It’s true.
Well, at least winter’s end.
The beginning months of winter have all the fun. Thanksgiving. Black Friday. Hot chocolate. Presents under the tree. New Year’s Eve. The Super Bowl. Even in mid-February we celebrate Valentine’s Day. These events distract us from the bitter cold and dangerous driving conditions. This late in the game, it’s time for winter to pack up and leave the party. We won’t mind a bit. March 20th is just around the corner.
The only thing I miss about being a California native is that, for flat landers at least, winters were not severe. In the Central Valley of California, the weather went from fog to extreme heat (100+ from May to October). Just two weather patterns over most of the 60 years I lived there.
With the lack of four distinct seasons, there were somethings we missed out on. Puffy white spring clouds. Winds. Summer thunderstorms. A real show of fall colors. Crisp apples signaling the arrival of fall. Nope. None of those things.
We had two seasons.
Dense, Tule Fog.
Heat.
Repeat.
Well, there was one year it did snow enough to cancel school in 1960-something which was a once-in-a-lifetime event until this year. But, on a normal year, weather was pretty boring.
Here in the desert, we’re blessed with four true seasons. Although not equal in the number of days, they’re all recognizable as the seasons they are and, at this point, I’m sick of winter. Enough already.
When VST and I purchased Winterpast, my little desert town had an immediate advantage. According to yearly averages, very little snowfall was to be expected (5″ of precipitation). In Virginia City, Nevada, there were years VST tunneled through snow drifts, shoveling all day long. One year, the Nevada National Guard was called, arriving with heavy equipment to push the snow over the cliff. This desert town, with little precipitation called to us.
For the most part, it’s been a good choice. Until this year. I’ve realized snow shoveling isn’t on my list of favorite things to do.
Early signs spring’s arrival are everywhere. Bulbs that MM and I planted in the fall are now up. Some will bloom soon. Now, that’s reassuring. If only the snow would stop.
When the supply chain to an area flows through the high Sierra Nevada mountains and Donner Pass, the store shelves can suffer during the winter. This year the storms have been so severe, the pass has closed many times already, prohibiting trucks from making their deliveries. Desolate desert life takes patience and preparation. I’m lucky my little town is right off the interstate. For those that are off the beaten path, winters can be tough and you need to plan for days of isolation.
As VST and I searched for our final home over the last years of his life, I remember someone in Wyoming telling us living just 10 miles from town might as well be 1,000 during a bad winter. Truer words have never been spoken. I can hear my Wyoming girlfriend laughing hysterically right now. To her, this can’t really begin to be considered winter. She lived through the real deal for years. For me, a Cali-girl transplant, this is akin the frigid Alaskan Yukon.
As we speak, Yosemite National Park is closed until March, at the earliest. I would guess it might be closed for the year. Living in the foothills just below the park, my bestie, CC, was gone on vacation. In just days, her home (elevation 3,000) is now covered in 8′ of snow. She doesn’t know when she’ll be able to return. All power was off at last I checked with her. For now, she is staying with family to wait for the thaw.
The spring melt will be interesting. At least we won’t be hearing from the drought officials. It’s officially over this year, at least in California.
How high’s the water, Mama? Two feet high and risin’. Floods, they’re a-coming.
For now, start those seedlings indoors. Make your garden designs. Inventory your tools. Start building garden boxes. Order bare roots. Focus on new life. Spring will be upon us in the blink of an eye. Let the gardening preparations begin.
Whatever you do today, check on someone that might be snow bound or struggling with seasonal depression. Get out in the sunshine. Heck, shovel some snow. It will be good for what ails you! At least, that’s what we can tell ourselves.
More tomorrow.