[Rockhounds] Snow OT(WAS: Idaho metamorphic trip and glaciers)

[John Siebel]

Lanny, et.al.,

Sorry for the delay in getting back on this but it's been one gruesome 
winter here in Pokey Creek and we've been rather busy. I won't go into ugly 
personal details other than pipes freezing (and bursting) and woodshed 
collapsing under the snow load (burying 1/2 of our firewood supply until 
spring and smashing my tiller, mower and chainsaw). We're guessing over 12 
feet total snow so far with close to 5 feet on the ground at any one time. A 
succession of warm days has dropped the snowpack to where we can measure it 
in inches again (34" as of an hour ago). Had to shovel the cabin roof twice 
and trench out a 12 foot berm in front that threatened to blow in the living 
room picture window. We were snowbound on and off for a few weeks but, 
fortunately, we have good neighbors who trucked in supplies when we needed 
and helped us out when I was flattened by the flu. We considered a move to 
Arizona several times but then we'd miss the deer, wild turkeys and moose 
that parade through our yard.

But it seems the worst is over (knockin' on wood here), we lived through it, 
and up here in the hills we don't expect to see the flood that will probably 
close St Maries and the lowlands. But I've had enough character building for 
one season and mild sunny days are making me anxious to get out to whack 
rocks and dig up the garden. Looking forward to the field trip though, 
you're right, it may not happen until August. I'll bring zucchini!

John
Santa, Idaho



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lanny R" <lanny.r at roadrunner.com>
To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" 
<rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 9:36 AM
Subject: [Rockhounds] Idaho metamorphic trip and glaciers


> Hi all,
>
> Here I sit indoors looking out at the mounds of snow and the rough  white 
> strip in front of the house that is supposed to be a street and  can't 
> help but wonder when the snow will be off the St.Joe-Clearwater  divide so 
> we can make the planned field trip into the metamorphics of  northern 
> Idaho. Maybe it won't be until August.
>
> Difficult to say though. Whereas we have over 200% of the average 
> snowfall of 60 inches in Coeur d'Alene this winter, they say the high 
> mountains have only 109% of average. Northern Idaho and Eastern 
> Washington have been a mess with a lot of the snow coming down in the 
> past two weeks making roads and highways a challenge to drive. A lot  of 
> highways have been closed the past few days because of drifting  snow. 
> It's finally thawing some, so maybe the end of the snowfall is  getting 
> near.
>
> John and Julie, how are you doing in Santa? Buried?
>
> On average winters the snow is usually cleared off the divide by July, 
> but if spring and summer are cool, there are sometimes a few snowbanks 
> blocking roads until September.
>
> Just thought I would ramble a little this morning, the list is nearly 
> asleep. Keep the field trip in mind, perhaps the thought of searching  for 
> those garnets, kyanite and staurolite crystals will help spring  and 
> summer get here sooner.
>
> Regards,
>
> Lanny
> -- 
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