Joanie's winter fat bike park

[Crankin]

I am so jealous of the amount of snow you have!

[north woods gal]

Be glad to send you some. Fairly average snow depth for this time of year. We're just far enough north to have winter temps that rarely get above freezing, so the snow accumulates all winter. Winter sports are a huge part of our economy. We love our snow, up here. We get to play in it all winter long.

[emily_in_nc]

That is gorgeous, NWG! I can imagine the effort to maintain those trails in the snow, but so worth it for you. I am sure Star has a blast also. Thank you for sharing!

Now, I'll stop whining about having to ride in 50s-60s, when I would prefer even warmer!

[ny biker]

Beautiful photos and beautiful trails! Thanks for posting.

Around here were there are many people and lots of traffic, snow is just a nuisance. You are in the type of place where you can really enjoy it.

[north woods gal]

Thanks, all.

Emily, as we've discussed before, my cold weather riding is all about acclimation. Doing a little bit of riding every day as the season gets progressively colder allows me to slowly acclimate to the cold. No way could I handle these temperatures, otherwise. If you've been experiencing 70s and then drop, suddenly into the 40s or 50s, that would be a challenge for me, too.

N.Y., yes, you are so right on attitudes toward snow. Up here, it's a huge part of our winter economy, because the snow stays put all winter long. We get skiers and snowmobile people from all over the country. Snow is much appreciated and considered a blessing. When we don't get our snow, people actually get very depressed and upset. Just the opposite of most places. Also helps that we are retired and no longer work, so we don't have to drive in the snow unless it suits us. Even if we had to drive in the snow, no problem, though. Snow removal is an ongoing thing. We have a fleet of snowplows that are always out and working, as needed. Even our roads are designed for snow removal with wide shoulders and plenty of room on either side to pile the snow.

[Crankin]

Some of this got me thinking how the attitude toward snow and storms has changed a) in the 28 years I've lived in the area I live in now and b) from when I was a kid, living in an inner ring suburb, next to Boston, maybe 20 miles from where I am now.
When I was a kid, we had big storms, even if we knew one was predicted, they sent us to school, and then had some scary bus rides home, when we were released early. They plowed the streets, but they were still snow covered. I lived on a little hill and basically sled down my street and a lot of others for a few days after a storm. We'd be home for days.
When I first moved back, in 1990, it wasn't much different. The first town I lived in, is about 15 miles north of where I am now, on the NH border. They canceled school a lot more, since the town had a wide geographic area and was hilly. Sometimes I had school (teaching) when my kids didn't. Now, everything is done ahead of time, with districts canceling school the night before, instead of at 5 AM. Businesses encourage employees to work from home, as does the state. Some businesses shut down. Now, even restaurants close, so their employees can be safe. Perhaps not in the city, but definitely around here. The roads are pre-treated and plowed down to the blacktop, so no opportunity to sled down the street. Yesterday, we had a storm that started around 11 am, heavy snow for a few hours, turning to rain, then ice in some places. It was predicted perfectly, and most schools had school in the morning, with early release, so the kids could get home before it got bad. That counts as a full day for the state.
But, it's like we've forgotten how to deal with the snow!

[north woods gal]

Weather forecasting has improved in terms of accuracy and in terms of advance notice on storms. It's definitely changed the way people and institutions deal with snow. Over my adult lifetime, I had mixed feeling about snow. Loved it if I could get out and play in it or just enjoy from home, but dreaded it if I had to get out and be somewhere. Even so, some of my best memories were the times in my life where I actually commuted back and forth to work on my bicycle when it snowed. Also good for a chuckle, now and then. Couple of times in Chicago, during a snow storm, car traffic was backed up for miles, but there I was, passing everyone by riding in the ditch or a sidewalk or sometimes even carrying the bike over drifts, laughing as I went. I was moving while everyone else was trapped in their cars, going nowhere. Made it home in nearly my usual commuting time. Next day, my fellow employees were reporting that many of them were trapped in the car fo so long, people had to get out and relieve themselves on the side of the road. Yup, even in winter, bike commuting has its advantages.