Been meeting a few more folks, even though the park is thinning dramatically. Also met a local farmer and secured some more (now) canned goods for winter. Life is good out here on the ranch, in spite of the wind and biting cold.
Also met some not so locals (one of which was lost and ‘told’ me I was to help her). Sad she had never heard of asking, notably on a mountain side after dark.
All in all, things are good, but winter is still approaching fast even though most outside chores are mostly done.
A four day break from work, but much to do at the ranch. Cold weather came up the valley, and the winds (from a neighbor’s log) peaked at 81 miles an hour overnight Saturday night. A nice night to stay inside and stoke the fire.
The icicles can let you surmise which way the wind was steadily moving.
One sided icing on the poles.
Living room window, Sunday morning, looking west towards Brophy.
Tee Shirt weather even though snowed in. It is only my little valley on the western edge of the lot, buried in tall trees, never getting sun; the rest of the park is navigable. Vehicles are being relocated, those with given features located for given needs within the park. Hiking home is part of the moves.
One of the Spanish PeaksPart of the Trinchera RangeThe old boy deep in discovery of what an elk lay smells of.The sun setting plays with the snow in unique ways.
I have had two interesting and movement inhibiting snow storms since I arrived. Neither was normal, typical, and none of the locals ‘have seen anything like it for this time of year.’ Nonetheless, they have happened. I am eight miles from pavement (and maintained roads) so both times, it is hunker down and wait and see what happens. Inaction? Not typical for this man, but it forces the self to slow down, accept the world around, shift into watching mode rather than doing mode, being rather than producing.
It is safer here than anywhere I have lived, even denoting the above. I have two fuel sources independent of any need for electricity. I have calculated four days of reserve power without the influx of new energy. My off-grid solar system can fail, as can any electronic service, but is mathematically far less likely to fail during a storm as compared to conventional power loss during said same. My fiber optic connection to the outside world is fully underground, so home systems seem normal even when the weather is wild. I now have over sixty meals in canned storage with a five year shelf life, beyond what was already planned. There is safety in such.
Pushing, shoveling and blowing snow reminds me of an observation once read.
…while no two snowflakes look alike, fifteen feet of them all piled up at once produces an impenetrable similarity – John Gould
The snowblower is fixed. My dismay was based upon inexperience; a part readily designed to break to prevent long term damage did in fact break. A small bolt to the rescue, the demon beast on tracks is seemingly fully operational. It does not like my snow, however, heavy, thick, wet and deep.
Moon Bug loves the snow, sans tracks. It can move, shove, and pile this stuff readily. After work, I start putting the tracks on, so it’s non-operational until all four are installed. My first try, but I am equally excited to see it rise on the tracks.
The sun plays great games with the snow. Some drifts are shallow, some many feet deep. We are staying put this weekend, letting the melt continue. I’ve heard most of the park is plowed out (and saw some folks plowing on another ridge), but I also heard plowing is not allowed. There are rules, but there are no rules. My patch is lovely, nonetheless.
