Author Topic: the winter from hell (continues) (Read 6925 times)

Quebecnewf · « **on:** February 19, 2010, 08:55:58 am »

Well what can i say. It has been mild here for nearly 3 weeks now. We have no snow to speak of and the ice bridge is slowly melting away . It has not been thick enough to cross for over 10 days now.

I have approx 200 logs piled in the woods and if things don't get cold soon it will be a wasted year for logs. If I don't get any in the winter that means no sawing this summer.

The plan is , if we get any snow and that is a big if. Go in with skidoo and haul them to the shoreline. I would then raft them home with my boat in the spring.

like i said " the winter from hell"

Quebecnewf

Chuck White · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2010, 09:04:29 am »

It seems the Southerners took our Winter from us this year!

Seems nice at the time, but believe it or not folks, we will most likely pay the consequences!

stonebroke · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2010, 09:04:59 am »

I think the southerners would agree with you.

Stonebroke

DanG · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2010, 09:08:56 am »

Here's one Southerner who sympathizes with ya, Newf. The weather here has certainly been frustrating, but at least my Summer isn't in jeopardy because of it. Glad to hear you have a plan B, and I hope you get that snow. Is there a way you could skid those logs if you don't get the snow? How about an arch?

Sprucegum · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2010, 09:42:44 am »

We still have almost no snow here too, only 6 inches when there should be at least 2 feet. The farmers are worrying about another year of drought.

How many Km from the logs to the shore?

Phorester · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2010, 09:55:59 am »

Interesting weather. Here in NW Virginia we've had 5 - 6 feet of snow since mid-December. We got 18" then, it stayed so cold that we had about 6" of that still on the ground when we got 8" more in early January, then another 18", then about 30" 3 weeks ago. For weeks temps have been in the mid-20s - low 30s in the day, teens - low 20s at night.

We've got as much snow in past years, but it usually melts within a week. We've had snow covered ground since mid December. We still have about 18" on the ground in the open areas, more in the woods. Very unusual winter for us. Our fire season normally starts in early Feb. This time last year we were having 4 - 6 woods fires a day.

Frickman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2010, 10:09:00 am »

It's been so cold and snowy here in SW PA that I haven't been in the woods for two weeks and was only there sporadically for the month before that. I brought the skidder home to the farm a couple weeks ago to plow snow and pull trucks and tractors around, I might as well use it for something. Most years January is the worst month for logging and then February starts to get easier. I probably won't cut a a single tree in February. Maybe March will be better.

A couple of days ago Pittsburgh tied the record for the snowiest month ever and we still have a week and a half to go. This global warming we've been having sure is nice.

Magicman · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2010, 10:25:22 am »

We've had a break from the rain for a few days. I finished a good sawing job yesterday and will get my new Oak trees in the ground today and tomorrow. Then it looks like rain again Sunday. That will be good news for the newly planted trees....

Maybe I can start a Cedar job middle of the week.

My heart goes out to you and your situation newf. That is all so different and so much more critical than anything that we experience. Good luck.

YukonJon · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2010, 11:11:06 am »

Wow, something weird going on. Here in the Yukon we have April weather in February, in some spots here its thawing, been warmer than -10C for allot of the winter. A year ago it was in the -30s or colder. Not much snow either, less than half of last year, forecast is more of the same.

Jon

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2010, 12:28:35 pm »

The distance from the woods to the shore is about 3.5 klm. It has to be hauled by snowmobile without the snow I cannot go.

Quebecnewf

pitotshock · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2010, 01:02:13 pm »

I've been cutting hardwood ash out of the bush at the in-laws for a month now and we depend on the swamp to be solid to get the logs out. I started cutting when the ice was only 2 inches thick and I would step through in places. We skidded a few logs out with the ATV.

It has been really too warm to get enough ice to support the big tractor, so we are using the little one (35hp). And even that one is breaking through the ice in spots. We have had little to no snow in the month of Feb and the sun is getting stronger every day. I think we will have another week or two at the most to move logs across the ice and that will be it for the winter.

