This morning, shortly after 6 o’clock, the -15° air was nipping at my cheeks, and I thought, “Wow, nobody is out here this morning.” Usually, by 6 a.m., machines are moving about the Bay en route to their spots. A little late, but prior to sunrise, 7 trucks—2 from the Red Gate access and 5 from the Kipling launch—were moving across the drifted ice, making their way out. It was a soft, bumpy ride with some surging after bogging down through the firm, drifted snow. Just before sunrise, the temperature dropped to -18°. Just after first light, traffic picked up, and trucks seemed to be the preferred method of travel. It was a solid choice, with ice more than 15 inches thick and the temperature well below zero. The reliability and comfort of a vehicle during this cold snap definitely provide more protection from the cold than most light machine alternatives—especially anything that involves open-air travel, like a snowmobile or quad. The deep freeze continues until Monday, when we start to pull out of the negative temperatures and welcome balmy single digits.
Increasing your odds,
-Blade