Usually we groan when winter shows up with its slippery roads and cold that settles deep into our bones. Maybe that is just me, but it seems universal. Even so, there are always a few moments each year that make me stop and appreciate what the season brings.

The first snowfall is one of them. There is something about watching the world turn quiet and white that feels almost protective, like the land takes a breath and resets. Midwinter has its own charm too. Snowbanks grow taller than people, and the cold gets sharp enough to make the air feel new. It is also the best time for snowmobiling, when the trails are packed, the trees are heavy with snow, and the only sound you hear is the engine and the crunch beneath you.

After a long day outside, nothing compares to the heat of a fire and the slow thaw of your hands. That warmth means more after you have earned it. And at the end of the season, when the air shifts and spring starts easing in, you can always count on one Canadian stepping outside in a T-shirt on a 5 degree day, (45 degrees Fahrenheit). It is the yearly sign that winter is loosening its grip.

Winter is more than cold and inconvenience. It lets the earth rest. Snowpack feeds the rivers and lakes that matter so much in the warmer months. The forest gets a break. Wildlife conserves energy. Water levels rise, ready for spring melt. The land uses this time to prepare.

We may think fondly of our summer memories and long days on the lake, but winter deserves some credit too. It has its own kind of beauty, one that is steady, quiet, and full of purpose.