The winter in Bear Lake this year is unpredictable.  I do believe the climate is changing but I know it is a lot more complicated than the yap on television.  I am still fascinated by the weather.  In the old days, when were didn't have computer or the internet to check on snow depths at thousand's of locations across the world, things were different.  We judged in intensity of the winter by watching the snow level on wood fence posts or trees.  We tried to factor in drifting and snow settling.  I always watched the old pole, drift fence in the Sinks just after you went over the Summit toward Logan.  When it finally was covered with snow, I figured we had a normal snow year.  Over the past forty years, it seemed that the fence would be covered but we didn't seem to have the same amount of snow.  Last fall walked down to the old structure to check it out.  Sure enough, over the years, the snow and snowmobiles had smashed it down so now it is two feet lower than in the 1970's.  Since the pole fence is no longer accurate, I now watch the metal fence posts on the lay down fence below the Franklin Basin turnoff and check NRCS Snotel stations   

 

What a difference a week makes

It happens every year.  Fear of a drought.  People and media worry themselves to death about water for the summer or how low Bear Lake will go.  Will California be able to raise the vegetables we want to eat?  What a waste of anxiety and it was only January.  I have been in Salt Lake the last week and they really didn't have anything, but then the "high pressure" was breaking down. Here comes the Pineapple Express! Snow.......

The weather will do what it will do.  We can predict it and respond to it but we can't control it so quit worrying about it. As I worked my way up Logan Canyon yesterday it was readily apparent that winter has arrived and I am stuck.

The next morning we are snowed in.  Logan Canyon is closed.  Then the work starts.  Three feet on the deck, blower opening, 12 inches......

Well it snowed all day and is still snowing.  So far Tony's Grove has added five feet in this storm. There are avalanches in the canyon, a constantly narrowing road and of course, pow pow. I haven't even seen my turkeys lately.  But we got our "moisture", we won't die of thirst and all the newcomers now know what a "Bear Laker" storm is.  Enjoy the snow!