by Bill Straka
After a two-day drive from the SF Bay Area across northern Nevada, I drove the last 120 miles on snow-covered roads with light snow coming down and heavy patches showing on the radar (my son is an atmospheric scientist and has set up a web page that gives me access to all sorts of highly accurate weather information for the places I go from time to time).
I am always amazed at the people who drive these roads (only partially plowed) past me like I am standing still, though I was in 4WD and going 60+). I did see one of them in the ditch about 25 miles down the road with the Utah Troopers and an ambulance examining the scene. The predictions on the Blather Channel (umm, I mean the Weather Channel) and TV weather people were calling for a series of very heavy storms. Well, here in SLC it is fairly warm for this time of year (40s during the day) and Young Son's info looks like mixed snow and light rain in patches for the next few days.
I had hoped to get in some backcountry skiing (no go - avy danger is too high) or ice climbing (Barb called to ask why there were ice tools sitting on the garage floor - well, at least I have my crampons - your really should use the checklist, OGBO!). Tomorrow looks like a fair skiing day at the resort (I hate those yoyo rides, but Alta which forbids boarders is usually fun). Wednesday is the on-snow Demo Day, with promises of all sorts of new gear to try out. I will post a few tidbits afterward. Then Thursday through Sunday will bring your intrepid Trailspace Team to a large number of vendors with promises of wonderful new gear to write about.
Excitement builds!
