Ahh, we made it out of winter and on to springtime. While advertisers plant images of sunshine and daffodils in our heads, we know all too well how muddy the weather can be this time of the year.
Between snowmelt and rainstorms, spring weather makes for a messy landscape that we call mud season!
While muddy periods can happen nearly any time of the year, we are more prone to them during the early springtime. Warming temperatures, snowmelt, runoff and heavy rains on the soil create the ooze of the season.
It's not just recreation time that is affected by mud season. It's those who work out in it doing construction or farming who can be highly impacted by the murky mess.
They may need to adjust their daily plans to navigate around muddy site conditions, and that can affect the bottom line. Farmers face extra work hours during excessively muddy days.
Rain is typically welcome, although a balance is needed as too much mud can delay seed planting as fields turn too muddy to hold farm equipment.
While animals like cows and horses can become grumpy dealing with the mud, it's the pigs that look forward to wallowing in it as it helps to keep them cooler.
When rain creates excessively muddy conditions, slips and falls become more likely. Or, on the flip side, your feet could get stuck in the mud, causing injury.
Instead of pulling and straining yourself, it's best to slowly maneuver your foot back and forth until it loosens out of the muck. If you are a hiker, remember to consider alternative routes and avoid muddy trails along river and streams. The weight of mud can lead to degradation and erosion that could cause you to slide off your route. Be sure to wear appropriate wet weather garb and waterproof hiking boots with grippy tread.
If you venture out on a muddy day, it's best to avoid driving onto soft ground. Stay on paved surfaces to avoid getting your tires stuck in the mud. If your vehicle gets stuck in the mud, try this great trick: With your vehicle in park, place one end of your car mat under the stuck tire, with the largest part of it in front of the tire. Then, drive slowly forward until you reach solid ground.
Hopefully, these tips will keep you on solid ground in the springtime, although from time to time you may encounter a muddy situation. After all, isn't that what mud rooms are for?
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