Ready To Go

Low Pack

High Pack

Wild Weekend

DOGS APLENTY

A Live Music Welcome

a little wet snow for the trails

HAND CRAFTED SPRINT SLED

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YEE HAW

.. The top 21 sled dog teams in the world visited West Yellowstone over the weekend.
.. They were welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce and Wild West Pizzera, including a night of live music.
.. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Race completed it's first cross-country stage yesterday. The race leader is world champion Buddy Streeper.

READY TO GO

.. West Yellowstone resident Charlotte Mooney finished the stage in eighth place with an average speed of  12.1 mph for the 56 mile stage that ended in Ashton, Idaho.
.. Jenny Gregor from Bozeman finished in twentieth place with an average speed of 10.3 mph.
.. A volunteer force of our neighbors took over the duties of staging the teams, weighing the required equipment to be carried, directing traffic, setting course markers, notifying teams of starting position, and general go-fer duties.
.. Fisher folks in the crowd of well wishers reveled in the fresh wet snow that lubricated the nicely groomed trail. It is much needed for our snowpack and is a cause for some back-slapping and rib-digging hijinx.

QUICK SNOOZE BEFORE THE RACE

.. The start of the race, after the evening's festivities, went off smoothly and all teams finished the stage in good shape.
.. This race is the largest stage race outside of Alaska, (over 350 miles.) Entries this year included teams from Sweden, Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Canada, Alaska, Oregon, and Michigan.
.. The neighborhood kids had a grand time checking out the license plates on the team rigs. Seldom seen plates from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Alaska were the subject of much posing and picture taking.
.. The purse for the race is $170,000. Stage money includes over $800 for first place, over $700 for second, over $500 for third - - etc.
.. The major sponsor of the race is Pedigree Dog Food. The company also donates a year's supply of dog food to a local shelter at each stop along the race trail. We're looking forward to next year's event.
.. Now our attention is turned to the ice fishing tournement. Blue buns galore!

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MUSHERS AND DOGS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY

 

WORLD CAHMPIONSHIP RIG - NICE PERQ

 

Time To Burrow In

IT'S GETTING DEEP

That's A Good Thing

more good news on the horizon
[Montana DOJ administrative message below]

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Urgent - Immediate Broadcast Requested
Administrative Message
Montana Department Of Justice
Relayed By National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1152 AM MST Tue Dec 18 2012

The Following Message Is Transmitted At The Request Of The
Montana Department Of Justice.

The Sheridan County Sheriff Office Is Activating A Missing
Endangered Person Advisory For Eric Zinke. He Is Described As A 17
Year Old White Male...Who Is 5 Feet 11 Inches Tall...153
Pounds...With Brown Hair And Blue Eyes.

He Is Possibly Driving From Sheridan County To Livingston In A
White 1999 Chevrolet Malibu Two Door...Bearing Montana License
Plate Number: 34-3568a.

Eric May Be In Possession Of A Gun.

If Located...Contact The Sheridan County Sheriff Office At
406-765-1200.

A Missing Person Poster And Additional Information Can Be Found At
The Department Of Justice Website: Doj.Mt.Gov

.

Arrival

10" IS A GOOD START

Sledheads Happy

fishers hope it continues

HOME SWEET HOME

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.. Finally got a good base of snow. There's broken clouds right now - AND - more on the way.

Of Snowballs and Trout

AN AUTHENTIC SPRING SNOW

Heavy - Wet - Warm - Sticky

make some snowballs

Sodium lights from many of the businesses
give the town an eerie glow at midnight.

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.. Our snow is usually of the powder variety. It's highly prized by skiers, sledheads, and other adults of the mature variety. The neighborhood kids aren't much impressed most of the time.
.. Last night the kids got their snow. It was, (and is,) perfect for snowballs and snowmen.
.. As our Springtime inches closer, the snow becomes more to the liking of the kids and the informed fishers. It's moisture content is higher. It's heavy. It packs tight. It lasts through the upcoming rains of Spring. And, though they don't know it, the trout like it too.
.. The storm dropped only about eight inches here. It was widely scattered around the region. But it's a blessing and appreciated by all. The nighttime was cool: -15° F. This is even better for the snowballs and the fish. Amen.

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Ask & It Shall Be . . .

NEED SNOW ??

Got Some

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.. We are blessed. More snow, wet snow, heavy snow, warm snow. Hallelujah!

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.Advertencia de Tiempo Invernal
No se encuentra la traducción al español en este momento.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
944 AM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

MTZ008-015-055-070000-
/O.CON.KTFX.WW.Y.0016.000000T0000Z-120307T0000Z/
BEAVERHEAD-MADISON-GALLATIN-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BIG HOLE PASS...
CHIEF JOSEPH PASS...DILLON...MONIDA PASS...ENNIS...NORRIS HILL...
RAYNOLDS PASS...TWIN BRIDGES...BATTLE RIDGE PASS...BOZEMAN...
BOZEMAN PASS...TARGHEE PASS...WEST YELLOWSTONE
944 AM MST TUE MAR 6 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON.

