January 13, 2023

Winter Wonderland

We went for a walk at Fort Ridgely today (January 12). It was our first hike at the park after the 10+ inch snowfall was added onto the 6-8 inches already on the ground. We had tried to do snowshoeing in the snow around the drainage pond in Fairfax and found it difficult going in the deep snow. We were glad that several people had been on the trails in the park with snowshoes. They had packed down a trail and we decided to just walk in our boots. You can see the trail they made in the first picture below. Compare the second picture of snow on a picnic table to the one in the header above. The one above was before the big storm. The snow was 4-6 inches deep and in the second it was over a foot deep and probably a lot had fallen off.

The temperatures were in the teens with a wind so we walked through the woods so we were protected from the wind. We wore many layers of clothing as you can see in the picture Becky took of me. I thought I had lots of nice pictures on my camera until I found out after getting home that I had forgotten to put in the memory card so none were saved. The pictures here are from Becky's phone. Notice how much snow is sticking to the trees. The creek is frozen over and has lots of snow on the ice.

Park personnel have kept the roads and parking lots plowed. This includes for the construction people working on the bathroom building for the campgrounds. Despite the snow and cold weather, they have been able to finish the walls, roof and are starting to put in windows. It is looking great! The second picture was taken earlier when they were putting up the roof.

I have seen lots of turkeys and pheasants out along the roads as I drive to New Ulm along the bottom road and on highway 19 to Winthrop. The snow must get them out along the roads because it is so hard to find food and grit under the snow where it is not plowed. They also sometimes are up roosting in the trees. There is a big flock of turkeys near Harkin Store. There also is a large flock of pheasants near Winthrop in a marsh south of 19 a mile out of Winthrop.

Deer are out along the roads too. Watch carefully for them and turkeys as you drive. As we were driving home from New Ulm we saw a tan colored animal in the woods not far from the road. Becky and Brad wondered if it might be a cougar. Every once in a while one is seen this far south. It looked to them to have shorter legs like a cougar. We turned around and drove back for a closer look and picture. It turned out to be a deer up to almost its chest in snow.

Candlelight Walk

Invite your family and friends to take part in Fort Ridgely's annual Candlelight Trail event. The event will run from 5 to 8 pm at the Chalet. The candle lit trail will be marked for cross-country skiers, snowshoers and walkers winding its way through prairie and forest areas. A blazing bonfire will be part of this festive, family-friendly event.

The event will take place even if there is no snow on the ground. Be prepared for icy conditions. Bring along items to roast over the campfire (roasting sticks will be provided).

Date Feb. 4, 2023

Time 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

More Information

Contact Joanne Svendsen at 507-426-7840 or by email at joanne.svendsen@state.mn.us.

Joanne has asked for help putting out candles and monitoring cocoa supply in the chalet. She would rather you call or e-mail her if you can help beforehand rather than just showing up to volunteer.

Frosty Mornings

There have been many foggy mornings lately. Wednesday of this week it lasted until at least noon and made for dangerous driving as it was very thick and drivers could not see very far ahead of themselves on the highway. The one good part of fog in below freezing temperatures is that much of the moisture in the fog sublimates (changes directly from water vapor, a gas, to solid ice) to beautiful ice crystals. Trees, grasses, windows and almost anything is covered with a furry coating of frost. It looks like a fairy wonderland some mornings. Frost covers trees in a much more delicate way than the thicker coatings that wet snow leaves on the trees.

There are many types of frost and the two pictures below illustrate two types if I am understanding what I have read about frost. Rime frost is thicker and more tubular while hoar frost is more delicate and hairy with clearer crystals.

Teri Ahlstrand, who did the pictures of the snowflakes in the last update, sent me these three pictures of hoar frost yesterday. She has a much better closeup lens than me and gets beautiful details of the crystals of frost.