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One of the great things about Sandpoint is that winters are not as severe as you might expect, given our proximity to some of the coldest inhabited places in North America. But that doesn't mean it never gets cold. This week was a good example of what happens when an arctic front moves into the area. You could almost hear the collective sound of chattering teeth.
With temperatures dipping down into the minus side of the thermometer, most people scurry from one warm location to another with hunched shoulders and a fast, shuffling gait.
Fortunately, the deep freeze often brings clear skies, and the cold temperatures combined with the bright sun causes some interesting and rare visual phenomenae, as you'll see in this week's photos. |
Photo courtesy James Byrd
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12/7/05: Otherworldly morning: One of the interesting visual effects I referred to is caused by a combination of sunlight and just the right temperature differential between the lake water and the air above it. The sun coaxes whisps of mist from the lake surface, giving Lake Pend Oreille an otherworldly appearance on this chilly morning. |
12/8/05: No lifeguard on duty, indeed: City Beach doesn't get much action this time of year, in spite of the fact that they do keep the walkway clear for the intrepid. To better work the camera controls, the photographer removed her gloves, which turned out to be a painful mistake during the thaw-out process. |
Photo courtesy Susan Daffron
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Photo courtesy Susan Daffron
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12/8/05: Icebreaker moorage: The marina near City Beach is accessible only to icebreakers this time of year. Some of the docks are actually aground from the lake level drop to winter pool. |
12/7/05: Frosty Selkirks: The Selkirk Mountains beyond an untrodden hay meadow. |
Photo courtesy James Byrd
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Photo courtesy James Byrd
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12/7/05: The edge is closer than you think: Here's something you see a lot of around here this time of year. Snaking tire tracks along the embankment show evidence of where someone fell off the road and struggled to get back on. Okay, it was me, distracted by the vista that produced the above Selkirk photo. Kudos to the young man in the red Pathfinder who helped me out of the ditch. Lucky for me that I carry a tow strap. I'm usually the guy doing the pulling, not the person getting pulled! |
See you next week! |
