Category: Snow

Snow Shadows

January 10, 2007 – Click on image for higher resolution version.

Jack wanted me to take a photo of the shadows on the snow, because it was too much trouble to do so himself. So I did.

Today’s exercise was excavating enough room so that I could put out the garbage in its normal place. I amended my ambitious plan to clear the whole area after finding it was filled with frozen snow rubble. Fortunately, I discovered the garden fork worked better than the shovel to free the icy hard pack.

The Word for World is White

January 09, 2007 – Click on image for higher resolution version.

I rarely walk the road to the top of the hill to the north of our house, because I prefer to take the dirt trail so the dogs can walk with me. However, the dirt trail looks too treacherous and I needed a short walk. It felt good to get some exercise doing something besides shoveling snow. This photo was taken this morning from the hill behind our house. Our house and two outbuildings are scattered in the center.

Aftermath

Fran mentioned missing my daily photo of snow yesterday. No, the snow has not gone away. However, most of the snow within easy reach has achieved the gritty, icy stage and is laying about in not particularly attractive drifts, with lots of large bare places scoured by the wind.

Yesterday, I needed some chili, so I braved the roads to go grocery shopping. Our road, though it was well-plowed when the last snow storm stopped, has been subject to continuous drifting. One particularly bad area is at the end of our driveway, which sits inside a banked curve. Saturday night, I left for a party, and barely clawed my way back into the driveway afterward while driving the Subaru. Sunday morning, the trip out was only interesting for the first tenth mile after I left the driveway. Coming home, I was chanting I think I can, I think I can, as I drove that last tenth mile before I got stuck as I turned into the driveway. This was not unexpected, but embarrassing because a truck was coming down the opposite way. I called Jack to come out, and jumped out and started digging with my trusty snow shovel. I was able to free the wheels sufficiently that I lurched into the driveway as Jack opened the garage door.

My homemade chili was excellent.

Late that evening, I was startled to look out and see the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle, and what was apparently a pile-up of vehicles at the entrance of our driveway. Since I was already in my jammies, I sent Jack out to investigate. There were no injuries, evidently, but one massively stuck vehicle, along with a truck which had burned out its clutch trying to free the massively stuck vehicle. Later, a bob cat came by and did some serious snow moving, and I noted this morning that the only vehicle there is a truck, presumably the clutch-less one. I can’t tell whether the road has been plowed, but did note that a massive 4WD truck was able to get by, so perhaps we can get out.

6:40 am I just noticed a light truck, going north, that turned around when it reached the stuck truck, so it must still be pretty treacherous. I’ve noticed another vehicle made it by going south, but it was apparently an SUV. South is easier than north, because north goes up a significant hill. School bus due at 6:45, so that will be more data.

7:00 am School bus is apparently parked at the bottom of the hill, awaiting developments. I just shoveled our driveway entrance enough to get the Subaru free, and will have to do it again if developments include a snow plow. Two passenger cars made it out going south: I think the Subaru Forrester in the lead was acting as escort for the other, since it waited while the other negotiated the drifted area.

Just think what you people who live in Southern California are missing.