Signs of a Big Snow Winter – Cripple Creek Backcountry
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Signs of a Big Snow Winter

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We are due for a big snow year in 2013-14.  Whether it is El Nino, La Ninaor anything in between, everyone has their own indications for why this year is going to be a good one. The best so far has been the size of the mushrooms on the slopes waiting for snow being bigger than usual. Here are 20 classics from the farmer's almanac but post your own as a comment.

  • Thicker than normal corn husks
  • Woodpeckers sharing a tree
  • Early arrival of the Snowy owl
  • Early departure of geese and ducks
  • Early migration of the Monarch butterfly
  • Thick hair on the nape (back) of the cow’s neck
  • Heavy and numerous fogs during August
  • Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands
  • Mice eating ravenously into the home
  • Early arrival of crickets on the hearth
  • Spiders spinning larger than usual webs and entering the house in great numbers
  • Pigs gathering sticks
  • Insects marching in a bee line rather than meandering
  • Early seclusion of bees within the hive
  • Unusual abundance of acorns
  • Muskrats burrowing holes high on the river hank
  • “See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest”
  • Narrow orange band in the middle of the Woollybear caterpillar warns of heavy snow
  • The squirrel gathers nuts early to fortify against a hard winter
  • Frequent halos or rings around sun or moon forecast numerous snow falls

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    • Doug Stenclik
    Comments 1
    • Randy
      Randy

      May have a new one to top the high wild mushroom count: Unusually tall skunk weed in Colorado.

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