What to write about, what to write about...
We have been doing so many cool things, it is hard to just pinpoint one and write about it, so I’m not going to. But there certainly have been some highlights so far.
I think everyone would agree that sunrises are nice, but what about a sunrise on a mountain overlooking a snow and ice covered Squam Lake? Beautiful. A 4F Sunrise with a cup of coffee and a morning skate around Squam? Other wordly.
For the last 40 or so years, the Squam Lakes Association has taken and recorded water quality data. Starting a few years ago, the SLA got into the winter water quality game. This means going out onto the ice, drilling a hole, and doing some measuring and recording. It's all actual real life, cool science, and it is awesome to be a part of it. Not only is the science part wicked cool, but going out into the middle of the lake (which on some days is as close to a tundra as one could get) is a captivating sensation. For several brief instances, when the wind is howling across the lake, and snow is drifting over our gear, I feel like Ernest Shackelton. Hauling the sled with our recording equipment on and off the lake, trekking through 7+ inches of snow on top of 14+ inches of ice, is a fantastic way to spend a day.
Ice skating is a staple of a New Hampshire winter. I can't remember a winter when I didn't skate on a pond, river, lake (or the beach that one year). But never have I made my own rink. This week that changed. After about 4 hours, roughly 9 miles of walking, and 2 tanks of gas through the snowblower, we had our very own rink here at the SLA. Clearing the ice, looking out across the lake, watching birds fly by, getting snow stuck in my beard and letting the sun melt it out- totally worth being soaked down to my socks. Just another day at the office.
The sun is starting to set later, something I’m sure everyone has noticed. This means spring is getting closer, warmer days are coming, and I sure am looking forward to that. It's going to be exciting spending a summer on a beautiful lake, a change of scenery from the ocean I’ve spent the last 22 summers (yes, I recognize the privilege in that). But that’s not to say I am wishing away the rest of winter, winter is pretty sweet, and my first one on Squam is something I’ll always remember.
So here's to some more sunrises, frozen beards and winter on Squam.
On an off day, you might find Mike enjoying fishing, a game of Settlers of Catan, and/or hot dogs. Learn more about Mike here!