Friday, February 26, 2010

Winter in Europe

Snow Fell on the Continent as Well

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Paris, France on December 17, 2009. Photo by Nicolas Barcet. Creative Commons License.

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Ede, Netherlands on December 21, 2009. Photo by Rasbak. Creative Commons License.

January 7, 2010 Great Britian
January 7th, 2010 NASA photo shows Great Britian covered with a blanket of snow.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

December 21, 2009

Crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains

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Buck's Elbow Mountain in Crozet Virginia.

Over on the other side of the mountains, my daughter had been without power for a couple of days. She hadn't been plowed out either so my son, his girlfriend and I set out to get her and bring her back to our house. The interstate was pretty clear by then. Rockfish Gap looked like something out of Colorado. We made our way to the Crozet exit and turned off onto route 250.

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Heading North on route 11...

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...and East on route 262...

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...onto 64 East, headed toward the mountains.

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Interstate 64 in Rockfish Gap.

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Going under the road to Scott's Castle.

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Is this Rockfish Gap or Loveland Pass?

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The piles of snow are as tall as the rockslide barriers in some places.

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The view from the top.

We were surprised by what we saw next. Turning onto Miller School Road we saw a narrow plowed path and VDOT crews hard at work trying to open the road. The road goes down into some valleys and rises again and in these places we saw abandoned cars that couldn't make it.

The plows had pushed around these obstacles as best they could. A crew was working to take snow off of the bridge over Interstate 64. We continued up the road to a point where trees were bent over the roadway. We decided to stop and consider the next dip in the road carefully before we proceeded. Getting stuck ourselves would not be a good option.

We pushed on to Dick Woods Road where my daughter and her English coonhound climbed into the car and we turned around and headed for home.

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A plow works to clear the bridge where Miller School Road crosses the interstate.

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Right before Miller School Road descends to meet Dick Woods Road trees begin to bow over the roadway.

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We got out of the car to check things out. Then an SUV appeared making its way through the bowed trees. We got back in the car and pressed on.

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The final descent to Dick Woods Road.

It was great to get back home again. Thoughts turned to Christmas and time together.

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It looks like a white Christmas is assured.

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The snowboard awaits.

Next: Winter in Europe [click to read]

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

December 20, 2009

Digging Out Begins

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Snow covered porch furniture.

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Morning light and record snow.

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Snow covered trees.

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Snows of yesteryears...

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Covered cars.

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Next: December 21, 2009 [click to read]

December 19, 2009

A Record Snowfall Covers the Valley

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22 inches of snow have fallen...

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...and in places it is two feet deep or more.

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Snow is heavy on the tree branches.

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Deep snow...

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...and more deep snow when you open the gate.

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Mount Windstar. That's a Ford van under there.

The morning of December 19th dawned to a record snowfall. Officially it was around 22 inches but it was blowing around and two foot drifts were not uncommon. Cars were covered. Driveways were lost under the blowing percipitation. For many Valley residents it was a time of isolation that took us back to a simpler time.

Wood was stacked on porches. Emergency supplies were handy. Stories were told of 'snows of yesteryear.' Winter held the countryside firmly in her grip.

Tragically the isolation would cause a house in Greenville to burn to the ground as firefighters would not be able to push through the driveway to reach it. Plow operators worked record hours to open snow covered roads and driveways. Emergency responders rose to the challenge and met it as best as they could. Good neighbors were a Godsend!

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Snowy bushes.

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Snowy bushes.

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Snowy oaks.

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Snowy oaks.

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Catalpa.

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Catalpas.

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Christmas lights in the snow.

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Slow going on route 11.

Next: December 20, 2009 [click to read]

Monday, February 15, 2010

December 18, 2009

The Snow Begins to Fall...

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It began with a fine dusting in the afternoon...

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...lightly covering the ground...

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...and some uneaten acorns.

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The fine snow kept coming...

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...and by evening it was getting deep.

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A white Christmas seemed to be a distinct possibility...

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...as the snow continued through the night.

Next: December 19, 2009 [click to read]