WINTER AT DIAMOND LAKE

The Winter of 2006-2007 began with a bang with fierce winds in December. Many residences experienced damage to their homes and cabins from falling trees. A few very large trees were blown over across Northshore Road just past the Beach Club. The picture with this article shows a large tree that fell down on top of the Cooney cabin and knocked it partially off the foundation. The trees that fell were living and their root systems were either rotted or weakened by water. Many docks were dragged and moved up against neighbors’ docks. Rick Sebring said, “The waves that were splashing up on the rocks on the point looked like ocean waves. They were quite high and it reminded me of a seascape.”

The frozen lake has provided many families with winter snow activities. Four-wheelers and snowmobiles have been spotted on the lake, some with kids on sleds and inner tubes behind them. Also seen, was a pickup and a hummer doing brodies. There is no law that says that cars cannot be on the lake, but the Sheriff’s Office did caution them to be prudent. Several residents were concerned that they were coming quite close to the docks and there could have been some serious damage done.

Also seen, were deer, a moose and a gray wolf on the lake along with a contingent of wild turkeys treking across the road and between cabins. See the pictures wiith this article. Take a look at the pictures on our website showing the wildlife at the lake.

WINTER AT DIAMOND LAKE IS DIFFERENT by Jean Oxreider.

The sights and sounds of winter at Diamond Lake are different from the other seasons here.

The first snow of the season always seems so magical. Snow has been forecasted and there is a hush and raw coldness in the air that is always a sign snow will come, but when?  First a few flakes fall like the scouts of an advancing army then all of a sudden you see more falling in a hurry to cover the ground and coat the trees. During the first snow-falls the ends of the evergreen trees are tipped with fluffy, white snow looking like every snowy woods picture you have ever seen. Before the ground is completely covered with snow the bare patches of ground and rocks resemble a painting by Bev Doolitle of Pinto Ponies.

At night with the yard lights on,the beautiful snow clad trees stand out from the inky darkness and all is quiet. There are no birds singing or flying overhead. The only sound to be heard is the soft lapping of the waves hitting the shore of an open lake.

Then with the ground and trees covered with snow the weather begins to become colder. The lake becomes still, not a ripple or wave as if the lakes knows it is being  put to bed for the season. The ice doesn’t always freeze all at once but little by little the signs of ice are apparent. One morning you see a solid sheet of ice covering the lake.

As the ice thickens and becomes safe to be on the lake comes alive with people walking,skating,or cross country skiing. Soon out of nowhere a snow mobile or ATV comes into sight joined by others in a race pulling sleds or doing “wheelies” making donut patterns in the snow. Grown men drive their ATV’s to a friends house “can Jeffy come out to play?’

When the temperature drops to zero or below the lake gets restless in its winter nap and starts to moan and groan or a shift in the ice will cause a boom or sharp cracking sound and a crack will appear running across from shore to shore, then all is quiet again, except for the coyotes singing their eerie songs.  

When the snow melts there is a plop,plop sound from the snow hitting the ground. In the event of a heavy build up of snow, the snow falling off the roofs makes a heavy thud. Sometimes when it falls from the upper roof to the lower roof it will make a reverberation as well as sound. With the snow melt comes the sight of the “ Snow snakes” creeping off and along the branches of the leafless trees.

Winter at Diamond Lake is different.