man & nature # 91 ~ because it's fun
Monday, January 19, 2009 at 09:16AM 
Birch Tree Lodge @ 0˚F in a light granular snowfall • click to embiggenOver the past few days since my -23˚F entry, there has been considerable speculation, here and elsewhere, that I am either insane or heroic for venturing out to picture in such weather.
The truth is that I just simply like cold weather and, up to a point, the colder the better. Unlike my aversion to really hot weather, the cold makes me feel invigorated and alive. That is assuming, of course, that one is properly dressed for such extremes as -23˚F and, by being so, one can actually feel anything and also remain alive.
My affection / some might say, "affliction" has its roots in my childhood during which I spent many a winter's day playing in the woods near my house. I was as dressed for the weather as one could be in those days which meant layers and layer of cotton clothing and the obligatory feet-in-plastic-bags-inside-of-boots. Needless to say, after an extended play in the woods, I returned home - water being heavier than air - weighing twice as much as I did before I left.
In any event, winter weather meant fun - building snow "forts", snowmen, snowball fights, skating in the backyard rink, "snow days" off from school, watching blizzards from inside a warm house, being kicked out of the house during a blizzard and being told to go play in the snow, sledding, and since we had little in the way of hills/slopes, being towed behind a car on a sled.
I can vividly remember one dazzling display of it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time when me and my chums spent a number of hours during a near whiteout blizzard on a snow day off from school building a snow wall (probably about 12 inches high) - made of blocks of packed snow (we always had a number of wooden crates/boxes on hand for making snow blocks for our various snow building enterprises) - spanning the street in front of my house. After which we retreated to our snow fort and waited for the sound of an unsuspecting motorist plowing into the snow barrier. Whereupon we would laugh ourselves senseless, wait for the car to depart and then spring from our fort, make the needed repairs to the wall and do it all over again.
Oh, what fun. At least it was until one extremely irate motorist exited his vehicle, assessed the situation - peals of muted laughter coming from the snow fort, a snow "quarry" of sorts in my front yard - and made a beeline to the front door of my house. So much for fun.
All of which may explain why, in addition to picturing in the cold weather, I spent 4 days during the recent deep-freeze making a backyard ice rink for Hugo. 
The backyard rink • click to embiggenNow I won't try to sell you on the idea that 4 days of the combination of sub-zero temperatures, a sheet of plywood, a garden hose, and slow tedious ice-tending is my idea of fun, but, on the other hand, I can state that after all these years it was fun, in fact, a lot of fun and a bit satisfying to lace up the skates yesterday afternoon (a balmy 15˚F - felt like shirtsleeve weather) and spend an hour or two with the wife and Hugo on the ice.
The only downside, as you might be able to tell from the ice rink picture - fresh overnight snow on the surface, I am now consigned to a winter life of being a human zamboni. Ah, winter fun.
gravitas et nugalis
Featured Comment: Mary Dennis wrote: "I heard a piece on NPR several days ago about how the canals and backwaters in Holland actually froze solid for a short period of time this winter (which they hardly ever do anymore I guess) and all the people bundled up, donned their skates, skipped work and school, built bonfires and made a holiday of it. Everyone came out of their houses, socialized and skated the day (or two) away. Then it melted....."
my response: Ah, Mary - interesting story but those wishing to remain in my good graces at this time are not uttering the word "melted" (or any derivation thereof) in my presence.
Reader Comments (5)
Hugo had to be dragged inside as it was getting dark...
I think with an attentive grandpa like you Hugo will grow up to be a hockey photographer.
:-) What fun he must have had!
I heard a piece on NPR several days ago about how the canals and backwaters in Holland actually froze solid for a short period of time this winter (which they hardly ever do anymore I guess) and all the people bundled up, donned their skates, skipped work and school, built bonfires and made a holiday of it. Everyone came out of their houses, socialized and skated the day (or two) away. Then it melted.....
Okay then. The iceman stayeth. :-)
Mary, indeed, the country went skate nuts for a whole weekend. Apparently 3 million pairs of skates were sold the week preceding.
Much as the locals are nostalgic for endless winter skating it actually only happens about once a decade on average.
Weather here in The Hague is currently a balmy 6degC (43degF).
I'm like gravitas - love really cold weather, hot weather just makes me lethargic. And there's me flying to Africa tomorrow!
I remember occasional winters like that, when the ponds would freeze and we could skate or curl. Snow drifts were easily 12 feet tall (I remember clearly being inside) and you could fall through a thick crust and end up with just your nose showing (nothing to do with me only being a few feet tall myself, I'm sure)
There's a reason I live in Texas now and like deserts for photography