I have been saying that we have been having a really mild winter so far and we are due for a major snow storm. So, I hope for your sake it comes in for ya. I have been tempting fate for a month because my snowblower on the back of the tractor was in need of repairs, but I fixed it last night, so the snow probably won't come now...

downeast · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2010, 08:29:23 am »

Quote from: pitotshock on February 19, 2010, 01:02:13 pm

I've been cutting hardwood ash out of the bush at the in-laws for a month now and we depend on the swamp to be solid to get the logs out. I started cutting when the ice was only 2 inches thick and I would step through in places. We skidded a few logs out with the ATV.

It has been really too warm to get enough ice to support the big tractor, so we are using the little one (35hp). And even that one is breaking through the ice in spots. We have had little to no snow in the month of Feb and the sun is getting stronger every day. I think we will have another week or two at the most to move logs across the ice and that will be it for the winter.

I have been saying that we have been having a really mild winter so far and we are due for a major snow storm. So, I hope for your sake it comes in for ya. I have been tempting fate for a month because my snowblower on the back of the tractor was in need of repairs, but I fixed it last night, so the snow probably won't come now...

Ditto here in Downeast Maine, ~1 hour east of Bangor. Very little snow, but the ground has stayed frozen making it easy to work the wood. With temps lately hitting over 40 F, things are softening up too quickly. Cutting and hauling in shirtsleeves is more like May than a February in northern Maine ! We do need snow. I'm finished with the winter harvesting since the lack of snow made it less troublesome to get around.

You all eat grits ?

moonhill · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2010, 10:56:29 am »

I wonder how grits would taste with blueberries mixed in?

Tim

Coon · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2010, 12:24:37 pm »

Quote from: moonhill on February 21, 2010, 10:56:29 am

I wonder how grits would taste with blueberries mixed in?

Tim

Don't try that.... you'll wreck the blueberries.

rick f · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2010, 01:13:31 pm »

I think i've cut about 25 cord of hardwood in the last month for firewood. I haven't cut steady a day here and there. The snow has gone fast here in Downeast Maine. I had to skid out to my firelines in the afternoons so I didn't tear up the blueberry bushes. Finished twiching them to the yard in the mornings when things were froze up.Right now it splits real easy with the frost in it.

Remember guys get your wife to buy more wild blueberries, there healty for you.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2010, 05:55:36 am »

Just a skim of snow here in the fields, and less than a foot of snow in the woods on which you go to the bottom even with snowshoes. The beaver ponds are opening up as well and the stream channels never froze all winter. We have been getting snow showers all month which melts as it hits the ground and rain mixed in at times. Around my plantation trees it's bare at their base and piled in between from shedding off the limbs in storms. What storms?

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2010, 02:27:39 pm »

Ya know how we like pictures.

Magicman · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2010, 03:00:59 pm »

60 here today and they are forecasting a chance of snow showers

Wednesday night

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2010, 06:04:16 pm »

I didn't take any pictures, but when I see caterpillars on the snow I know it can't be going to be cold for much longer.

dsgsr · « **Reply #19 on:** February 22, 2010, 06:25:30 pm »

Quote from: Magicman on February 22, 2010, 03:00:59 pm

60 here today and they are forecasting a chance of snow showers Wednesday night

Been like April here in (western) downeast Maine. Someone musta turned the world up-side-down. Gotta go south for winter fun:)

David

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2010, 06:51:21 pm »

Big storm coming for the weekend. Rain! The west and southwest they say heavy snow. Boston is about to get snow bombed. Again!

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2010, 04:30:50 pm »

Went in to the mill today by ATV and took a few pics. You just cannot believe it is Feb here in N Quebec

and here is what it should look like

Can you see the difference?

?

Quebecnewf

beenthere · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2010, 04:39:24 pm »

Maybe we should try to arrange an emergency airlift for a few C5's to drop off some logs. Sure does look sad for you.
Bummer.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2010, 04:45:12 pm »

It will surely make up for it next winter Newf.

petefrombearswamp · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2010, 06:46:33 pm »

Here in the Finger lakes region of NYS the winter has been fairly cold, but not much snow.
A local logging outfit is starting my Ash salvage job tomorrow and I hope the temps stay cold.
Snowmobilers (me included ) are suffering here .
pete

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #25 on:** February 24, 2010, 06:50:56 pm »

Not enough snow here either, the snow in the woods is vanishing fast to. I was out today and there is 2" of water under the snow in the damp ground.

