NOVEMBER 2016 • NEBRASKAland 55
Photos and story by Jeff Kurrus
Above: Ponca State Park mini-lodge cabins after a winter snowstorm. Whitetail cabin is pictured.
Opposite: A winter landscape image at Ponca State Park in Dixon County features white-tailed deer tracks.
W
e thought we would beat the storm,
one that would eventually drop eight
inches of snow onto northeastern Nebraska
one week before Thanksgiving. We were
wrong. As we pulled into South Sioux
City, the red brake lights of cars could be
seen in all directions. It was an apocalyptic
gridlock reminiscent of a television zombie
outbreak.
Two hours later, after finally wedging
our way out of town heading west on
Highway 20, we were greeted by blowing
snow. An hour later, we were finally
at Ponca State Park, our family of four
snowed in.
We make a trek each winter to Ponca
State Park with a group of friends, but
we've always done so on open roads and
hiked through open woods. We visit the
overlooks, fish, carve pumpkins and spend
a little time away at one of our favorite
Nebraska destinations.
However, this year would be different.
One, we didn't know if any of our friends
would be able to make it through the snow
and ice. Two, what were we going to do in
this world of white?
We quickly found out the next morning.
