If you blinked, there’s an excellent chance you missed the winter of 2001-2.
Trust me to take up a winter sport like skiing at a time when the season has begun to disappear from the southern Canadian landscape. It’s been a struggle for Ontario ski resort operators to keep their hills decked out in the white stuff this winter, and the sandpaper-like consistency of the man-made powder made it tough to get a good ride.
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I also feel bad for snowmobile freaks. My sister-in-law Ray and her hubby Ron - whom you may recall from our Winter 2000 issue - could often drive their machines right out of the garage of their home near the shores of Lake Simcoe and head virtually anywhere in Ontario and Quebec through a network of trails. This year they had to load their snowmobiles on a trailer and head due north for five hours to Sudbury to find trails of any quality.
You may have noticed, to your delight, that spring has been arriving sooner and you’re spending less time and money on snow removal. Plants once native to more temperate climes in the U.S. south, like the Carolina Jasmine, are thriving in Ontario. Killing late-winter frosts are less prevalent.
Something funny’s going on, but nobody can quite agree about the seriousness or the long-term impact global warming is going to have. One thing is certain - it’s getting hotter. Henry Hengeveld, science adviser on climate change for Environment Canada, recently told CBC News that the last decade was the warmest in a century, and the last century was the warmest in a millennium.
If there can be any winners in this meteorological curiosity, you’d have to figure it would be the long-suffering natives of The Great White North. But while a longer summer means more pleasant time at the cottage - and the prospect of orange trees beside your deck in your children’s lifetime - global warming isn’t so hot for us either.
Take, for instance, falling water levels in the Great Lakes. A report released last March showed the levels of both Lakes Michigan and Huron down a stunning 23 inches - that’s nearly two feet - from the long-term average for those vital bodies of water. Meanwhile, Lake Superior was down 14 inches, Lake St. Claire eight inches, Lake Erie five inches and Lake Ontario an inch shy of normal.
"The jury is still out, but Great Lakes declines might be related to climate change," Dr. Peter Sousounis, a University of Michigan meteorologist, told The Detroit News last year.
And according to a report released in 2000 by the World Wildlife Fund of Canada, another worrisome prospect is the possibility of losing up to 60% of our native plant and animal species by the end of this century, as many of them will be unable to keep up with rapid change of environment.
While man’s role in global warming may yet prove to be of limited consequence, it still behooves all of us to keep our leaders focussed on what we can do to mitigate its effects. We shouldn’t allow the short-term delights of balmier weather blind us to the long-term dangers.
Glenn Garnett/Editor, CottageLink Magazine
Going to the cottage is a time of adventure for the entire family, especially for your beloved dog or cat. Ah, so many trees and chipmunks, so little time! But you may want to think twice before you set them loose on the great outdoors - we talked to a vet about a wide array of disease and danger lurking in the woods and what you can do to protect your pets in story 1.
Whether your cottage is far from the power-grid or if power outages are the rule rather than the exception, a gas-powered generator can be an excellent investment. But which model is right for you? Our gadgets-guru Scot Magnish outlines the basics in story 2.
Cycling is a terrific sport, ecologically friendly and offers proven fitness benefits. It’s also a great way to enjoy the countryside. But to tackle that gravel road or wilderness trail near your cottage, you’ve got to get a mountain bike - our webmaster Brent Garnett gets you up to speed in story 3.
Privacy can be precious, even at the cottage - that’s why privacy fencing is all the rage right now. But fences don’t have to be oppressive, ugly barriers - they can be artistically created to enhance the beauty of your property while affording you a little space away from prying eyes. We talked to master woodworker Ian MacDonald - see story 4.
The theme of our May/June issue is better barbecuing at the cottage. Food writer Rita Demontis talks to the experts about mistakes amateurs make on the grill and how your BBQ can be used to whip up more than steaks and burgers - how about pizza and cake for starters? And if your old barbecue has seen better days, don’t toss it out - Scot Magnish will show you how a few inexpensive adjustments can bring it back to life. All that and more in our spring issue.
If you have any comments or suggestions on articles you’d like to see in CottageLink Magazine, just drop me a line at cggarnett@telus.net. Remember - this is your magazine!
