In the place where I currently live, far Upstate New York, the first measurable snow in the year can occur at any time in the fourth quarter of the calendar. It has been said around here that a child’s Halloween costume must be sized to fit over a snowsuit due to the possibility of a lasting snowfall by the end of October. Many people are ready to wield shovels, snowblowers, and vehicle brushes by early October if not sooner. By that time, any sunny day without snow is a gift to be enjoyed.
Children eagerly anticipate that first snow for the opportunity to throw snowballs, build a snowman, ride a sled, or even have a day off from school if the snow is deep enough. Most people who commute to work would much prefer that the first snow be a light dusting that slowly accumulates over a week or two to minimize the possibility of vehicle accidents. In any case, we often do not know when, or how much, snow will begin to fall and become a joy or a nuisance in our daily lives. We just expect that it will come at some point, whether we are really ready or not.
Hunters often like the first snow because it provides some contrast in the woods and allows for easier tracking of game. The late autumn woods becomes a landscape of yellows, browns, and greys with the occasional green outcroppings of the pine and hemlock trees. The white snow seems to brighten the woods as well as removing some of the last leaves clinging to the trees. This makes it easier to see longer distances in the woods and can have the benefit of knocking down some of the tall underbrush in the fields. Animal trails become even more noticeable as they move through the landscape.
Photographers who specialize in bird photos like the snow for similar reasons as well as the snow providing some contrast to bright plumage. A picture of a red male cardinal sitting in a pine tree with snow on the branches is so popular as to almost be a cliché. Landscape photographers can also benefit from the contrast that snow brings to allow their subject to pop into view highlighted against a white background. A little snow on the ground, or in the air, opens up a new looking world to be photographed.
The first snow of the year usually signals a time to pack away our shorts and pull our flannel shirts out of storage. Boots, mittens, and warm hats will be parts of our daily lives for a few months. Snowblowers and shovels will be our preferred tools rather than lawnmowers and rakes. And we will find time for recreation with snowshoes and sleds instead of swimming pools or trips to the beach. It’s all an attitude of mind over matter – if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.