on Madison Lake over the holidays. A pontoon was observed cruising on Clear Lake on New Year’s Eve.

Upper Red Lake in the northern part of the state is always a “destination location” for early season ice fishing to catch walleye. Many stories have recently been released about people breaking through thin ice there. On December 19, authorities had to rescue dozens of anglers who were stranded on an ice floe that had broken loose and separated. More recently, 120 fishermen were rescued on a floating sheet of ice. ATVs have broken through, requiring the rescue of the driver and any passengers.

My favorite: a light plane carrying ice anglers broke through thin ice as it tried to land on Red Lake. The nose broke through into open water, didn’t sink, and the anglers were rescued. Must have been a very expensive flying-fishing-and-floundering adventure.

It has truly been an unusual, warm, record-breaking December in Minnesota. One to remember forever.

On to another topic.

There are many accounts which share the way dogs have served as “man’s best friend” to their owners. Here’s one about Finney, a tiny, 12-pound terrier who spent more than 10 weeks in the Colorado mountains at the side of his owner, who had died of hypothermia. Richard Moore, 71, an experienced hiker and climber, set out on August 19 to climb Blackhead Peak, located near his home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Finney, his hiking buddy, was by his side. Richard never returned home. His car was found parked at the base of the mountain, so an exhaustive–but unsuccessful–search was launched, then abandoned days later when neither Richard nor Finney had been found.

On October 30, a hunter came upon the 71-year-old’s body. Finney, by now weighing only 6 pounds, was at his side. If that dog could talk, he’d tell an incredible story of survival. Did Finney hunt mice and small animals for food? How did he stay warm enough to make it through the nights? How did he manage to avoid becoming food himself, with mountain lions, coyotes and bears all willing to make him into a meal? The story of his survival could easily be the script for a movie. Finney was returned to his and Richard’s family where the wonderful, loyal dog experienced love, gratitude, and a full recovery.  A happy ending for Finney, not so happy for Richard. Perhaps his experiences would also be a good movie script.