..... could we just ...not , at least it's not that weird wet slush we usually get I guess but still... Gets it's time to go sat the decks again

I always said I thought that would be the worst part of working barges. Winter and slick frozen steel to walk-on on and over cold water. Ironworking in the winter was no fun. Had days I would not get on the iron due to ice. It always seems colder out on the water to me for some reason.

Be careful out there.

-4F here this morning. -20f wind chill. Our snow is settled down and has a crust now, easier walking. Fishing is a little more work though. ...

Us crane guys don't seem to mind flying iron in the cold, wonder why?

Seriously though, my hat is off to every connector I ever worked with, in any weather.

I always thought operator's would have been a better trade to get into once I got a look at who did what. But Ironwork was a family thing have a cousin that's a 3rd generation out of our hall. Operator's and electricians seem like the best trades. So no surprise I'm now a heavy equipment operator at an aluminum plant. mostly operate 938 series cats 1025 vovo loader 100 ton55 ton over head cranes and some specialty custom made equipment as well as typical smaller stuff found in a factory down to just 8k fork lifts. Turns out I like running equipment

I don't know where you at exactly but take pictures because snow anywhere on the coast of the Gulf of America is a rarity

If you are way down by Brownsville, even rarer

Stay safe Wolfdog

My youngest son is an ironworker working out of Local 25 in Wheeling WV. He’s in his early 50’s so maybe he’s no longer connecting.

I miss ice fishing

Diversity is good

Down there in some prime redfish water!

I bet he probably still can but spends more time looking a prints and keeping things rolling smoothly and the young bucks safe.

That is the main drawback of operating, if you are any good they just leave you in a rig, you won't move up. Guys get used to working with you though and your name gets around, the phone always rings. There is an old saying, if you ain't good in the seat, they put you on your feet. So far I have witnessed that to be true.

Nice! lol

any scoop shovels ?
start clearing that deck where you need to walk , after you walk it down it compacts and turns to ice and freezes , just no fun
much easier to get it out of the way before you walk it down and have to chip it up

Those pics of frozen stairs in making my elbows and tailbone ache.