* TIMING AND MAIN IMPACT: SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THIS MORNING. SNOWFALL RATES AROUND 1 INCH PER HOUR
CAN BE EXPECTED AT TIMES THIS MORNING. EXPECT THE SNOW TO
GRADUALLY DECREASE IN INTENSITY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN...WITH 3 TO 6 INCHES IN THE
BOZEMAN VALLEY...WHILE 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED AT
LOWER ELEVATIONS OVER THE REMAINDER OF GALLATIN...MADISON...
AND BEAVERHEAD COUNTIES.

* VISIBILITY: SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO
LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* OTHER IMPACTS: EXPECT ROADS TO BE SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY...
COMBINING WITH REDUCED VISIBILITIES TO MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE: BATTLE RIDGE PASS...BOZEMAN...
BOZEMAN PASS...TARGHEE PASS...WEST YELLOWSTONE...ENNIS...
NORRIS HILL...RAYNOLDS PASS...TWIN BRIDGES...BIG HOLE PASS...
CHIEF JOSEPH PASS...DILLON...MONIDA PASS

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING AND
BLOWING SNOW. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN
AREAS.

FOR SPECIFIC ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN MONTANA...DIAL 5 1 1.

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.

It's Coming

WARMER, WETTER, DEEPER.

Snow Piling Up Slowly

we're pleased

West Yellowstone: 11:50 PM, February 20, 2012.

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.. Better late than never!! Went to bed with a gentle snow falling. Woke up to 5 inches of warm, soft, glorious powder. More on the way.

-------------------------------------------

Winter Storm Warning

Statement as of 3:47 AM MST on February 21, 2012

... Winter Storm Warning in effect until 5 am MST Thursday for

elevations above 6000 feet...

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Winter

Storm Warning for elevations above 6000 feet for heavy snow and

blowing snow... which is in effect until 5 am MST Thursday.

* Timing and main impact: widespread snow... heavy at times... will

combine with strong winds at the higher elevations to create

dangerous conditions in the mountains and passes of southwest

Montana.

* Snow accumulations: total snow accumulations of one to two feet

are expected in the mountains. Higher southwest valleys...

including the West Yellowstone area could see 8 to 15 inches of

accumulation.

* Winds and visibility: strong winds in the mountains will cause

blowing snow with visibility reduced below one quarter of a

mile at times.

* Elevations: for elevations above 6000 feet.

* Other impacts: roadways will become snow covered and slick

causing hazardous driving conditions. Mountain recreation will

become dangerous.

* Locations affected include: Battle Ridge Pass... Targhee Pass...

West Yellowstone... Raynolds Pass.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather

conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow

are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an

emergency. If you must... keep an extra flashlight... food... and

water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

AT LAST !!

SNOW !!! WARNING !!!

About Time

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...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MST FRIDAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 7000 FEET... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MST FRIDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 7000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MST FRIDAY. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MST FRIDAY.

* TIMING AND MAIN IMPACT: LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD OVER THE AREA THIS MORNING AND INCREASE IN INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON PARTICULARLY OVER ...THE MOUNTAINS. SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES IN THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. SNOW COULD BE BRIEFLY HEAVY IN THE VALLEYS.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES AT LOWER ELEVATIONS BUT 7 TO 15 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS ARE LIKELY.

* WINDS AND VISIBILITY: EXPECT SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH AT TIMES. VISIBILITIES WILL BE BELOW ONE-HALF MILE AT TIMES DUE TO SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MAINLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

* OTHER IMPACTS: EXPECT ROADS TO BECOME SNOW COVERED AND ICY... CREATING HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE: BATTLE RIDGE PASS...BOZEMAN... BOZEMAN PASS...TARGHEE PASS...WEST YELLOWSTONE... BIG HOLE PASS...CHIEF JOSEPH PASS...DILLON...MONIDA PASS... ENNIS... NORRIS HILL...RAYNOLDS PASS...TWIN BRIDGES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

FOR SPECIFIC ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN MONTANA...DIAL 5 1 1.

G'day

Sunrise - West Yellowstone.

Another Warm, Beautiful, Dry Day.

About Time

WEAK WARNING

We'll Take It

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.. A Bit of snow is falling. That's good for the rivers.
==========
Winter Storm Warning
MTZ015-055-212300-
/O.CON.KTFX.WS.W.0029.000000T0000Z-111222T0600Z/
/O.CON.KTFX.WW.Y.0056.000000T0000Z-111222T0600Z/
MADISON-GALLATIN-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...ENNIS...NORRIS HILL...
RAYNOLDS PASS...TWIN BRIDGES...BATTLE RIDGE PASS...BOZEMAN...
BOZEMAN PASS...TARGHEE PASS...WEST YELLOWSTONE
419 AM MST WED DEC 21 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 6000 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS EVENING. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 6000 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST
THIS EVENING.

