On (and under) Puffer's Pond - Winter Edition

This was the scene at Puffer's Pond two weeks ago to the day. It was the Sunday after the deep freeze, and skaters had taken over the ice. One person was obstinately refusing to give up their ice fishing spot, but given the noise, one couldn't help but wonder if they were actually catching anything. A thaw followed over the next week, and the entire surface has since melted, save for a skin of very thin ice in one shady spot. By the end of last week, after it was no longer safe for people, but before the ice had completely melted, remnants of human activity were left strewn across the surface - water bottles and beer cans, a cooler, abandoned items of clothing, a plastic sled, and, most bizarrely, a sofa-sized metal frame. Since nothing was retrievable, I assume everything, including the sofa frame, is now at the bottom of the pond.

Gathering on ice

Cushman Brook (near Puffer's Pond) - 2/5/2023
Photo by Sharon Vardatira

The last two days saw record-breaking cold in the area, with the temperature dipping to -14F overnight Friday into Saturday. To make matters worse, the wind was unyielding, whipping through the trees and driving wind chill readings down to -40F by pre-dawn on Saturday. In a season that has been unusually mild, it was something of a shock. Local residents were suddenly forced to think about warming up our cars, preventing pipes from freezing, and dressing in multiple layers to walk our dogs.

On Saturday, while many were happy to hunker down and wait for temperatures to stop breaking low records, this was the moment the most intrepid ice fishers and skaters had been waiting for all winter. With temps hovering around 12F (albeit above zero) by the afternoon, Puffer's Pond was the place to be for about 30 people, many of whom were spread out over the ice, either ice fishing or playing hockey in twos and threes. While this is a fairly typical sight at Puffer's in the coldest winter months, our current lack of snow made it unique. No one had to contend with snowpack - the skaters didn't even have to clear a "field" for their game. And with all the hiking paths snow- and ice-free, cell phone photographers had no trouble capturing water flowing through, under, and around layers of ice gripping Cushman Brook. And, still, at 12F, without hand and foot warmers, I did not linger long.

By today, the temperature had climbed to the mid-40s, and Puffer's was jumping. Taking advantage of the combination of higher temps and still-solid ice, skaters far outnumbered the last few determined ice fishers by the afternoon. The clack of hockey sticks and metal grinding over ice reverberated across the pond. Roadside parking was hard to come by.

I turned in the other direction, taking the Kevin Flood Trail away from the noise. The few people I passed, almost all walking dogs, were unusually friendly. We greeted each other, remarking on the weather and the scenery. Some version of "oh, isn't it beautiful?" was shared repeatedly between strangers. I wasn't sure if "beautiful" was the right word exactly - the woods are abundant with barren trees and decaying leaves. But there was something about the afternoon - maybe just that we were outside, senses on alert, taking it all in, and not freezing.

The temps will be rising quickly in the coming week, climbing even to 50F in the days to come. So, I'm guessing the skaters and ice fishers won't be here much longer.

Winter Magic

Winsor Dam Road, Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown MA
Photo by Linda Repasky

Snow scenes like this have been exceedingly rare around the Pioneer Valley so far this winter, but disappointed snow lovers can hang onto the fact that February is typically our snowiest month of the year. In 2015, Amherst recorded 63.4” of snow through March 20, most of which fell in February. Although 2023 looks like it may be breaking records for “low snowfall,” all is not yet lost - February has just begun!

This photo - taken by Linda Repasky along Winsor Dam Road at Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown - is the featured photo for February in the 2023 Head in the Clouds Amherst wall calendar. As Linda herself reflects, “This scene exemplifies the perfect New England snowfall: awakening to just enough snowy goodness to beautifully transform the landscape and yet not so much that our everyday lives are hindered. Snow is winter’s magic ingredient!” Here’s to a little more of that “magic ingredient” this month, before winter gives way to spring.

Subzero

Subzero - Feb 3, 2023
Amherst, MA
Photo by S. Vardatira

"There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes."

Thought I'd challenge that saying today, but, um, actually.... best to dress in layers and cover up everything. When a wind gust finds bare skin, the cold is piercing. (Though I have to admit that my long-time, fave LL Bean bomber hat kept my head perfectly warm. When it's this cold outside, I could care less about "looking pretty" - if it keeps me warm, I am all in!)

Right now, of course, at least the sun is shining. Not so tonight, when temps drop to record-breaking lows. Indeed, Hampshire County and other areas across Massachusetts are currently under a WIND CHILL WARNING through 10 AM SATURDAY. Expect dangerously cold wind chills as low as -40 F. And, in case you were wondering, wind chillls that low can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Temps this cold can also freeze pipes, of course. If your home is at risk, here's some basic guidance about how to protect your pipes tonight:

1. If you haven't already done so, shut off outdoor water sources.
2. Locate your internal water shut off valve and make sure you know how to use it. (If your pipes burst, you will need to turn off your water.)
3. Keep heat at 55 degrees or higher and close entries to unheated spaces to prevent frozen pipes.
4. If you haven't already done so, insulate exposed pipes using blankets, Styrofoam or swimming pool water noodles. This could include pipes in unheated areas like attics, garages or kitchen cabinets.
5. Tonight, close all doors and windows, including garage doors.
6. Set your faucets to a slow drip for interior pipes to keep water flowing and prevent freezing pipes.
7. Leave cabinet doors open under sinks to help keep pipes at a warmer temperature.
8. Regularly check water sources where frozen pipes are more likely, like around sinks and bathrooms.
9. If you lose power: run your faucets at a fast drip until you get a temporary source of heat going. If the power will be out for an extended period of time, shut off the main water valve and then open and run the water until the pipes are empty.

Stay safe, everyone, and if you have to go out, make sure you have really good clothes for it. Better yet, find a good book, a fireplace (or the equivalent), and hunker down for a cozy evening inside!