I live in Vermont and I can tell you the cold is Hell on equipment. Sounds like the grease in your cluth linkage is getting stiff. Probably old too. When this happens it gets hard and doesn't lube very good. Grease it plenty and try to push the old grease out. May have to warm it a little to soften the old stuff. Otherwises the new stuff may find a way out and not necessary push all the old grease.