We get it. It is cold. Face (and mind) numbingly cold. But that’s not an “all bad” thing. There’s a lot to like about a real winter. And it begins with ice. Here are three things to celebrate during the winter that brought “polar vortex” into our vocabulary!
1. Ice Caves
For the first time in 5 years, winter temps have been frigid and consistent enough to form lake ice safe enough to walk out to the caves. This recent blog post from our friends at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute takes us there, courtesy of Marie Zhuikov’s short entry. Or check out this from Smithsonian.com – full of beautiful pictures. If you live within driving distance of the Apostle Islands, this should really be on your bucket list. Just check the ice conditions first. There’s no quicker way to ruin a hike to the ice caves than turning it into a swim!
2. Ice Fishing
If there’s one group of people who aren’t complaining this year, it’s folks who like to ice fish. The ice cover on our lakes came quickly and froze (relatively) solidly. Now view of the horizon from anywhere on Madison’s isthmus is studded with shanties and anglers as they go after everything from bluegill to perch to muskies. As if that weren’t enough, the sturgeon spearing season is poised for a great year with thick ice and good water clarity on Lake Winnebago. The only downside? Cutting holes through this thick ice is going to be more than some saws can handle!
3. Ice Cover
Of course, not everyone is out on the ice pursuing their favorite winter past time. (Some of us prefer ice in our drinks and a spot near a fireplace). But this current deep-freeze is good news (at least short term) for lake levels all over. Great Lake levels are expected to see a nice rise in 2014 thanks to the double-play ice puts on evaporation. An ice cap keeps water from evaporating in the winter, and longer-lasting ice cover means lakes stay cooler well into the warmer months, cutting down on evaporation time then as well. Thanks to some recent research by CFL, WDNR and USGS scientists, we know that the Great Lakes levels mirror those of northern Wisconsin’s lakes and aquifers, so we can expect 2014 to help raise water levels a little bit all over – all thanks to our sub-zero winter.
What are some of your silver linings to the polar vortex? Share them in the comments below!