When it rains, it snows… (and pours, and gets windy, and smokey, etc.)

Most of the following was written early Saturday morning, February 7^th…

With fresh snow outside, one might think the sound that I hear on the rooftop might be reindeer hooves, however it is the sound of wet snow falling from the trees. So far this storm has brought us high winds, wildfires, finally snow, and now rain.

Friday evening, Feb. 6 at 9:14 pm (weather report from the top of Mammoth Mountain)

 Saturday morning, Feb. 7 at 6:10 am

Winds have decreased significantly since last night, but it’s still quite breezy out there. I get so excited with major storm events. It brings people together. I woke up one morning in northern Minnesota to 3+ feet of snow burying my car. People were walking to the grocery store with sleds to carry the food back home. Everyone just came together to help each other out. Storms test our strength, our ability to adapt, resiliency to come back. I feel secure knowing that I have the options of walking to work, taking the bus, and a closet full of clothes to trudge through the snow (as was the case Saturday morning) or to bow my head against the rain (as was the case Sunday night).

Although exciting, extreme weather events will unfortunately become more common as the earth’s climate continues to change. Small shifts inthe average distribution of temperatures, precipitation and other climatevariables can substantially change the frequency and intensity of extreme events. From this recent storm event came tragedy: overturned trucks on the highways (wind), cars in ditches (snow/ice), and communities evacuated (fire). And the next thing to watch out for: avalanches.

At the Welcome Center we were lucky to hear a presentation on avalanches from Sue Burak with the Inyo National Forest. Biggest take away that I learned: Wind loading = avalanches.

What is wind loading?

Wind will bring snow from the windward (upward) side of obstacles (ex: a ridge), and deposit the same snow on the leeward (downwind) side.

Wind can deposit snow 10 times more rapidly than snow falling from the sky. Also, wind-drifted snow when it comes to a rest is often much denser than other non-wind loaded snow, due to being ground up as it bounces along the ground. Ergo: wind loading adds a significant amount of weight on top of other buried snow layers, and forms a slab that can fracture quite easily. (info from the National Avalanche Center)

After storm events, Sue will go out and dig snow pits to test the stability of the snow, and write a “Snowpack Summary” that is shared publicly. A snowpit is dug vertically into the snowpack in order to observe the varying snow layers and potentially perform stability tests, such as the compression test (Isolate a column of snow, lay the blade of the shovel flat on top, begin tapping progressively harder on the shovel blade until the column fails).

All of humanity will want to get out and enjoy this snow, the first since Christmas time, but will their avalanche beacons be charged? Will everyone know how to use them? Turn them on? Locate their buried friends? Will people dig proper snow pits to check for avalanche danger?

The following story is a few years old, and it’s quite lengthy, but if you have time to spare, it shares a story of an avalanche in Washington in a way that demands respect for Mother Nature.

Snow Fall: The avalanche at Tunnel Creek

Social dynamics within a large group… I experienced that while climbing the Middle Teton in Grand Canyon National Park in a group of six. (Hail, thunder, etc…) Bad decisions are too often made. I’m lucky that all in our group returned safely.

So back to avalanches, to ensure the safety of skiers, snowboards and other snow enthusiasts, the Ski Patrol at Mammoth Mountain acts as the towns rooster, waking everyone up at 6:30 am with the sounds of a WWII Howitzer, intentionally triggering avalanches in the early morning when the mountain is still closed (more on the howitzer here) 

Now if only California would receive a few extreme snow fall events (instead of extreme drought and unusually high temperatures)… 

Who's got Birkie Fever!

It's that time of year again where thousands of people flock to northern Wisconsin to voluntarily ski 30+ miles in sub-zero temperatures. Sounds fun right? This will be my 6th pilgrimage to the snowy north to ski the American Birkebeiner.

Barkie-Birkie: One of the many events that occur during Birkie weekend (skijoring)

It's a lot to take on: the physical challenge of skiing for such a long distance, the mental challenge of staying positive while skiing for so long, and being able to adapt to a great many things such as varying weather conditions, how ones stomach reacts to certain foods, how well the wax holds, etc. Not to mention the discipline that it takes to prepare for such an event. My first Birkie I was not in great physical shape and it was a rough time out on the course. But despite the challenges involved, the Birkie has been an important rock for me to hold on to. Many days when I didn't want to leave the house, I left. And I loved it. Even in the bitter colds of Minnesota or the burning sun of California, the forests have become a refuge from whatever stressors are present in life. And who doesn't crack a smile while watching chickadees? Exactly.

Over the past few years, I have written bits and pieces about my Birkie experiences…

February 2013:
In six days I will ski 54 kilometers.  No worries.  I can do this, in fact I already have, 3 times to be exact.

For the past 8 months I have been meticulously aware of what I have eaten and drank… and what time I needed to awake in order to be on time for 6 am hot yoga on a Saturday morning.  And who knew that plain greek yogurt with flax seeds and blueberries would become more appetizing than ice cream?

So many emotions… Excitement that the day is finally here, nervous that I might miss the wax or wont meet my hypothetical “goal” time, and sad that the day I have looked forward to for so long will soon be over… then what?

But I will succeed.  I have treated my body like a temple, and my body will repay me with 5+ hours of superb skiing.  And if anything, I take pride in knowing that I am most likely the only one in the gym who truly knows how to use the rowing machine.

Think snow and stay cold.

-I'm aware that at times the level of control that I exercise over my life might be a tad too extreme, but during moments when life seems to be spiraling in every direction, having the Birkie as a solid rock for which I have control as to how prepared I am for it - it helps.

-In March of 2013 and 2014, I participated in a fat bike race held on the Birkebeiner trails. In 2013, which was the inaugural Fat Birkie race, I was the only female in the mountain bike category. I remember rolling up to the starting line with 2 other men. One of those moments where internal dialog is saying "Ok, this is happening. Here we go!"


March of 2013:

What the Fat Birkie means to me

A)   I signed up for the race

B)   I made it to the start with a positive attitude

C)   I crossed the finish line

D)   I walked up on stage to receive an award

The motivation and drive to go try my first bike race ever, also for the first time ever biking in the snow.  The drive to change my own bike tire, knowing that I’ve done it before, and can do it now (and the refusal to pay someone to do something that I know I can do, though it still might be a struggle).  Asking my roommate if he wanted to go biking with me with a response of… “that sounds like too much work”.  And then going out anyways. Choosing a tire air pressure and sticking with it, and not second guessing myself. I am motivated to get out, have an adventure, and never let the dust settle upon my body (or my bike).

Just a tad intimidating… Whatever, I got this.

- (And yes, if you use the rowing machine in a gym but have never received any professional advice, watch the following video: How to row! It drives me nuts to see people on the return first bend their knees, and then have to lift their hands up and over their bent knees. Wrong!)