Flu

For about the past ten days we've had the full version of the 2016 H1N1 come to visit.  If you don't enjoy having your head stomped, my advice is to avoid it.  It got so bad I didn't even go out to see what was happening on in the woods for two straight days.  I'm back at it now, though.  Today, it was snow.  We got about five inches overnight, so I took the skis up the canyon.  It was a little too warm; I ended up dragging a lot of slop with me through the woods.  But, things look OK out there.

Best of Both Worlds

Parowan, Utah is situated at the border of two physiographic provinces:  To the west is the Basin and Range country, while the Colorado Plateau is due east.  The nice thing about this is that you can have the best of both worlds.  If it is cold, you can ski on the Markagunt.  If it is too warm for skiing, you can scramble up the ridges overlooking the Escalante Desert.  I was on the skis on Thursday, but the sun was out and the snow was gloppy.  On Friday I opted for a couple of miles on a ridge near the Gap.

Snow Report

About a year ago, I posted a picture that I made in a snow pit at 10,725 feet.  On that day, I had measured 30 inches of snow in the pit.  Today, almost one year later, I am posting a picture that I made last week in a snow pit at 9,615 feet.  This time, I measured 43 inches (110 cm) of snow in the pit.  We're doing better.  We're having a better water year.  But we probably need more.  We need a little more to catch up after two non-winters.

Eagle Tree

When I passed this tree the first time, I thought it was full of ravens.  On the second pass, something caught my eye.  Not ravens.  There are seven very large raptors in the tree.  The three on the right are bald eagles.  The other four?  I'm not sure.  They look like eagles, but don't have the white head feathers.  Juveniles?  Juvenile bald eagles have brown heads.  At any rate, I wouldn't want to be a rabbit in this neighborhood.

My Own Private Bryce

I've had my eye on this little cove for years.  Today I had a chance to stop and wander through it.  It is in Bryce Canyon National Park, but you've never seen a picture of it before.  It is one of those little places that just isn't really part of the park's consciousness.  On the fringe.  No parking lots, no signs, no potties, no trails, no parkies, no Walt Disney characters.  It is hiding in plain sight.  My own private Bryce.