Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire A Solitary Walk in the Snow

The snow that the forecasters (having once again misread the entrails of an owl) said would arrive about six o'clock and not amount to much, started in about two o'clock and has more than slightly surpassed its allotted total. About an hour ago I set out for a walk on the deserted streets. As I gazed at the flakes gliding down through the glow of the street lights, I realized that I was experiencing a quiet beauty that is only granted to us a few times in life. I have taken many walks in the snow, but can only recall two others that provided the same sense of peace and the same all-enveloping comfort as this. Once was in the middle 1950s when I had gone downtown with my parents to see the Christmas lights strung across the main street of our small town. The snow fell with a gentleness that allowed it to remain on the pine roping that was strung between the street lights as well as on the decorations suspended from that roping and on the lights that were entwined with it. The other time was when my son was small and we set out with me pulling him on the sled that was mine as a boy. Sorry to take up your time with my nostalgia, but it did me good to be able to share tonight's experience and the memories it evoked. Best to all, John

hey john, it makes sense to me to share some good feelings too.

every once in a while, it does th body good to hear some good news versus the usual.

thanks for sharing and reminding me of my first hunt in the snow.

5S
I'm just north of Des Moines and I'll bet we got our predicted 6 inches. kwg

I knew somehow by your 'subject-line' that this was a post I wanted to open...

I too have experienced "that"- and the same feelings, in the early '50's and many, many times in the years since- in good old cold North Dakota.

Still magic ... Thanks.

John: I too have had times like that, but of late, due to older age, I hate the freakin' snow and cold. I do appreciate your sentaments, wait til you get old, it changes.
Nevertheless, enjoy the beauty of nature and a quiet time in the snow.

i dont know about the whole getting old thing, but one of my best memories was elk hunting in the snow. just sitting there in the quiet and cold watching life happen for many small critters, and even a few deer. no elk though. but still a great time.

Couldn't have said it any better myself, but I too appreciate John's post.

Paul

Ya, I used to catch snowflakes on my tongue too,, way back

i was there to catch them with my 30-06

I love snow.......living in it ....playing in it....working in it. One of my best times is a good snow storm, late at night, working for the highway maintenance contractor, plowing 6-8" off with hardly any traffic, huge plume of snow billowing out the right window of a Peterbuilt tandem with a load of sand on for ballast.
Good times.!
Thanks for the good thread.
Dave

I pity anyone who can't appreciate the simple pleasures and beauty life has to offer. How else can you find peace in this world? Good thread here.

We can't buy a snow storm down here anymore. It has been five years since our last significant snow and it looks like winter is over down here. Hey if you are gonna give me 105 deg in the summer as least give me a good snow or two in the winter!

I'm enjoying the same snow, and it was 60 last weekend. Don't count your winter out just yet!

Beat me to it, 4570. I was gonna ask him did he stick his tongue out and catch some of the flakes? Loved doing that as a kid. Still do it when the flakes are huge and lazy.

Huntboykins, You have a point but don't forget that this is winter in North Carolina and if you don't like the weather just wait five min. and it will change.
Will you be at the Greensboro gun show this weekend?

Have you ever been walking in a heavy snow with no wind? Just the snow falling so straight and hard that it actually creates a hiss as the flakes hit?

Or, sitting on stand when it's dropping an inch an hour and you just know the deer are bedded down and you're wasting your time, but you can't bring yourself to pack it in?

Dan

I can count on one hand the number of times I've been out hunting and heard the hiss of a heavy snow. Here in Kansas the wind seems to always be blowing so it's rare when you get the total still with a heavy snow that allows the hiss. Makes for a great time out side.

I've hunted in that kind of snowfall. Like you say, the hiss is so loud it's eerie.

In an hour and a half, I had so much snow built up on the shoulders of my Filson Mackinaw, I couldn't see when I turned my head to look down a deer trail to my left.

It was great being in the woods, but not so much for successful hunting. That is if successful is only counted by game in the bag.

Mark

Hope that the local prognosticators are not using Spotted Owls entrails for their rituals.

We don't get a lot of snow down here, but I did do a 7 mile hike in the swamp north of town, which gave me a much needed opportunity for contemplation

My brother and I were on a mid-winter camping/small game snowshoe trip. I went out alone after dark on my 'shoes. Starlit and moonlit sky, soft surface snow and the Adirondacks. Yeah, the feeling of Peace was powerful.