Sometimes, it’s all a matter of perspective. Living here in the North Country, it’s easy to take ice for granted. It’s part of our daily existence half the year, which is why it’s easy for us to miss the often-spectacular patterns created as part of ice formation.
We’ve all seen the stunning patterns created by frost on a poorly insulated window. Backlit by morning sun, these lacy images can easily capture our imagination. Yet there are so many more opportunities. The pattern in a puddle on an iron red rail bed, which appears on this page, is another example which most of us would likely walk past without a second glance. Where the lake ice meets the shore contrasts dark rocks with the bright white, creating unexpected patterns along the way. When the ice-making cold is combined with high winds, as it was this year, we end up with countless ice formations where supercooled water splashes on shore and instantly freezes. The cedar branches, frozen in ice, were found along the shore of Lost Lake.
As our drought drags on into winter, leaving relatively little snow on the ground, the conditions for ice formation have been enhanced. Put on a pair of ice skates and explore a lake near you. And take the time to look at ice differently.