After shoveling 8" of snow off our deck last Saturday, the past couple days have warmed up and melted all the snow on the bike paths. I was able to ride my bike to run some errands and then over to the Dillon Reservoir for some wonderful views of the mountains. Tomorrow, more snow is predicted. This is spring time in the Rockies.
Yesterday, Helen was flying back from Tennessee after helping her mom move to Knoxville. She was due to arrive at 5:17PM. A massive spring snow storm was predicted for the front range including Denver to start around 3-6PM. At noon it was clear at our house in the mtns and looking at www.cotrig.org it appeared to still be pretty nice in the Denver area. I had originally scheduled service for our Prius but elected to cancel it and drive our 4WD Explorer down. Good decision.
On the way down, it appeared that my telephone was not working and the battery was low. Knowing that Hele would call me when she landed, I stopped by a Verizon store to have them check out my phone. The told me that it would not charge. Being short on time, I used one of their phones to leave Helen a message that my phone wasn't working and I would wait at our usual spot for her. As I was waiting the phone rang and Helen informed me that her flight had been deverted to Colorado Springs. I quickly told her that my phone battery was about to go and that I would drive to our friends (Mike and Susan Rudd) and she should call Mike to let him know her status.
After about 1 hr of driving through the snow storm (normally takes about 15 minutes), I arrived at Mike's house. Helen just called and said the plane was scheduled to fly back to Denver airport. I turned around and headed back out to the airport. The snow storm which was really getting bad and winter driving conditions. As I was about 3 miles from the airport, Helen called (I had Mikes cell phone), to let me know that the were returning to the gate and would probably have to spend the night in Colorado Springs.
I then headed back to Mike and Susan's house. Another hour of driving in a massive snow storm.
Roads to the mountains were closed and Mike and Susan let me stay at their house.
This morning Helen was able to catch an early morning flight back to Denver. I headed out to the airport again. Roads were much better shape and I70 was open again. We did have a lot of wet slush on the road but made it home safely around noon. At our house, we only had about 3-4 inches but in the front range some areas reported 23" and many areas had over 10".
That's Colorado in the spring time. Within a couple days, all the snow will be gone in the Denver area and spring will continue until the next snow storm.
This is a photo of our Explorer this morning parked outside Mike's garage. Click HERE to view other photos taken this morning of the snow storm.
Last week, Mar 7-12, 2010, I was in Washington DC with the Sierra Club to Lobby Representatives and Senators for Wilderness protection of the Coastal Plains of the Arctic Refuge in Alaska. HR 39 is the Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act. On Dec 6, 2010, it will be the 50Th Anniversary of the Arctic Refuge and we hope by that time that the coastal plain of 1.5Million acres of pristine wildlife and land will be permanently protected as designated Wilderness.
Under the Arctic Refuge Act, the area is currently protected from Gas and Oil exploration and/or drilling but constantly comes under attack by the Oil/Gas Lobby to open it up for drilling. Gas/Oil already has 95% of the entire Arctic coastal region already open for exploration and/or drilling leases. This area represents the remaining 5% and best estimates that it contains only 6 months of oil reserves.
Together with 3 other Sierra Club members from Breckenridge, Iowa, and Illinois, plus four Alaskan Natives from the Arctic Region, and members of the Alaska Wilderness League, we contacted over 45 Rep and Senators (their staff) during the week.
The entire week was a wonderful experience and I was able to gain valuable knowledge of the Arctic Refuge issue. Our Bill of Rights provides for individuals to "assemble for the purpose of petitioning Congress for a redress of grievances". Based on the number of normal people in the Legislative hallways, it was obvious that many people go to Washington for this purpose.
Click Here to see photos from my trip.
While in DC, I attended the Ansel Adams Murals opening ceremonies held in the Department of Interior by Ken Salazar. These photos were to be hung back in 1941 but were delayed by WW2. Ken Salazar, Sec. of Interior, made this a priority when he took the office.
Feb 16, 2010, Peter and Judy Ling from Harpenden, UK with their three sons, Ollie (19), Jason (21),Danial (23) came to visit us for a week. They were here 9 years ago and stayed at our place in the Wilderness. We were concerned this time there would not be good snow but the Snow Gods started dumping snow on our resorts over President weekend and did not stop until the morning that the Lings had to fly back to the UK.
When they arrived on Tuesday evening, we headed off to the Virgin Islands ski rental to get equipment. We started skied, Wed, Thur, Fri. Went to Breck on Sat. Skied Sunday and Monday. Ollie basically skied from the opening until closing each day except for one rest day. Others started a little later each day but ended up being the last ones off of the slopes each day around 4PM.
On Monday, Feb 22nd, we celebrated Peter's birthday. Our friends, Gary & Melody, Dave & Marilyn, and Ken & Mary stopped by for the celebration.
Helen first met Peter will doing a JD Edwards project in India. Peter worked for JD Edwards out of London. When we were in London in 2007, we would take the train up to Harpenden to visit Peter and his family. In 1979, while Rick was working in the UK, he lived in Harpenden. On our recent trip to Botswana, we met another couple, Rob and Elaine, from Harpenden. Small world.