rick f · « **Reply #26 on:** February 24, 2010, 07:10:38 pm »

snows gone in the woods here in downeast maine. I cut firewood today, started out skidding in the snow on the fireline, by noon it was mud in the wheel tracks with very little snow in between. I'm done cutting until it freezes back up or until it dries out. We've got 2-4 inches of rain coming tonight though this saturday.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #27 on:** February 24, 2010, 07:20:23 pm »

Hard walking with snow shoes, I might add, both the morning crust or small cut stumps trip you up in PCT thinned ground with shallow snow. Catches between the webs. Walking with out the snow shoes and your work boots are soaked through the leather and your socks feel like trout under your feet. Oh well could be worse.

Phorester · « **Reply #28 on:** February 24, 2010, 09:53:34 pm »

My mother-in-law got 16" today in eastern NY.

stonebroke · « **Reply #29 on:** February 24, 2010, 09:58:40 pm »

She must live down in the valley.

Stonebroke

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #30 on:** February 25, 2010, 05:27:34 am »

Not a snow flake to be seen yet at 6:30 am. 30 F out now. Suppose to have sunny breaks I guess.

Stephen · « **Reply #31 on:** February 26, 2010, 01:10:26 pm »

From April 16 2009
"Waiting for the snow to melt so I can get back into the sawing game. Went in on good friday and shoveled out the mill. We had a monster snowstorm on easter sunday and had to shovel it all out again . We are still snowmobiling here and the sea ice is still frozen crossing to the mainland. We measured it yesterday and still 2 feet thick. Spring is slow to arrive this year.

Quebecnewf"

I understand how you must feel, I got to the woods about 4 times this year, picking up a few wind-falls. Never got to cut any wood yet, and I'm starting to look to buy a few logs to fill a few orders I have.
I even bought a winch this year, hoping to do more work than previous years. You can blame the lack of snow on me too I quess, I bought a little Citation Ski-doo a few weeks ago!
Like Swamp said, there's always next year. Just be carefull what you wish for, and try to enjoy the weather we have.

Stephen

Raider Bill · « **Reply #32 on:** February 26, 2010, 01:53:00 pm »

And now for the rest of the story....

If you're tired of anemic, one-lung snowblowers with their slipping drive belts, you might consider Kai Grundt's V8 snow blower which raises the bar on the traditional snow blower in every respect. With electric start, electric block heater, antifreeze heater and eight cylinders, it has no drive belts to freeze up and you'll never get bored with the job as the 454 cubic inch big block Chevrolet V8 produces 412 horsepower, 430 foot pounds of torque and can throw snow 50 feet at just 3500 rpm.

Nor will you get cold as the machine has been ingeniously designed to route the engine coolant through the handle bars, with the rear mounted, enclosed radiator keeping the operator nice and cozy.

Maneuvering the massive beast (it has a total wet weight of 912 lbs) is a breeze thanks to the hydraulic-drive 4WD skid steer on independent walking beams which offers a zero turning radius. It's also as fast as you like, with an infinitely adjustable speed range on the drive wheels via dash mounted flow control. At the opposite end of the scale, it has more than enough torque to pull your car out of the ditch before the hydraulic motors stall!

Adding to the well-balanced feel of the unit, just 15 pounds of down force on the handlebars will lift the auger blade off the ground in order to climb stairs/walkways for ease of snow removal. Safety has and continues to be paramount with spring return to centre "fail safe" type directional controls with emergency stop and tether cords.

Safety is one of the key theme, with a flashing blue light (as required by law in many areas) being the least of the safety features. No one will fail to hear you with those twin throaty exhausts, which come standard with 92 decibels at the controls, though if the rumble of a V8 exhaust is music to your ears, you can obviously go much louder. Even at the standard baffling, hearing protection is strongly suggested.

