Ice, Ice, Baby

A weekend excursion for fresh produce was planned, having been up here for a while. I thought I could get out, so let’s get out while the getting is good. The night before departure, my mountain top was in the clouds, so rising was mired in an icy coating unlike any I’ve seen. The rubber seals, now fully sealed, refused to yield and allow my cargo trailer to open; had I planned to take the quad, the trip would have ended right there.

Moon Bug had detached door trim upon opening, the ice too thoroughly infesting every possible path, and was rampant. Perhaps I left too early, the sun was upon the horizon, but not yet visible, nor able to offer any assistance to break such icy bonds.

Excited to go, I ventured down the mountain and the trip was uneventful, although one must steer adamantly with tracks to keep one’s way. Both hands on the wheel? Mandatory, not optional.

Stopping to admire the view, the sun just rising upon the Blanca Range; how many folks get to see such beauty, simply on a grocery run?

With too much snow, and too many drifts to take the Jeep all the way down, Moon Bug traversed the park for the first time, fully, on tracks. The truck was still there and started readily. Much scraping and a second full round of de-icing ensued.

The trip into Alamosa was uneventful yet bountiful. Upon the return run, I discovered the winds had been steadily, slowly, blowing upon the aforementioned snow-that-refuses-to-bond. Parts of my tracks, four hours later, were simply gone. This below image is Schierl Road, just past the Ortega Cabin, before the drop to Beck Place. Not much evidence I had crossed this ridge a few hours earlier.

I made it home, quite uneventfully and with many smiles, and was quite pleased over all. Salad now for two days in a row and a fresh organic stir fry planned for dinner.

Life is good.