Enjoying The Back Side of Winter

 It seems like half the town is in Hawaii or Mexico this time of year and the other half is wishing they were, except for that quirky bunch of folks that love winter. Those folks are out skiing, riding snowmachine, or winter running. These people are easy to recognize since their cheeks are windburned, they're dressed for the weather, and usually have their ice cleats on their feet and skis on their car. Yes, I'm one of them, but with a caveat, it's the back side of winter that I love, February, March, and usually part of April. What's to love you say? 

The back side of winter has all the good stuff that early winter lacks. Early winter in Seward is a slow transition from a cool damp fall to a wet cold pre-winter with plenty of wind and darkness. Not a great combination. By the end of January however, we usually have a good base of snow on the ground and on the lake. The chance of rain is less and the days are getting longer with bright sunlight filling the snow-covered land with light. This is the holiday winter that is promoted from Halloween to New Year's, but in often doesn't happen until February. All those scenes of snow-covered log cabins and snow-flocked evergreens are just as appropriate for Easter as Christmas around here. 

The back side of winter is the time of the hungry moose. Those poor critters are scrounging for vittles by trimming the willows and alders, preferably in places without loose dogs and deep snow. That leads them to be feeding in my yard this time of year, and I welcome them. The moose do a dandy job of trimming the willows between my house and the lake. Anything they cut I don't have to. The other night we had two sleep right up against the house, and they stayed there until Madelyn went out to haul firewood. I saw several moose while driving around town yesterday, and I was reminded that it'll be two months before they have any chance of eating something green. they're a hardy breed. 

Snow is falling on the lake now, blown by a northeast wind that will drift in the ski trails and pile a bit on the north porch. I know that in a day or two, the sun will be on the lake again and the trails will be fresh for skiing. In other places in the state, folks will be traveling snowy trails and frozen rivers to visit and play in places they can't get to easily in the summer. The back side of winter is where the joy of winter is to be found, and yes it also heralds a promise of spring coming just around the corner. And, like all the seasons, spring holds its own special joy.