Sheeny snow-crust to-day.

High winds last night and this morning. The house shakes, and the beds and tables rock. It clears off in the night, and this morning is clear and cold.

The high wind takes off the oak leaves. I see them scrambling up the slopes of the Deep Cut, hurry-scurry over the slippery snow-crust, like a flock of squirrels.

The ice on Walden is of a dull white as I look directly down on it, but not half a dozen rods distant on every side it is a light-blue color.

From Pine Hill, looking westward, I see the snowcrust shine in the sun as far as the eye can reach, – snow which fell but yesterday morning; then, before night, came the rain; then, in the night, the freezing northwest wind. 

Where day before yesterday was half the ground bare, is this sheeny snow-crust to-day.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, February 29, 1852