Winter in the Park

It finally arrived in proper Erie form - Winter!  It is currently 18 degrees and brilliantly sunny.  Today is the perfect day to go outside and explore (with proper clothing).  I had my buddy Pete at my side and took care that we were not out too long so his paws and nose were comfortable and safe.  When we started hiking, it reminded me of being the first one in the family to open the peanut butter jar - beautiful, undisturbed, deep, white fluffy snow.

YeeHaa!

 Depending on where you live in the Erie region, the snowfall has varied a bit.  The official reading is at the Erie International Airport, which is fairly close to Lake Erie (several miles).  However, those Erieites that live east or south of Interstate 90 often feel Winter's wrath a little more heavily.  The storm we just weathered is termed 'lake effect' snow.  Much of the region has experienced two feet or more of snow this week due to this occurrence.

Lake effect snow occurs when the lake water has not yet frozen.  As freezing temperatures move across the lake, the winds pick up moisture from the lake, which is then dropped as snow, ice, or sleet on nearby land.  When (or if) the lake does freeze, it will still snow, but not with the vehemence of a lake effect snow.  The snow now is light, powdery snow, clinging to just about everything. Do you recognize this tree in the winter?

If you have ever run along the beach, hiking in the snow can be similar.  Think of running with your knees high every step you take.  Even though the snow is light and fluffy, there is so much of it that it's causing the tree boughs to bend to the ground.

Believe it or not, there is a trail through the trees.  The blazes help, but then I noticed something was missing on the hike.  I'm in the Park often enough to know the daily sounds, sights, and smells.  Something was missing...

THE TRICKLING CREEK!  It's normally a wintery silence this time of year, but one can always hear the sound of the water through the forest.  The waters of Mill Creek run fast enough that they do not freeze, even in the coldest of weather.  However, the snow fell fast enough to create a covering over the creek!

It's a good thing I knew where the creek bed was located.  Not a sound, yet when I poked around the edges, sure enough, the water was flowing happily underneath, just muffled by the soundproof snow...