Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Morning

State Street Towards Puffer's Pond by Railroad Overpass - 12/27/12

Trail Unbroken, Robert Frost Trail/Kevin Flood Accessible Trail - 12/27/12

The snow changed to rain earlier this morning in most parts of the Valley, but at least here in North Amherst, the snow has only just changed to something more like sleet/snow, evidenced by the gentle pinging sound of ice crystals hitting the ground, fences, roofs. I measure between 5-6 inches of snow on the ground, and the temperature is holding at 31.1, as measured from my outdoor sensor. The official Amherst temperature is 32, but right here near the border of Amherst and Leverett, where the elevation is slightly higher, the temperature is often just a tad lower. In this case, that may have kept us in snow longer than expected. We are still likely to experience a turnover to rain, freezing rain, and sleet, and I hear the roads are treacherous, so go slow if you have to drive out at all. (We'd love reports about what's happening in other parts of Amherst and surrounding areas.)

If you have snow shoes or cross country skis, you may still have some time to make use of them. But be aware that the snow is heavy and wet, so keep that in mind. I trekked down to Puffer’s Pond this morning wearing boots and was beautifully rewarded for the effort. It is pretty rare to be the first person to break trail at Puffer’s, but that was me this morning. And there is nothing like falling snow against fresh snow to paint a landscape.

Robert Frost Trail - 12/27/12

Robert Frost Trail, Bridge Over
Cushman Brook - 12/27/12

Cushman Brook (which feeds Puffer's Pond) - 12/27/12

And, yes, the title of this posting is a bit of an homage to Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" - seemed only right as the trail I was traveling is called the "Robert Frost Trail." Enjoy the snow, everyone, and stay safe out there.