Weather rambling — Speeding their trotters

January of 1886 was extremely cold in the Adirondack region, with temperatures at Lake George on Jan. 11 dropping from eight below zero at 7 a.m. to 14 below at 9 p.n.

On the morning of Jan. 12, it was 32 below zero at Lake George, 23 below at North Creek, 30 below at Schroon Lake, and 40 below at Saranac Lake.

“The cold snap has made good solid ice at Lake George,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Jan.15. “Yesterday a gentleman drove a horse and cutter from Bolton to the head of the lake and experienced no difficulty on the trip. This is the first team to venture any distance on the lake this season,”

At Luzerne: “The ice harvest has commenced on the lake. The ice is about fifteen inches and of good quality.”

At Hague: “Talk about cold weather without snow. We have it in earnest. Charles Clanathan looks cold driving his steppers attached to a carriage. We would advise him to wait a week for good sleighing.

“Lake George is slumbering beneath its mantle of snow and crystal ice. Nature, too, is a sort of lethargic state, and the lake scene of so much mirth and gayety seems transformed into a rural retreat, that reigned only a few weeks since.” The Morning Star reported on Jan.26. “But this period of quiet will be of brief duration, and in a short time the place will bloom into fresh activity.”

1881

Horsemen, loggers, and generally every one in the region were pleased with the weather in January 1881.

“Plenty of ice this season. The sleighing looks good. Light fall of snow last night,” The Commercial Advertiser of Sandy Hill reported on Jan. 3, 1881.
Not withstanding the extreme cold Saturday, quite a number were out speeding their trotters.”

Nine inches of snow fell at Fort Ann on Jan. 9.

“Plenty of snow. Clear and crispy. … Full moon Saturday evening. … Lumbermen are rejoicing over the recent fall of snow,” The Commercial Advertiser reported on Jan. 12.

Three inches of new snow fell at Dunham’s Basin on Jan.14, bringing total accumulation for the winter, so far, to three feet and five inches.

Ice was being cut 17 inches thick on the Hudson River, The Commercial Advertiser reported on Jan. 19.

“Go slow on the coal. … Snow enough to last until the 4th of July,” the editor advised. “The moderate weather of Monday was short and sweet.”

The theme continued the next week.

“Winter half gone and the coal in the bins more than half gone!” The Commercial Advertiser reported on Jan. 26.

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