The powerful yard machine lights and a dashboard with backlit gauges complete the package to ease the burden of this normally reviled task. The custom 42 inch, two stage auger has a Chevrolet 10 bolt truck differential with spool and a centrifugal auger clutch with shear pin protection, further adding to the image of this "automotive theme blower." As each unit is custom-built, optional extras for the snow blower are both diverse and outrageous as the base unit - there is unlimited auger choices from single to multi stage designs and various motor combinations to suit the religious preferences of the customer (Chevy, Dodge Hemi, Ford) and such exotica as a V-10 or a diesel engine or remote starting can be accommodated. And if, after a while, you feel you've outgrown the 400 horses, this particular engine is well catered for in the performance modification area, with Lunati camshaft, Milodon Gear drive, Holley and Edelbrock components to name a few, and there's always the fuel injection option too, if you feel you need to throw the snow out of the county or ensure your seat in the "neighborhood blower blingster hall of fame."

stonebroke · « **Reply #33 on:** February 26, 2010, 02:13:06 pm »

A person about ten miles east of me reported 52 inches since tues. forty miles east and it never snowed. A good old Southern snow storm.

Stonebroke

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #34 on:** February 26, 2010, 03:14:43 pm »

Great big flakes as big as silver coins for a few moments, then freezing rain, then rain. Cycle back through. Hasn't accumulated anything to measure yet. Wind has slowed down a lot. Squirrels have been having a time of it, both red and, for the first time this year, a gray running and sacking cones away from the spruce and pine trees.

Sawyerfortyish · « **Reply #35 on:** February 26, 2010, 08:34:41 pm »

Quebecnewf I have solved your problem. Since you have cut all the trees near the mill that I can see in the pictures just move the mill to where the trees are

Phorester · « **Reply #36 on:** February 27, 2010, 09:27:13 pm »

STONEBROKE, yep, she's close to the Hudson itself near Poughkeepsie. She's one of the 1,000,000 without power. My bother-in-law is about 2 hours away, brought her to his house for a few days.

They're hollering for a few more inches here tonight.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #37 on:** February 28, 2010, 05:46:44 am »

A little snow here this morning coming down. It's raining in Nova Scotia and PEI in this storm. The storm the other day was mostly wind, everything else came down too wet to stick. Places north of here got 3 or 4 inches. And south of here a bit got a wet sloppy snow and rain, but trees hanging with wet snow.

stonebroke · « **Reply #38 on:** February 28, 2010, 07:37:21 am »

It has been snowing here since tues. My neighbor measured 52 inches on his front porch yesterday. He also had his greenhouse collapse. Barns are going down also a few houses. Well I have to go out and feed cows.

Stonebroke

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #39 on:** March 06, 2010, 12:00:06 pm »

Well we went in today to take down the logging camp and bring out the chainsaw and winch. No snow left at all on the land but we can still drive around the shoreline and on some of the lakes.

I am still hopeful for snow and a window to move the 200 logs to the shore but the hope is fading.

I took a few pics

Quebecnewf

Magicman · « **Reply #40 on:** March 06, 2010, 12:10:34 pm »

I hope that you get your wish for enough snow so that you can move your logs. Without your story, I would have never realized the importance cold weather and snow to someone's livelihood.

rick f · « **Reply #41 on:** March 06, 2010, 12:12:15 pm »

Good Luck with getting the logs out. The winter (or lack there of) has been a real challange for alot of people here in the Northeast. We can only hope this weather gets back to normal for the rest of the year.

I like the pictures that you take ......good luck again

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #42 on:** March 06, 2010, 12:52:17 pm »

No ice either this year for the seal hunt. There is a low moving in from The Bay but it's only going to generate snow showers, so that won't help much for skidding logs with the sleds.

beenthere · « **Reply #43 on:** March 06, 2010, 01:27:07 pm »

quebecnewf

We'll keep hoping for you, as well.

Just is not the scenic view that you usually show us.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #44 on:** March 06, 2010, 01:42:27 pm »

Rick, I'd like to see a dry summer for a change.

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #45 on:** March 08, 2010, 06:44:00 am »

Went in to the sawmill yesterday and sawed up a cord of slabs or so for firewood. Packed them in the woodshed. Sunny and warm no snow around the mill at all. Just killing time and waiting for snow.

Today it is snowing were supposed to get 2cm (wow). Thanks but I need at least a foot.

Waiting waiting and more waiting

Quebecnewf

rick f · « **Reply #46 on:** March 08, 2010, 06:52:16 am »

Quote from: SwampDonkey on March 06, 2010, 01:42:27 pm

Rick, I'd like to see a dry summer for a change.

