The 2016-2017 Icemageddon created a massive, at times overwhelming, clean-up chore. At first I needed to clear the road so we could get supplies. Then it evolved into a rush to remove branches before the grass grew up through them making removal more difficult and mowing impossible. The series of storms were a whack-a-mole with the clean-up process. The snow and ice re-covered branches I wanted to remove and continually brought down more trees and branches. Of course there have also been plenty of opportunities to play in the snow and enjoy the beauty.
12/14/2016 The first of freeing rain - beautiful - even Holiday Vineman was adorned, sparking for the Holidays. Already without power, the extra sparkle was especially appreciated.
12/15/2016 The freezing rain continued. Branches crashed down throughout the night
12/16/2016 Softball size ice balls coated fine needled trees topping and even bringing down trees. The ground shook at 80 year old deacons crashed to the ground bringing branches from nearby trees with them.
12/17/2016 The yard was a jumble of ice coated branches...
creating a new opportunities Chinook Tag. The dogs did not like the 1/4" ice coated grass cutting into their feet and did limit their play.
12/18/2016 With the road finally passable, the Lind family came to play and help with the bigger log removal. Lupin joined us for an extended stay.
Like hundreds of others, this tree top came crashing down under the weight of the ice coating.
12/19/2016 More trees fell across the road needed removal.
12/20/2016 Yes there is a road under there. John Lind helping clear our exit.
12/22/2016 Another ice storm brought down more branches on this finally cleared section of the yard.
12/28/2016 With clear ground another round of clean-up began in earnest.
01/01/2017 My New Year's Resolution was "One dump load of branches per day no matter what". Ma Nature laughed and immediately covered the ground with a new layer of snow.
Lupin checking out Topydog with his snow covered New Years horn and hat.
Vinesnowman bringing in the New Year.
01/02/2017 More snow and more downed trees and branches. It is difficult to describe the noise of giant trees and branches falling 100' to the ground.
Cedar, Lupin, Koyuk and Trask finally tired enough from a serious round of Chinook Tag to pose for a group picture.
01/03/2017 Trask helping me check out the new devistation.
01/04/2017 brought even more snow. Vineman became truly a snowman.
The temperature remained way below freezing along with the snow. We were still without power, water or telephone and the pond was frozen over.
The next storm was on the horizon at sunset.
01/05/2017 Almost 10" dropped during the night. With it dropped more branches and...
enough snow to finally break out the sled...
and make wonderful noises on the frozen pond...
and generally frolic about.
01/06/2017 We got in two sled runs
Well almost two successful runs. I had broken the sled brake on a frozen branch in the road not long before Trask and Cedar spotted a squirrel. A mass of downed branches tangled the dogs and my sled preventing me from too going down into the roadside ditch.
Dave caught the end of the second run as we passed the house.
This was also the first day of sun reaching the backyard. It was about a week early this year because of all the downed trees on the ridge behind the house.
01/07/2017 More freezing rain on top of the 10" of heavy wet snow causing more crashing trees and branches.
01/08/2017 Continued Freezing Rain. The weight on the roof was impressive. I had to again shovel both the kennel and flat roof.
01/09/2017 Yard Damage
01/15/2017 I have seldom had snow on my birthday - what a treat.
The snow was on top of ice covered snow and brought even more branches down with it.
Trask enticing me in a game of Chinook Tag amongst the new jungle of branches.
01/17/2017 Chinook's 100th Birthday
02/11/2017 Serious tree pruning begins. I had kept up my vow of a load of branches/day but by 2/11 the moss covered trees were dry enough for serious pruning and I needed to clear passage up to the cabooses. Fortunately Andreaus, a former caboose tenant, is also a professional climber and loves a challenge.
02/26/2017 More snow and freezing rain - more branches finding their way to the ground and snow for dogs to play in.
02/27/2017 Freezing Rain - even the dogs look miserable. Everything was coated with ice and footing was treacherous.
03/05/2017 More Snow. A branch from above took out the huge horizontal branch on the century old oak tree.
This area had been all clean-up.
TpoyO'dog
"But this is fun mom"
03/06/2017 Any thought of a dump load of branches went out the window this morning though new snow did bring many within easy pruning reach.
With the branches also went the power and water.
Koyuk and Trask
VineO'Snowman
Enough snow for another sled run...
about this point we went over the downed powerline without noticing it.
The snow cover was a little thin by the time we got back to the house but we did make it before the 4 big power company trucks came in and completely destroyed any chances of another run.
03/25/2017 Throughout March I sawed, removed and piled branches in earnest creating a huge burn pile I wanted to burn since I still had about the same amount to go from the garden and lower yard.
What do you get with three Marine Special Ops; a Camp Fire Girl/Outward Bound Instructor; a Boy Scout; a mom with two girls; three dogs; three flares; 5 gallons of gas; 3 gallons of diesel; one gallon of kerosene; cone case of fire starter fluid; two Marine made napom bombs; a box of matches; and a leaf blower: A lot of laughter, bit of smoke and a burn pile that will have to wait until fall to dry out before we try again. Our first attempt at the burn was to pour 3 gallons of gas on top of the pile, stand back 30 feet and throw flares at it. By the time the Marines got the flares going, the gas had evaporated - no big boom - just a little smoke.
After 1/2 hour various accelerants were being poured directly on the "fire"...
with little success and me reminding everyone that an ambulance was at least 1/2 hour away.
Trask and Koyuk helped K. during her boredom with the process.
After another hour, the last of the gas was poured on the "fire" and the Marines decided it was a failed mission and went off to do some target practice.
The Linds and I went to work on the garden. The two rows of espalier fruit trees had taken the brunt of the line of the neighbor's oak tree branches.
By the time the Linds had left, I had a weeded garden, branch free yard and pruned giant maple trees.
03/27/2017 Not to worry, there are still loads and loads of branches in the yard to make sure I continue my New Year's Resonlution.
When I started this post, I really didn't remember all of the various storms we had this winter. I was thinking a before and after saga but alas it was fun review icemageddon in it's entirety for each of those various ice and snow storms contributed to very impressive landscape damage.
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