New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff
One week until spring?
Tuesday 03/15/2005
We have less than one week until the beginning of official spring. That's not what I see out my window! We currently are experiencing the worst that this winter has had to offer. Finally the last couple of days there has been some melting. Not real serious melting with stream of melting snow running down both sides of the road. Just subtle melting. At least my roof is slowly draining the pile of snow with a steady dripping.
I have been inside when at home working on a major inside project for the last week or more so have not ventured outside as much as usual. I've even been catching up on some paper work and needed inside work at the office. I was hoping for a little rain before that last several day freeze so I could get out early in the morning and spend part of the day on top of the snow, but the snow has remained soft. So I have put off until another day some of my remaining deep woods work. My Fish and Game three wheeler cannot negotiate this deep snow and my snow machine is on loan to the moose-crew up north this winter. Now I will be balancing the melting snow with getting out to finish up duck boxes in a couple places before the ice goes. The late winter and poor ice conditions kept me off the ice when I usually get them done.
My sense is spring will arrive suddenly and catch me off guard although I pretty carefully am watching for it. I can't wait for that first whiff of freshly sun warmed earth!