The Great, White Winter of 2017

[Toonces]

- 40 comforts me with its equality.  Like all feels right with the universe.

[ComradeP]

On the other side of the pond, winter struck without mercy in parts of southern and eastern Europe, with "Siberian" temperatures in parts that are normally not all that cold. It sucks even more to be in a refugee camp now than it normally does.

The snow on Crete and various other islands that are normally still sunny made the news over here. Temperature's back up to a high of 18 degrees Celsius in Heraklion now though.

In the Netherlands, we pretty much skipped the winter in 2014 and 2016, with only a minor chill and barely any snow.

It started snowing in early January, and though there usually isn't much on the streets, the snow on driveways and the like in more isolated places is approaching half a foot by now. It's not freezing though, so most of it will disappear or harden when it does freeze.

Temperatures below -10, or even -5, degrees Celsius for most of a day are rare. We do get storms in winter coming in from the North Sea though, so the windchill can be rough. Not quite -40 like Arctic Blast mentioned, but I'm pretty sure we reached -25 or so. The combined effect of pretty strong winds and watery snow (heavier than "normal" snow) made the parks in Arnhem look like a giant hand slapped the trees around for a bit. Some of the smaller ones in residential areas were nearly split in two, as if hit by lightning, torn apart like paper.

[trailrunner]

This morning was a disappointment.  We were supposed to get snow and ice, but instead we only had some light, cold rain.  My friend that I ran with complained about the trail being slippery, but I thought it was fun.

[bayonetbrant]

we're back in the mid-40s now, after hitting 74 yesterday

[Gusington]

It was not supposed to snow here at all and we have about an inch...still snowing.

[GDS_Starfury]

I'm wearing shorts. 


:P

[bayonetbrant]

I'm wearing shorts. 

At just you're wearing something

[mirth]

I'm wearing shorts. 


:P

And South Florida rejoices.

[Staggerwing]

I'm wearing shorts. 


:P

Head north and get some winter pants. They come with pockets big enough to hold Man Cards.

[Sir Slash]

I got some 'winter pants'. They've got a big hole in the ass-end so no matter where I wear them, it feels like winter. 

[Emeraldlis]

I can confirm as a chick , lol , that a healed war wound from running the trails is über cool  8) however , if you come near me with blood currently dripping off you ....I'm running away !!!  ;D  not very fast yet , haha , but STILL running  :D

  that looks like a nasty gash though , I hope it heals soon enough  O0

That photo was taken about five years ago when I was running in the Shenendoahs.  I fell, and my knee landed hard on a rock.  That one hurt like a sumbit.  Luckily no one was near me to hear my swearing. 

.......or the manly crying !!!!  :hide:  glad you got down in one piece though , and a great story !!!!!

I was in Harper's Ferry, Va. a few years ago. I took the mountain trail that gives you a wonderful view of the Shenandoah River and skinned my knee on a rock on top. It wasn't so bad until I started back down the trail. Then it hurt like hell. Every step was, "Ouch. Shit. Ouch. Shit" the whole way down.

......more manly crying !!!! Good grief , the Shenandoah area has not been good to you guys  :o bet it's a wonderful part of the world to see though  :)

[Sir Slash]

It's gorgeous Emeraldis. Prettiest country I think I've ever seen. And Harper's Ferry is surrounded by mountains so it's like standing in the bottom of a huge bowl. "The Hills Have Eyes" kept coming to me as I stood there looking at it all. And if you like trains, there's one that runs through town about every 15 minutes.

[MikeGER]

on a winter stroll yesterday in my neck of the woods (250m above sea level) ...
i suddenly came across some snow-goblins ...there had to  be some creative kids or adults out there.



Teddy bear


Trump ?


astonishing what impression can be created with just a leaf and some tiny sticks picked up from the ground.
(actually i had seen those the day before and they where much more detailed little sculptures, but i had no cam  ...and then there was some snow in the night and they deformed, leaving only a glance of the fresh version the day before, there also was an elephant sitting on his bottom like in the circus-arena but it was to snowed overs to take a pic ) 

[Emeraldlis]

It's gorgeous Emeraldis. Prettiest country I think I've ever seen. And Harper's Ferry is surrounded by mountains so it's like standing in the bottom of a huge bowl. "The Hills Have Eyes" kept coming to me as I stood there looking at it all. And if you like trains, there's one that runs through town about every 15 minutes.

You paint a lovely picture of the place , it sounds wonderful :) as I'm reading what you've said , it sort of reminds me of a place in Wales called Snowden . There is a train there that actually takes you up the mountain , and it's EXTREMLY picturesque and beautiful , stunning part of the world . I've climbed it a couple of times in my youth ......or more youthful days , lol , and the view from the top is breathtaking , you can see the lakes behind the mountain , just look like pools of glass glittering in the sunlight , very pretty :) there is a stone/Boulder at the very top that you can stand on , just to say you've stood on the tallest part of the mountain , and ,yep , I did that , lol !!!!! But all these descriptions of Shenandoah are making me want to visit the place  :D I'm glad you got to see it and have that experience , I'm going to have to make a bucket list ....and add it , lol  :D

MikeGer - that snowman with the wonky face is super cute , lol , it's really cool to see some spontaneous improvised creativity going on in your neck of the woods  :bd: and I'm jealous , you have snow to crunch your way through on a walk !!!! I have a sledge .....we have no snow ....I can't use it .....I'm gutted......sigh , but at least you do , hahaha , live the dream !!!! Lol  ;D the pics are great  O0

[Gusington]

The snow goblins look like me but taller.