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The River Steams

During the cold snap the Kootenai River would 'steam' from the temperature difference between the water and the air. In addition to the overall look of the clouds of fog right there at the river, the trees in the area of downtown became flocked with ice crystals which can be seen a bit in the top photo of the train crossing Riverside Road and across the railroad bridge. The power lines also become covered with the ice.

Not so fun when it gets like this is how the roads and sidewalks also become covered with a sheet of ice crystals as the steam rises and then almost instantly cools and falls back as ice crystals which look like it's raining light glitter or diamond dust. You can't see that in these photos but it was happening the entire time I was out and taking these photos as well as others.
With the sun out the blacktop would melt the ice layer. In the shade or on cloudy days it is just a very slick layer of white ice!
The above also shows more steam and the area of the "North Hill" of older residential housing. The bridge is the highway, 95 and 2, as it passes through the town and county on its way to all points, states and countries North, South, East and West!

Slipping and falling is the most common of injuries in the area in the winter time. Stacy and I have both each had our one fall for the year (WE HOPE!) and Stacy was hurt a little more with hers than I was with mine, but we know several people pretty well injured and racked up from their slipping and falling on the ice. YAX TRAX, slip on ice traction for shoes, and 'baby steps' can be a key aid to not getting hurt by a slip!



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