Author Archives: MilwaukeeSnow

About MilwaukeeSnow

Dr. Jeffrey Filipiak, Milwaukee's Ambassador of Snow, loves winter, Milwaukee, and environmental history! He has taught college courses on topics including history, writing, environmental ethics, food studies, the Great Lakes, and sustainability. You can contact him at ambassadorofsnow@gmail.com.

Walk Across Lake Winnebago: the history of a strange but social event

Posted on January 26, 2015

It all started with one woman leaving her purse at a bar… and deciding to take an unusual route toward getting it back. It led to, year after year, lots of people telling participants “you are nuts.” But last year, … Continue reading →

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Walking at Night during Winter, part 2: between Darkness and Lights

Posted on January 19, 2015

The darkness is one of the great challenges many face in winter. It can lead to depression and danger. But it also has often been pointed to as a chance for reflection, including a time for spiritual awareness. As with … Continue reading →

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Walking at Night during Winter, part 1: Ground Illumination

Posted on December 6, 2014

Winter is my favorite season during which to look at the ground floor at night. With the snow out, there’s a layer of something light, a layer of contrast. I find the snow calming; and it provides contrasts to what … Continue reading →

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Striking Contrasts of Snow in Flooded Wetland: Photo Essay

Posted on April 14, 2014

Today presented an unusual treat. Previous snow cover had melted, followed by some big rainstorms, meaning that in the wetland near me, water covered much of the ground. Last night, we got one of the best snows to appreciate afterwards … Continue reading →

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De-wintering: enjoying seasonal transition by soaking in joys of melt and ice

Posted on March 29, 2014

Late March where I am, this year, means one can experience this combination: 1. Spring-like weather warm enough that I don’t need bulky winter clothing anymore, plenty of sunshine, and birdsong 2. a winter-like woods where the floor is mostly … Continue reading →

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My thoughts on winter 2014; snow that stays around

Posted on March 2, 2014

As we exit the three coldest-average-months of the year (or ‘meteorological winter’), I will begin to wind down my promotion of winter appreciation for the season. Now seems like a good time to reflect back on what I have observed … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations, Reflections | 1 Comment

Roundup of writing about winter 2013-4

Posted on February 23, 2014

As we enter late winter, I thought now might be a good time to share some of my favorite essays about appreciating the season which were published this winter. Elegant explanation of an interesting project that connects past experiences of … Continue reading →

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Watching the snow: images of beauty I find in shadow patterns

Posted on February 13, 2014

Perhaps the leading theme of my snow photographs is the patterns I try to capture. What shadows are trees casting? There are so many different arrangements of branches, snow drifts, brush, and other things that keep recreating new patterns to … Continue reading →

Posted in Observations, Photo Gallery | 2 Comments

Walk Across Lake Winnebago: impressions from my first time crossing the ice

Posted on February 3, 2014

This is one of the more unusual Wisconsin winter activities I have heard of. Hundreds of people covering the width of Lake Winnebago by walking across it? I was excited to try this out the year I heard about it… … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Observations | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Value of patience during Winter

Posted on January 29, 2014

Winter is a season that rewards patience. Those who are impatient are more likely to get frustrated – and less likely to appreciate what the season has to offer. What are some of the situations in which patience is a … Continue reading →

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