Dry would be good. We all need to have a garden that will grow this year. Nice day yesterday , we pruned our apple trees( 100) and got all the cuttings picked up.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #47 on:** March 08, 2010, 06:57:03 am »

Was nice here also for the whole week, but on the weekend it got up to 47F for a couple days. This morning it is starting out warmer at 30 degrees, I suppose we will get to 50 or little bit better. Humidity is rising though, but Ted said we are only getting snow or rain showers, so that don't amount to anything. Sap might not run so well today, didn't get cold enough. Still, it's sunny this morning. I don't have a fire on all day anymore, too hot. Just a morning and evening smudge. Neighbors started green housing, and just put up the frame to a second one. They run off an OWB, pipes under the ground, also heats the house. They need a sawmill business to burn slabs, sure burn a lot of bought wood, 32 cords they bought last fall.

rick f · « **Reply #48 on:** March 08, 2010, 03:57:10 pm »

Swamp a fellow here told me thagt the best wood for an OWB is hackmatack cut a year in advance. he says it won't dry completly so it gives a better burn time. I don't know about that , you got any thoughts on that.

I don't mean to highjack this thread, sorry.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #49 on:** March 08, 2010, 04:59:57 pm »

Tamarack is not as wet as you think, no wetter than white spruce and even heavier than spruce when dry. Not too bad for BTU's I'm told. Balsam fir, now that's the wet stuff and looses a lot of weight to moisture loss.

Kansas · « **Reply #50 on:** March 08, 2010, 05:49:05 pm »

This kind of fits into this thread. Talked to a friend of mine in the pallet business. He gets a little bit of hardwood from us, but mostly uses pine from Canada. He said his cost for cutstock pallet lumber from there has gone from 279 a thousand to 379 a thousand. That's on the "fake" board foot basis. He said his broker told him regular lumber is approaching 1.00 a board foot. The only reason he can get any lumber is that is he is a longtime customer, and the broker has been turning people down, and it still takes at least 3 weeks to get a load. Reasons given to him is the so many mills have shut down, and the ones that were left let their inventory dwindle way down. Now they can't get logs, due to the lousy logging conditions up there. Maybe you can't log as much with the weather, but the price should be a lot better.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #51 on:** March 08, 2010, 06:12:35 pm »

I know for spruce saw logs they aren't paying much, about $225/thousand, down from $480/th 5 years ago. It's so cheap because they don't need it, all the crown wood for near free when you factor in free nursery trees, free thinning and free planting.

All that extra wood because of mill closures, so they now direct all the excess into export. But it's not all going to the US, Irving ships stuff in "6 degrees of separation".

Can't cut it fast enough. More money in firewood. The populace of New Brunswick have zero say in it.

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #52 on:** March 08, 2010, 07:26:00 pm »

There's a bunch of red oak pallet leaving here for Canada. I'm guessing it must be backhauls from delivering lumber to the US.

Sorry to hear of your plight Qubecnewf. Must be terribly frustrating.

Sawyerfortyish · « **Reply #53 on:** March 11, 2010, 07:23:21 am »

I hate rain on your winter hopes but the sky is full of canada's honkers all headin nort and there above the flight path of some small planes flying under them. Been seeing them for a week and yesterday they were constant one right after another flock.

stonebroke · « **Reply #54 on:** March 11, 2010, 07:53:23 am »

We saw the first flight of canadian geese two days ago, spring is on the way. Supposed to have heavy rain this weekend on top of the remants of the last 52 inch snowfall, bigtime flooding. The weatherman said there is ten inches of moisture in the snowpack.

Stonebroke

dynamic-51 · « **Reply #55 on:** March 13, 2010, 07:44:10 am »

Hi,

Just reading your predicament. Another possibility might be to move the logs with an ATV A- frame Arch with winch. Maybe slow going, but you might be able to accomplish the task with that item. Nichols trailer over in Wilton,Me. carries them and makes them right there. Gill Reed from Morbark here in Maine, can probably give you a bit more info. Just a thought for you. Good Luck.

Dynamic-51

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #56 on:** March 14, 2010, 08:02:31 am »

dynamic 51

You must update your map reading. I live up in northern Quebec in Canada. On our ground an ATV would be too slow and not possible.

