Lake of the woods

About Lake of the woods

Snow is never routine in Lake of the Woods, which is part of what makes a Virginia snowfall here so striking: the lake turns pewter, the oaks along the winding lanes hold their white, and the whole wooded community off Route 3 goes hushed. Lake of the woods offers snow removal for those lanes and driveways when a storm drops the heavy, wet snow typical of Virginia's Piedmont. Freezing rain can glaze a fresh snowfall overnight in Orange County, so clearing a drive before it hardens keeps the next morning manageable. Walk out after the storm, past the hardwoods that stretch toward the Wilderness battlefield nearby, and an open drive is a quiet relief. It is a small thing that makes a snowbound week by the lake feel easy.