Very strange winter. We have had plenty of snow, but temperatures have been unusual. We haven’t had any double digit minus temperatures. The lake doesn’t have enough ice to drive on yet. Many days throughout December have been above freezing.
2024 is in the books. It was a good year. Lisa and I will have to find a better work/life balance as we both worked plenty of hours with not many breaks. It is funny to think, turning 60 this year, and not having pensions, we only have another 10 years of work left to put a little away to ease us to the grave. I say this in jest as I wouldn’t want it any other way. In the past I had a taste of working for the government with the big bloated pensions they offer and it wasn’t for me.
Did a few hikes, but not as many as I would have liked. A few injuries caught up with me. Not surprising considering.
2024 had some incredible northern light displays as the sun reached a a solar maximum in it’s 11 year cycle. Lisa and I were lucky to spend several nights in the mountains under the spiking auroras. The auroras were so strong on one occasion that I was able to detect them when it was still light.
It would be nice to get some cold weather and blue skies, we are half way through winter for Christ’s sakes. Freeze some pipes, bring out the stars so bright you can hear them while all the ancient ghosts take your breath. Freeze the gas line, kill the battery, make the old truck crank and moan. Rosy the cheeks, remind us of all the bits we froze as they only hurt now in the cold. Telling us we can always light it all on fire if we really need to get warm.
Palliser Pass 
Jim R
I hope your 2025 is a good one. Eat well, get your exercise, reduce stress, and get your sleep. That’s all there is to it.
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underswansea
Good advice. Happy New Year Jim!
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mountaincoward
I have to say my least favourite thing is the cold – very closely followed by storm-force winds!
I bet you had much better auroras than we did – we had quite a few for a change but they were mostly not that spectacular. Mind you, I was reading someone here who said he found he had to stay out longer looking at the sky to let his eyes adjust otherwise he thought the displays weren’t very spectacular – maybe I was going in too soon.
We haven’t had any really cold temperatures yet (although I’m sure it will get colder) – pretty much -2 max – but our English Lakes windchills have gone down to -20 sometimes which is very severe for England – Scotland quite often have that on the mountains.
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underswansea
The auroras are much better away from all artificial light. Letting your eyes adjust to the darkness will allow you to see stars and colours better.
-20 windchill is colder than we have had. I don’t think I’ve experienced a winter as warm as this. Last night we had a couple inches of snow and by noon it was hoovering around freezing. All winter it has been that way.
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mountaincoward
I have to walk to the bus stop (it’s too icy to get my car out and I had to use a hairdryer to get into one of them this morning to get something) in -8 tomorrow morning! I’m going to find that pretty damned cold!
There’s no artificial light around here – it’s a very dark and deserted area!
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underswansea
Your car was frozen shut. Happens here all the time. You need to get some good winter tires and a block heater in your car and you will be set. 😀
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mountaincoward
what is a block heater? I don’t need winter tyres as I won’t drive when it’s icy – I think too much of my cars to risk bumping or scratching them! (well the Polo at least). I also find icy roads damned scary so that puts me off too. And someone else could easily slide into you…
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underswansea
A block heater is a standard option on a vehicle in Canada. On cold nights you plug your vehicle into your outside outlet. The block heater keeps your engine warm and easier to start in the morning. It is not necessary unless it gets down past -20 or so.
Looking at the pictures in your last post, you could also use a 4 wheel drive. Your roads look like they would be very easy to slide off and be stuck.
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mountaincoward
ah – I wondered how cold countries managed in winter without their engines seizing completely with cold!
It’s not really worth me getting a 4 wheel drive as we only get those conditions once a year or so normally. Mind you, with climate change, you never know which way it will go here in the future!
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Julie@frogpondfarm
Here’s hoping you get some cold weather and blue skies!
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underswansea
Thanks Julie! I hope you are having a great summer. I’m still waiting for a garden update.😀
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Julie@frogpondfarm
I’m working on it right now… watch out for it! 😊
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