Oh the Seasons...

Even before I moved to Maine, I was forewarned of the climatic conditions I would soon face. In California, my brother and I wore socks on our hands when flurries fell from the sky. Having never seen snow prior to this experience, we were delighted - yet unprepared. We wore over sized sweatshirts and socks for mittens; the snow accumulation was very minimal.
When my father sent photographs of our new home in mid May, my brother and I were shocked to see snow! Not merely snow, there were foot high banks around our new home. Having lived in Idaho for the past several years, where school was canceled if an inch accumulated, this heavy snowfall was unimaginable. Shortly after moving to Maine someone explained to me the workings of Northern Maine climate.
"There are three seasons," he explained matter-of-factly. "There is winter, which is longest of all. Then before and after winter is mud season, and for a short-lived period mid way through mud season you will find the third season- July."
So there you have it. Winter, Mud season, and July. Some years we really don't even have July, or as some would refer to it, "summer".



Our winters are hard for some faraway-living people to grasp, and hard for some Northern Maine inhabitants to withstand. Winters can certainly vary. A few years back, in the winter of 2007-2008, Northern Maine broke record snowfall. In Caribou snow fall for the season was 182.5 inches! In the spring it caused a great deal of damage in the north part of the county when flooding destroyed homes and businesses. This is not how all winters are though.


This year has proven to be an oddity. Without bearing strict statistical values, let's just say it's been quite warm and snow-less. This bears many diverse reactions among those living in Aroostook County. Some individuals are having the best winter in years: feeling in great spirits, full of energy, and not terrified to drive. Others are devastated by the loss of time to pursue their beloved winter activities. Sled Heads still today cling to the dirt ridden trails, scarcely sprinkled in snow. Ice fisherman still take residence in their ice cabins over weekends, stirring little over the creaking, shifting ice at night. Those who love to ski and snowboard felt the loss by way of rugged trails: grass poking out in random places and snow thinly packed over rocks and ice.
While the lack of snowfall has made this winter less than exciting for most, it bears the fact that mud season is nearby. With mud season occurring so early in the year this could mean huge things for Northern Maine. It could mean the addition of something that has not been experienced in the area for quite some time-- a fourth season. At this quickened rate of seasonal change, Aroostook County could see its first August in years! It will be interesting to see how this situation develops in the coming months. This could mean big things for summer enthusiast who call Maine home.