Winter Road

In the summer, transit between the islands of Kaleina is possible only by boat and the few bridges connecting some of the closer islands. Trade in the summer is dominated by large companies sending cargo by boat.   Around the first month of the year, the entire country begins to shift into winter mode. In the month of Drums, the lakes freeze and sailing ceases. Drums to Mid Dance is considered the quiet season, when there is too much ice to sail but not enough to drive on. Work on the winter road usually begins the day after Midwinter.   The road is nothing more than packed down snow on top of ice. It begins in Fiana's harbour and stretches all the way to Fort Aulla, at the portage to Vaansiam. Along the way, it stops at Kaleina's major cities. Other communities build their own smaller road to connect their islands to the main winter road, but these roads are not built or maintained by the government.   The road allows trade and travel to continue even when boats are put away for the winter. Caribou-drawn sleighs ferry travellers between the islands and villagers who can't afford a boat walk to visit friends on faraway islands.   Trade in the winter is usually smaller scale. Large merchants prefer to wait until summer, when they can pack all their goods into a ship and quickly get around. In the winter, independent craftsmen walk to market towns to sell their wares and artisans pile all their work from the summer onto an inexpensive sleigh to take to Fiana.   In the depths of the winter, communities have unprecedented connection to each other. It only lasts for a couple months in the coldest months, though. In the month of Horns, the temperatures rise and the road becomes unsafe. Precisely when it is abandoned varies from year to year based on the weather, but once the ice begins to melt, the road closes.   They enter the second quiet season, from mid Horns to the end of Bagpipes, as the lake melts. Individuals still use the winter road during this time, as it is stable enough for a single person on a caribou or even a few people walking for much longer than the government will officially maintain it for sleighs.   By the end of Bagpipes, the lake has melted and boat travel can commence for the rest of the summer. Come the next Drums, they will rebuild the road again from scratch.