December 19:  Today we went to Niles to see what the ice build up was on Hidden Valley Pond and to check out the access road with new snow upon it. The drive down and back was uneventful, though it appears that some of the tree branches over the road will need to be trimmed before bringing down the toy box. Unfortunately the snow blanket has insulated the pond surface and the ice formation is progressing very slowly. We measured only 2″ of ice at the desired entry point. The day time air temperature for the next 10 days  is steadily rising and has been projected to hit 47°F with rain forecast on the day after Christmas. Even though the nighttime temps are to be below 30°F, for the most part, it’s not looking good for good ice on New Years Night.