This is what our white Christmas looked like.

Not very!

A few gleams of sun poked hazily through sometimes, but mostly the gloom continued.

Perkins Peak (above) has very little snow on it.  The bigger mountains further back were rarely seen.

The weather station kept predicting -16 C temperatures, and according to their records, they were getting it.  But here it stayed above freezing, even at night, and the warm wind continued to blow.   One morning there was a frost.

It was so beautiful to see the sunshine.

But it never lasted long.

One morning, however, was gorgeous.  It was the first time I had seen the mountains clearly for weeks.

The yard was an icy  mess

I had work plans but could not let this morning go by.  I abandoned everything and went up the south bluff.  Here is a view of the house of my neighbour across the river.

Another view, looking south, from the highest point.

From the same place looking wsw.

Coming back I swung around the pond below my house.

On this side of the pond are a few tiny dead spruces covered in lichen.

The sun was gone by noon and it continues to thaw.

People have wished me an easy winter, and it certainly has some advantages – less wood-splitting, and less cost to plough the road.  But the lack of snow, especially on a cloudy, moonless night, makes everything excessively dark.  The ice and dreariness is boring.  Someone pointed out that this area is in a rain shadow and normally fairly dry, and this is true, but this is excessive.  Since last June, which was a rainy month, we have had a total of 8″ fluffy snow falling in 3 lots – I have no idea how much rain that makes, but very little I would guess – and two small periods of rain that I am sure total less than half an inch.  This is scary.  If we do not get snow, the runoff in the spring will be pitiful.  Not only will there be water shortages, but also there will be a serious risk of fire.  If the forecast can be believed, it is supposed to get a little cooler and sunnier, which at least will be something, but snow is what we need.

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