My First Snowstorm

 

 

 

I've been enjoying a series of newly retired "firsts", and was especially looking forward to this one. 

 

Working big snowstorms in the Highway Patrol dispatch center can only be described as hellish.  While most of the motoring public is prepared and reasonable, they can get caught in situations beyond their control. They, along with the ones who weren't prepared in the first place, require the assistance of the Highway Patrol, usually in numbers that overwhelm available resources.  The Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol work snowstorms together.  Depending on the amount of snow and how quickly it falls, there is a point when DOT plows can't keep up, conditions deteriorate, and motorists are unable to maintain the roadway. Let the games begin!

While DOT works the roads with snowplows loaded with hot mix, dispatch supervisors schedule from 1 to 3 extra people to help field the thousands of phone calls.  Radio dispatchers broadcast hundreds of calls to officers, and make calls to tow trucks in numbers beyond imagination.  Highway Patrol officers take countless accident reports and assist hundreds of motorists get back on the road.  It's incredibly high intensity and exhausting for everyone involved.

 



STORM ONE

These back-to-back storms were well predicted.  Originally forecast for Thursday evening, it was early Friday morning before there was any significant snowfall.  By the time Ron and I went out with the dogs, there was 3-4 inches.  The dogs are always excited by walks, and the addition of snow caused some wicked-looking play.  No blood was drawn.

 

The forest was beautiful.  Everything was blanketed in snow.

 

 

While Ron worked outside with his snowblower,

 

 

 I baked bran muffins

 

 

and whole wheat bread.

 

 

We enjoyed this meal of chili and salad

 

 

At the end of the day, I curled up with a blanket in my La-Z-Boy with a hot toddy and some retirement reading.  This is my dream come true.

 

 

 

News report for Storm One:

 

"So far, northern Arizona has avoided major traffic delays and the roads continue to be in good shape, despite up to 7 inches of snow in some parts of Flagstaff.

Law enforcement officials say there have only been a handful of traffic accidents on the interstates and city streets, none of which involved significant injuries.

“It’s been steady. Everything’s been really minor,” said Sgt. Gary Phelps of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. “ADOT was out early and were hitting everything pretty hard.”

Phelps said that between midnight and 8 a.m. highway patrol officers responded to some 20 slide-offs, two minor collisions and a commercial vehicle jack-knifed on Interstate 40, which did not cause significant delays."

 

STORM TWO

 

Saturday was a whole different animal. Snow had fallen through the night, and continued to fall heavily all day.  Anything over about 8 inches of snow makes walking difficult for both people and dogs. After lunch, I went out on snowshoes with the dogs to pack down a trail in the forest for us to be able to take the dogs out for walks for as long as the snow lasts.  The trail follows an 1/8 mile loop we use year-round for two of our daily walks with the dogs.  Once the snow is deep enough to snowshoe, I make the trail while Ron snowblows the driveway and shovels the decks.  Depending on the depth of the snow, it takes 3-6 passes to pack down trail.  Today's snow required 4 passes.  It's a good workout!  The dogs don't find it all disconcerting to wade through snow that nearly buries them.  Once the trail is established, they use it to rest from their vigourous explorations.

 

 

 

Okay, I goofed around a bit taking pictures!   Yep, that's how hard it was snowing behind me in the background.  I don't bother wearing glasses when it's snowing this hard-they only get wet and it's impossible to see. 

 

 

Yep, it's the same picture.  That's because this day ended the same way!

 

 

News report for Storm Two:

 

"With nearly a foot of snow falling on already slick roadways, hundreds of drivers slid off the pavement, rear-ended other vehicles and jack-knifed their semis.

"We are still trying to get caught up, as is ADOT, " said Sgt. Gary Phelps of the Arizona Department of Public Safety at 3 p.m., estimating calls for service had been in the "hundreds."

Interstate 40 between Parks and Ash Fork was closed for several hours in early afternoon in both directions because of traffic mishaps.

The largest collision involved three semis and two passenger vehicles, Phelps said. No serious injuries were reported.

Officers were called in from days off to assist with calls.

By 5 p.m. Saturday, the two-day snowfall total had topped 20 inches at both Flagstaff Pulliam Airport and the National Weather Service office in Bellemont."

 

To my co-workers:  A big THANK YOU! for the work you did. 

 

To myself:  A big THANKS! for the work I didn't have to do.

 

With the storms gone, Ron was stricken with cabin fever today.  We took a short trip into town, and I leave you with this view of the San Francisco Peaks.