The Melt

It's been creeping up on us for the past few days, but today it started with a vengeance, 61 degrees out and everything is melting!

Water always finds it's way, cutting channels as it flows down.

There's still ice out on the lake, but topped with plenty of standing water.

Our roads are not plowed to the pavement, the snow is just packed down to a firm base; the melt results in huge ruts and puddles several inches deep, acres of slush and debris floating to the surface. All of it freezes up again at night, the melt resumes each morning.

This freeze/thaw cycle creates it's own kind of beauty, delicate ice designs:

The diehards will be forced to give up their snowmobiles soon and bike days are quickly approaching!