Damp snow frozen solid

December 5.

Very cold last night. Probably river skimmed over in some places. The damp snow with water beneath (in all five or six inches deep and not drifted, notwithstanding the wind) is frozen solid, making a crust which bears well. This, I think, is unusual at this stage of the winter.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, December 5, 1854

Probably river skimmed over in some places. See December 4, 1853 ("Flint's Pond only skimmed a little at the shore, like the river.") December 5, 1853 ("The river frozen over thinly in most places . . . Fair Haven Pond is skimmed completely over."); December 5, 1856 (The river is well skimmed over in most places, though it will not bear")

We head out around 7 pm in a light snow. thirty degrees. o the view. on the way trim the branches from the hemlock that has fallen over the trial. the valley is illuminated by a dome of clouds back lit by the full moon.  it is light enough to walk without a headlamp where there is snow .  We go over the east side and up the gulf to the top of the mountain and sit. Deccember 5, 2014