I can’t remember a time when March didn’t signal the start of spring for me. You know how some people believe that the day after Thanksgiving marks the first day of Christmas (specifically Kaela)? That’s me with March 1st and spring. Once February ends, I’m eagerly awaiting the longer days that come with daylight savings time, warmer temperatures, and birds chirping in the morning. That’s just what I’m used to back home. Around this time in Virginia, we get a few 70 degree days, and I’m doing everything that I can to be outside.
I’ve always looked forward to spring, but I didn’t realize just how much until now. It’s cold up here. We’ve had trail days that were absolutely freezing, days when we stayed inside to avoid being exposed to the biting wind, and plow days that seemed to never end. Winter has been pretty long. Of course, just when I was starting to get used to the 10-20 degree temperatures, we got a bit of a warm break; there’s nothing like a sunny 50 degree day in the middle of a New England February to make you excited for the warmer days to come. Since then, I’ve been waiting (rather impatiently) for the snow to stop falling, the ice to start melting, and the flowers to start blooming. While we’re not quite there yet, the milder weather at the beginning of March has given me a preview of what to expect once spring arrives.
First and foremost, the snowmelt and rain has made the SLA’s campus extremely muddy. We can’t go a day splitting wood in the field without having our boots absolutely covered with mud. Most commutes to and from the office are accompanied by the sound of squelching under your feet as you inevitably sink into the freshly uncovered ground. It’s not pleasant, but it beats worrying about slipping on ice.
A thawing Piper Cove.
Second, the ice on the lake is slowly beginning to thaw out. Our cove is pretty much water now, and we’re starting to see more waterfowl on its surface. There are still some patches of ice here and there, but they’re sure to melt away in the coming weeks. The receding ice has also impacted our water quality efforts. While the middle of the lake is still pretty frozen, the ice on the shorelines is becoming unstable. We’ve had to be extra careful when we walk on the ice and even skipped collecting data at one site already. Soon, we’ll be using boats instead of microspikes to get out there!
My shadow and Kyle’s shadow on our Sandwich Bay excursion.
Lastly, if the joy I’ve been feeling these last few days is any indication of my preference for warmer weather, then I expect my spring and summer at the SLA to be great, no matter what. I’m already looking forward to sweaty trail days, camping in the rain, and maybe some truly pleasant days in between, like the one I had last week. It was 48 degrees without a cloud in the sky. Kaela and I started the day by greasing dock bolts by the dive shed. We sat outside without jackets on, just basking in the sunlight. After lunch, Kyle and I headed to Sandwich Bay for water quality monitoring. It was windy, but our spirits were high as we made the long walk to the sample collection site. We even had someone snowkiting near us, which was fascinating to see up close. Afterwards, we drove back to the office with the windows down, radio blasting, singing our hearts out to “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson (at least I was). We ended the day with wood splitting practice, which made for sore arms but a good time. It’s days like this that I crave come spring.
It’s safe to say that I’m a bigger fan of the warmer months. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed being able to experience a New England winter. I snowshoed a few trails, went cross country skiing for the first time, walked on the frozen lake, and plowed. A lot. This has definitely been my most active winter. Yet, with the official start of spring just a few days away, I can’t help but feel more than ready to leave the cold behind and start a new chapter.
Nikka’s quest to see a turkey continues, even as SLA staff and other LRCC members seem to see them every other day. If you have any secret turkey spots, give Nikka a shout! You can learn more about her here.