Snow Days in the Northern Berkshires
Editor's Note: We enjoyed Kathy Keeser's ode to the joys of snow and hope you do, too. Snowfall on Tuesday night on Florida Mountain. |
Coming from the Midwest, the St. Louis area pretty much in the middle, not the upper Midwest, I have an appreciation of snow and of snow removal. While we got some snow, it was usually not a lot and winters were cold, but more often bare. To clarify the point, I had a poster in college that was titled "ski the Midwest" and it showed someone skiing on mud hills.
Soon after moving to the Berkshires 14 years ago, I gradually took up winter sports: first snowshoeing, then cross-country skiing and finally, downhill skiing. Though I am not very good at skiing, I love it! So this winter it has been a pleasure to get to ski at the Mount Greylock Ski Club, which is an old-fashioned, beautiful place with only rope tows that has to rely on Mother Nature for snow.
Just going out my door in Florida, I can put on snowshoes or cross-country skis and head out for miles. My rugged dog Rudy loves the snow and though he is a short-legged English-style Labrador retriever, he is like a little bulldozer, just plows through the snow. True pleasure though is Rudy just rolling in the snow on his back and making loud sounds of delight while doing so.
A snowy day is a day that is more peaceful and calm on the mountain. Living right on the Mohawk Trail, you can usually hear cars, but on a snow day, there are fewer cars and the snow muffles the sound, creating a quiet all around. Walking, driving or just looking out the windows, the white covering is so clean and pure and brings a bit of magic to the landscape. Houses look like gingerbread houses or castles. The trees and woods look like homes to elves, fairies, unicorns and all sorts of majestic creatures. Time kind of stops while walking in the snow and you can just feel such wonder and appreciation for the world around you.
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Here, even small roads are plowed. I remember my first winter, living in North Adams on Chase Avenue and during my first snowstorm, I heard the snowplow go past three times! I see parking lots and driveways being cleared pretty quickly and the remaining snow is actually bulldozed up and moved totally out of parking lots and areas of the city – Wow! I can still just stand there and watch the snow removal.
Of course, I realize the machines have gotten better and many people have plows and snow blowers to do the work. I still do a bit of shoveling on stairs, clearing out walking paths, etc., and a couple of times this year I did most of my entire driveway with help from my exchange student, Zaki, and, well with moral support shall we say, from Rudy. But I have neighbors, with snowplows on their trucks, who are willing to plow my driveway and I am so appreciative to Kyle and Todd Poirot and Jim Pedro for their help.
On Wednesday, not only did I get snow plowed, but Todd also brought over his super-duper tractor with a snow blower on it – and wow, what a machine. I am not much of a machine person, but I must say it was quite the handsome red vehicle with the enclosed space for the driver ,and it was so cool seeing the snow billowing out in great arcs.
I recognize the snow is hard on so many, especially the sick, elderly and disabled, and I do think of people suffering during the winter, but then I look at the snow and I just get excited. For the days to come, I look forward to going out in the snow to play and to ski. So, joyous snow days to all and may you enjoy it also.
 Kids know how to appreciate snow, as shown by Carter Degrenier-Waters, Madison Degrenier-Liebonow and Alyssa Cahill at Mohawk Forest in North Adams. |
