Spring... So Soon?

On February 2^nd, the most famous groundhog in the country, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, did something slightly unusual. He awoke from his den in Gobbler’s Knob, and took a look around as he does every year. This year however, he didn’t see his shadow which means an early spring.

Sleeping Lady, seen from a snowshoe tour at the
Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery.

Since Groundhog Day record keeping began, Phil and his ancestors have seen their shadow 100 times and have only predicted a quicker coming of spring 16 times. I haven’t figured out how Phil can see into the future, but he’s not the only weather forecasting critter out there. Birmingham Bill, a ground hog residing at the local zoo in my home town, Birmingham Alabama, also failed to see his shadow this year. Numerous other groundhogs throughout the country were in agreement with Bill and Phil and predicted an early spring, although a few did see their shadows.

I have to say that even though I’m not sure if a groundhog is really a better weather predictor than a meteorologist, when I walk outside it does feel like spring is almost here. For the past few weeks I’ve been watching the piles of snow in corners of parking lots grow smaller and smaller. Now, in Wenatchee at least, it seems that all the snow is gone and according to a number of prophetic groundhogs, it may not be coming back till next year.

I’m filled with mixed feelings as I watch the winter melt away.  I’m extremely excited about upcoming spring and summer outings but I was really enjoying some of the newfound winter recreation that I’d been doing and I’m not sure I’m ready stop. I’ve been helping Friends of Northwest Hatcheries and Wenatchee Outdoors lead snowshoe tours in Leavenworth and in Squilchuck State Park. I built a quinzhee and went camping near Icicle creek. On a trip to Jackson Wyoming to visit friends I went sledding, engaged in some snowball combat, and discovered that hiking in deep powdery snow without snowshoes can be very slow going. The one thing on my list I still haven’t tried is skiing! Despite Phil’s warm weather predictions I’m hoping to get up to the ski hill and make a fool of myself soon.