Extreme cold

There was a record snowfall followed by a spate of "Extreme Cold" warnings. 48 cm of snow in a day on Monday, the rest of the week clear and bright, but giving us wind-chill temperatures in the minus 30s. Strangely enough a smog warning was in effect too, yesterday, caused by particles of pollution trapped beneath an inversion. 

We didn't venture out on last week's snow day; we braved the nippy air on the other days, though not for too long at a stretch. The snow crunches with a squeak underfoot; I've heard it said that Inuit people don't need thermometers because they can tell the extent of the cold from the sound made by their boots as they walk along.

Last weekend we walked near the airport with Benoit, the trail by the river particularly chilly because it faces north. It was a relief to come up the hill to the sunnier area near the airfield, where we could feel the sun's warmth on our faces.

This morning Chris and I did two laps of "the Chelsea loop" aka "Sugar Bush trail" with Elva and Laurie, glad to walk under such a bright blue sky. Laurie was sensibly wearing his down-filled ski-pants. I must find a pair of those for Chris.

The wildlife huddled up somewhere during the worst of the weather, but we've seen the squirrels and birds emerge again at this end of the week, the squirrels' furry noses and tails dusted with snow, the chickadees, white breasted nuthatches and juncoes flitting across the garden to a tray of seeds that Chris put out for them near our kitchen door. Today I was amazed to see a flock of American robins in by the Minto Bridges. I thought those birds flew south to avoid the cold.

Coyotes are apparently on the rampage in some parts of town (I haven't spotted one yet) and there's a dancing bear in the Byward Market as usual, unusually snow-coated, not a real one.