“The largest recorded snowflake was 15 inches wide.” -Mirror.uk
Apparently, a cubic foot of snow contains about a billion snow crystals. A million billion snowflakes fall to the earth each year — and, according to an MSNBC article, scientists now believe that there is a strong mathematical probability that there are two snowflakes alike. Good luck in finding them though.
I’ve been reading up on snow a bit lately. Why not? It certainly seems like it’s going to stick around for a while. Not that I’m complaining. I’d just as soon keep a good solid snow cover until mud-season, at least.
Who can remember a January in recent years without a thaw? I can’t. According to USA Today, Bangor had 27.7 inchesl last month; or about 10 inches more than normal.
Sugarloaf USA claims a base depth of 40 to 80 inches and the best skiing in years. Parts of the Western Maine mountains region have more than 50 inches of natural snow.
If you’ve never tried cross country skiing or snowshoeing, it’s a great year to get started. If you have kids, be sure to check out the Winterkids Program, which provides discounts on skiing, boarding, skating, and snowshoeing at locations throughout the state.
One of my favorite excursions in the last few weeks was an afternoon exploring the Ducktrap River Preserve Backcountry Ski Trail, which is accessed off the Ducktrap Preserve north of Route 52 in Lincolnville.
The first mile or so of this 5.6 mile loop trail loosely follows the Ducktrap River northwest from Route 52. The “backcountry” section of the trail begins with a sharp left turn off the main trail, which at that point is a shared snowmobile and ski trail. The narrow backcountry winds over challenging terrain before descending to the bridge over the Ducktrap River. From there, the trail rises and curves past an upland clearing before descending to cross a second well-built bridge. After the bridge it is a short distance to the loop section of the trail which rises to a nice hardwood ridge.
The Coastal Mountains Land Trust describes this area on their website:
“The Ducktrap River Watershed is an extraordinary natural treasure and conservation opportunity. Located midway between the rapidly developing Camden and Belfast areas, the Ducktrap River runs for more than nine miles through wetlands and forests that are still undeveloped, quiet, and rich in wildlife and scenic vignettes of a wild landscape. The pristine habitat for spawning and young salmon make it one of only eight rivers in the United States that continue to support wild Atlantic salmon.”
Get out there and see it! You’ll be glad you did.
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