Relentless Sub-Zero Temperatures Freeze Vermonters' Fun

Author: Kelsey Rinehart

Putting away their skis and snow shovels, Vermonters across the state have opted to stay inside and sit by the fire, away from the biting chill of a record-breaking cold snap that has enveloped the region for days on end. The cold prevented hundreds from enjoying the outdoor activities at Burlington's annual Winter Festival, and even led the St. Alban's Town School to postpone its annual winter carnival, which has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m.
The relentless, bitter chill has caused Lake Champlain to freeze over for only the second time in seven years. According the Bob Bell, the head meteorologist at the National Weather Service in South Burlington, Federal Aviation Administration pilots reported Saturday that Champlain's surface was entirely covered except for a few narrow channels. Bell said that these small passages were kept clear for ferries navigating between Charlotte, Vt., and Essex, N.Y., and between Cumberland Head, N.Y., and Grand Isle, Vt.
This winter has proved one of the toughest in history, weather officials say. For the first time since 1994, this January has brought Vermont five consecutive days of sub-zero daytime temperatures. Brooke Taber of the National Weather Service noted that winter 2003 will be one of 10 coldest winters in the past hundred years if frigid temperatures persist. Saturday night was expected to post the coldest temperatures this year, with temperature estimates ranging from 20 to 40 below zero, according to Steve Maleski, a meteorologist at St. Johnsbury's Fairbanks Museum. "The last time we had a string of cold weather like this in February was in 1979. We're estimating it could drop to 33 below here. The last time it got that low was in 1968," Maleski noted.
For many, avoiding the cold is more a safety measure than a matter of comfort. "Most of the activities are outside, and we don't want the kids to be outside because it's supposed to be below zero," Brenda Harvey, the St. Alban's Town School secretary, said of the carnival. The Vermont Principals' Association set guidelines that mandate postponement of an outdoor event if the thermometer reads four degrees below zero. This rule has distressed many high school ski coaches, although the Vermont Division I high school cross-country ski championships went on as scheduled on Saturday at Bolton Valley. Ski patrols at resorts all over Vermont were watching for the most common malady brought on by icy temperatures: frostbite. Ski resorts have been warning visitors that they risk getting frostbite if they leave skin exposed to the air. Ski Patrol Director Richard Bird said his staff at Killington had reported seeing a number of minor cases of frostbite.
Some groups, however, were not deterred by the weekend's frigid wind chill and took to the ice and snow with gusto for a good cause. On Sunday, residents of Chittenden County went snowshoeing at Ole's Cross-Country Ski Center in Warren to benefit Women Helping Battered Women. A daring bunch of 650 swimmers signed up for the eighth annual Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge at Burlington's Winter Festival, eagerly awaiting their Saturday morning dip at Waterfront Park. The 32-degree water into which the swimmers waded was actually 40 degrees warmer than the air. Director of Marketing and Development for Special Olympics Vermont, Michael Giorgio, remarked, "It'll just be more penguin-y than ever." Giorgio planned to fully submerge himself in the icy water for nearly a minute, but wasn't promising anything. "No laps," he said.
Other visitors to the Burlington Winter Festival chose to enjoy the indoor activities rather than brave the cold to see ice-encased snow sculptures outside. Hundreds bustled inside the spacious ballroom of the Radisson Hotel, where kids happily practiced slap-shots and petted bleating sheep. Lindsay Chandler of Waterville, who represented the Vermont Llama and Alpaca Association, remarked, "Today seemed really busy, the whole day. There wasn't a lull."
Indoor activities have been the way to go for many Vermonters who would rather cheer for their town's high school basketball team in a heated gymnasium than brave the 20-below temperature to ski down a mountain. Some head to the Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury, which is holding a competition to see whether adults or children can read more before February 20. In the "Blizzard Reading" competition, children must read 10 picture books to receive a snowball, while adults must read 100 pages for a snowball.
Bristol Cottons on Main Street in Middlebury reported that they were not directly affected by the frigid weather and had not noticed any effect on sales. When they opened the store on Monday morning, however, they did notice the cold's influence, discovering that the furnace had accidentally turned itself off the night before. The Alpine Shop noted that the recent cold temperatures had affected them. "It's affected us in two ways. In the clothing aspect, it's been very busy. There's been an increase in sales. In the ski shop, there's been a decrease in sales. It's just too cold for people to get out there," said Paula Simons of the Alpine Shop.
For those who could brave the cold for Valentine's Day and weekend recreation, however, there were numerous options. Many farms, such as Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock and Adams Farm in Wilmington, offered sleigh rides, sending riders whooshing through dark forests to log cabins, where they received precious cups of hot chocolate. Others chose to snowshoe through the trees to their mugs of cocoa, while some opted to skip straight to the good stuff and enjoy hot maple syrup on snow at Hubbardton Town Hall on Sunday. A Full Moon Skate at the Equinox golf course pond in Manchester offered amusement to others.
One group in particular rejoices in the freezing temperatures and consequent excess ice. Ice fishers need the deep freeze to enjoy their activity. "Compared to last year, which was a winter that wasn't, things are pretty good. We've got decent ice," remarked Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle in New York state. At Sunday's 25th Annual Lake Bomoseen Ice Fishing Derby in Castleton, Fran Moriarity saw the weather as more of a disadvantage, but was grateful for the ice, which allowed him to catch his two prize-winning fish. Moriarity said that the frigid temperatures caused freshly augered holes in the ice to close within minutes. He noted, "It was below-average conditions out there. If you could keep the hole in the ice open, you were lucky." The weather, he said, smiling, "could have been a little warmer." Blodgett said, "Nobody's been swimming that I know of. It's not an activity that I recommend."
While most tromp in from shoveling and head for cozy fireplaces, grumbling about their frozen fingers and sore backs, some also rejoice in the mounds of ice and snow that crowd their driveways. Pamela Disorda of Benson is in favor of the snow and regards it as a lifesaver for many. In a recent letter to the editor in the Rutland Herald, Disorda recalls an out-of-stater asking her, "What happens when all the snow melts?" Throwing snow behind her, Disorda replied, "What happens is, we don't have a drought this summer. She wrote, "You don't have to be a farmer to realize that the heavy snowfall is a summer blessing. I bet you cannot find one farmer complaining. Let it snow."