Quebecnewf

and we still have no snow and none in the forcast

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #57 on:** March 14, 2010, 08:09:08 am »

dynamic, Newf is 100's of miles north of Maine and you can only get to Harrington Harbour by boat. And that don't run in winter if I recall Newf saying so.

Hilltop366 · « **Reply #58 on:** March 14, 2010, 02:21:31 pm »

I can see the confusion, If you look on google earth and put in Harrington Quebec Canada you end up out side of Montreal but if you search Harrington Harbour Quebec Canada then your waaay north.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #59 on:** March 14, 2010, 02:53:08 pm »

Yeah, Harrington is up in the Ottawa R. valley, there is a tree nursery up there we get some of our trees from. I can't figure out how they can haul them down here for the same money as the local nurseries or sometimes less. That's another thread.

Quebecnewf · « **Reply #60 on:** March 15, 2010, 07:02:36 am »

Well hope is fading fast .Still no snow and none in the forcast. I will be launching my boat today if you can believe that. It should still be dead of winter here but it is about the same as May weather.

Will go by boat to the mill this week and saw a few logs for a buddy of mine. Everyone is doing up things that got pushed back because you were busy in the woods.

I will do a big cleanup around the mill this season and saw up the slab pile complete for the first time since I had the mill and started sawing.

I have about 150 logs left from last year I will have to spread the sawing of those out over the summer in order not to suffer from "lack of logs to sawitis" its going to be a tough year.

Quebecnewf

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #61 on:** March 15, 2010, 07:07:46 am »

Gonna be up in the 50's here a few days and the wind is coming down from the NE, so don't look good for snow.

mainiac · « **Reply #62 on:** March 15, 2010, 08:36:37 am »

Just went by a vegetable farm this morning and they have already started tilling and planting. I am in the midcoast Maine area and it still seams 4-6 weeks early for this kind of stuff.

Unbelievable.

Sawyerfortyish · « **Reply #63 on:** March 15, 2010, 12:31:36 pm »

You should try making maple syrup this year. I was expecting to make 100+ gal and to date have only collected sap 9 times since when I tapped in the beginning of Febuary

. Now the red maples have popped there buds and usally within a week or 10 days it's all over for the hard maples. Forcast this week is upper 40s to 60 degrees. I have over 400 trees tapped and have only made 22 gal of syrup.

stonebroke · « **Reply #64 on:** March 16, 2010, 08:24:14 am »

Quote from: mainiac on March 15, 2010, 08:36:37 am

Just went by a vegetable farm this morning and they have already started tilling and planting. I am in the midcoast Maine area and it still seams 4-6 weeks early for this kind of stuff.

Unbelievable.

We are 150 miles north on NYC and we still have two feet of snow on the ground and the ground is froze hard. the higher places have even more. no plowing around here unless it is snowplowing.

Stonebroke

stonebroke · « **Reply #65 on:** March 16, 2010, 08:25:40 am »

We are 150 miles north of NYC and we still have two feet of snow on the ground and the ground is froze hard under it. higher places have more snow.

Stonebroke

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #66 on:** March 16, 2010, 10:28:00 am »

I poked sticks in the ground around the garden and they went in like summer. The only frost is from overnight making a surface crust like late October. Snow is getting sparse here, but across the river and in the back country there is over 2 feet in the woods and most high elevation fields are all white.

Bill Johnson · « **Reply #67 on:** March 16, 2010, 12:20:22 pm »

Snow is disappearing here quickly, lots of guys getting caught with wood in the bush and winter roads breaking up. They are calling for cooler temps this weekend but once that those winter roads start to go it takes a lot to bring them back.

Mark K · « **Reply #68 on:** March 16, 2010, 06:50:36 pm »

Paved roads around here got posted last Friday which means no more hauling until things firm up. Brought equipment home Saturday for service, hopefully will be back in the woods before to long. Things seem to be drying up well. Hopefully the summer goes better then the winter.

