by Jeff Shaw
The first day of the New Year was a morning of firsts – welcomed by a perfect blanket of freshly fallen, sparkling snow. Now that may not seem all that special, it is winter after all, but waking up to a snow covered landscape – on January 1st – on Cape Cod – was a personal first. But the snow covered scenery didn’t stop there; a trailing winter gale blasted another 2-3 inches late-morning.
Most people do not enjoy shoveling snow. But on Cape Cod, receiving enough fluff to necessitate shoveling is quite the novelty experience. Trade your five and dime plastic sand shovels for a metal bladed Snow Blaster 2000. It’s an odd feeling. I can also report that boogie boards work just as well as sleds or tubes for a little chilly downhill slide.
Once the storm subsided, the call to the ocean was too loud to ignore. An unplowed parking lot greeted me. The beach was empty; raw; cold and otherworldly from its peak summer, jovial appearance. The wind was still swirling, biting any and all exposed skin. The landscape desolate.
The snow was considerably lighter than most coastal storms. There was no crunch underfoot, even sand was revealed on my boot tread. I trudged to the shoreline against the wind.
But just as quickly as the winds were gusting, the light was changing. Gray skies slowly gave way for purples and blues. A bird flew overhead. The wind quieted. The storm was moving on.
The gift left behind was the uncommon ability to break trail in an actual winter wonderland, snowshoes optional.
January 8, 2026