Jamie_C · « **Reply #69 on:** March 17, 2010, 07:22:20 am »

Winter

what is that, we hardly had anything that resembles winter here this year. Our roads closed about 3 weeks ago but due to the miniscule amount of snow we received they are talking of opening them early. The ground is drying out fast, heck we have even had forest fires (about 2 months earlier than normal) and i heard something about a ban on all open fires being put into effect.

bull · « **Reply #70 on:** March 17, 2010, 07:55:37 am »

winter is over here, snow is 98% gone..... BUT !!! the storm this past weekend dropped
6+ inches of rain everything is mud, Can't get off the hard pack with out making 2' ruts.
water table is only 2' down...........

thank god I built my greenhouse, I will be starting more under cover this year.... Hoping this is not a repeat of last years growing season........

240b · « **Reply #71 on:** March 17, 2010, 09:07:32 am »

We had a perfect winter. (sorry) Very little snow, it all went south of here. (till last storm) and frozen ground without too much bitter cold. Down in the vallley all snow is gone but at the house there is still 10" every where. roads a posted and Iam done! probably the worst winter for making any money though. Every year things seem to get less profitable. Oh, I could be dairy farming. (I always go visit my farmer friend when logging looks bleak. helps put things in perspective.)

bull · « **Reply #72 on:** March 17, 2010, 01:03:51 pm »

don't remind me about dairy farming!!! cows were all gone by 1987 !!!!

Magicman · « **Reply #73 on:** March 17, 2010, 01:23:09 pm »

We never had dairy cows, but we did have cows. Hauled hay/feed, chopped the pond when it froze so they could drink.

I don't. It's been 10 years now. I haven't had the first tree to get out and have to be rounded up.....

Phorester · « **Reply #74 on:** March 17, 2010, 10:23:17 pm »

Snow's finally gone, all mud now. Loggers can't move in the woods. Most seem to be spending the time on equipment maintenance and rebuilding.

chevytaHOE5674 · « **Reply #75 on:** March 17, 2010, 10:57:00 pm »

We are all on spring break up here. Load restrictions went into effect almost 2 weeks ago now, so no logging really going on. Still a foot or more snow in the woods, but open areas are pretty well melted. Been in the 40-50's for the last 2.5 weeks now, but calling for cold and snow starting on saturday.

Ron Scott · « **Reply #76 on:** March 18, 2010, 09:15:20 am »

It's the same down here, but most all of our snow is gone. No hauling for the past 2 weeks due to the road restrictions. Doing some forwarding and cleanup, but the road access is bad until things dry out.

Coon · « **Reply #77 on:** March 18, 2010, 09:50:14 am »

It's snowing here right now.

Highs for the next couple of days are below freezing.

What a change from yesterday though..... was nice and sunny and warm with a high of 11 Celcius......

loggersmg · « **Reply #78 on:** March 19, 2010, 06:23:04 pm »

Here in Southwestern Nova Scotia, it looks very well like Spring is here. 99% of the snow is gone, most of the lakes are ice free and there hasn't been any frost left in the ground for over a week. Muddy skidding but on the bright side, they,re talking about lifting the spring weight restrictions in 3 weeks instead of 5 so at least we'll get some trucking done

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #79 on:** March 19, 2010, 08:15:27 pm »

Dad planted peas in the garden yesterday.

They'll never live if they germinate at all. I don't know what he's thinking.

Suppose to be in the 60's tomorrow.

Magicman · « **Reply #80 on:** March 19, 2010, 08:27:50 pm »

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. If they don't make it, he can replant. But, if they do make it......he'll be a hero......

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #81 on:** March 19, 2010, 08:32:42 pm »

They only cost $0.30 so won't be out much.

sjfarkas · « **Reply #82 on:** March 21, 2010, 12:54:11 am »

it's been in the 60's and 70's here in california. I wish we had more storms coming to help the drought, but I don't think anything substantial will come. We can't work here in the winter so the warm weather is could for the timber industry and also for my clearing bussiness. The farms will suffer from the lack of water. I guess more food will be coming from other countries.

CLL · « **Reply #83 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:11:43 am »

Was 60 degrees here yesterday today we have 6" of snow on the ground and its 30 degrees. Supposed to snow up to 3 more inches tonight.

sawguy21 · « **Reply #84 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:34:06 pm »

We didn't have a winter to speak of, Vanoc had to truck in snow for some Olympic events. The crocus and daffodils have been out for almost a month. Things are not looking good for the summer with such a low snow pack, we could get another bad fire season and some communities could be short of water.

News:

Author Topic: the winter from hell (continues) (Read 6925 times)