* TIMING AND MAIN IMPACT: PERIODS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED THROUGH
TODAY...THEN DIMINISH LATER THIS EVENING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOW AMOUNTS OF 8 TO 12 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED ABOVE 6000 FEET. 2 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BELOW 6000
FEET.

* WINDS AND VISIBILITY: WINDS WILL BE BREEZY AND CREATE AREAS OF
BLOWING SNOW. VISIBILITIES COULD BE REDUCED BELOW ONE HALF MILE
AT TIMES.

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE: BATTLE RIDGE PASS...BOZEMAN...
BOZEMAN PASS...TARGHEE PASS...WEST YELLOWSTONE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

FOR SPECIFIC ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN MONTANA...DIAL 5 1 1.

&&

$$

Sights & Sounds Of Spring

LET'S GO TO CRAIG !

Fish The Lowlands !

travel to the south !

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.. The evacuation of West Yellowstone by fair water fishers is in full swing. Car doors are slamming, diesel engines racing, farewell's are being shouted. The sounds of Spring have reached our little town.

.. For the faint of heart and leg it's time to extol the virtues of any place else.
.. Good! Be gone and spend your carbon credits on av-gas, diesel, and unleaded gasoline.
.. The truth of the matter is, (we can hear the neighbors moaning,) the best fishing and catching in the neighborhood is right now. It will continue for the next 3 or 4 weeks and you have to be here to appreciate it.
.. We're not wealthy enough to travel to exotic locations like Craig, Montana or Last Chance, Idaho. We can't afford the gasoline to venture much past Moose Creek on the Gallatin River.
.. It's nice to see that others have the chance to visit renowned fisheries and sing their virtues. Cell phone pictures, gorgeous digital images, commercial movies, glorious adventures of Spring fishing everywhere but here. More power to them.

.. We've had over two feet of snow in the last few days and it's snowing right now.  The trees love the nitrogen rich snow. It's wet and heavy. It has the moisture needed to nourish the trout streams for months to come. Wealthy migrant fishers run from it and revel in the glories of lowland fishing. Bless their psyche's.
.. There will be no better fishing or catching around here, at any time in the coming year, than right now, (Yellowstone Park included!)
.. In fact, the best catching in all of Montana may be just two or three days away. But, you have to enjoy catching fish until your arms ache. You have to want to take fish bigger than your forearms. You have to be willing to find the sparse open water in the estuaries and spring holes on Hebgen Lake.
.. This is not fishing for the inflated egos of glory water fame. This is not fishing for those that wish to fish in the footsteps of famous fishers. This is fishing for those that wish to make their own footsteps. This is neighborhood fishing of the finest kind. And it's catching better than anything within 500 miles, or more, right now!

.. The rivers that feed Hebgen Lake have pushed into the ice and opened up the estuaries to the point that the fish are competing with each other for scraps of flotsam at the edges of the ice.
.. Those dark shadows, fifty feet in diameter, in the bits of open water are hundreds of hungry fish. Fish that haven't seen open water for five long months. Fish that have eked out a living from the sparse benthic morsels of an ice covered world.
.. It's not "ice-out" yet. However, Grayling Arm, Madison Arm, South Fork Arm, of the lake are all clear enough that it's legal to fish. And just today, Grayling Creek pushed past the lake shore into the ice.
.. Many folks come to see and catch on Hebgen's shores during ice out. That's still a few weeks away. But right now, (with knowledge, good legs, a snowmobile, and a few flies,) fish will be hard to not catch. Certain local knowledge and a great deal of caution must be employed.

.. Fishing must be done in the lake, not the streams or rivers. Thin ice and surface water demand that you know just where you are in relation to the lake shore and the lake bottom.
.. Happily very little gear is necessary. A single fly box, a stout rod, a stout leader, and hooks that won't straighten out when the battle is joined.
.. There are no secret flies. The neighbors are divided about the types. Most use bits of flashy fluff. Rock Worms or Fuzzy John's are in the majority right now. Small streamers and wet flies are in the minority. Both will catch fish. The argument is over which bunch and type of fly will catch the most  --  and biggest!
.. Right now the bison are dropping calves, the first osprey's have arrived, there are midges on sunny days, and fish are stacked like cord-wood in the small bits of open water on Hebgen Lake. The neighbors are loving it, the others are streaming out of town in lock step with their companions: getting warm and telling stories. We're loving it here!

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“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”

. . . . . . .  Henry David Thoreau

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.

A Pinhole Easter

ON THE RECORD

Image submitted

LION GEYSER

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.. Just submitted a pinhole photograph to WORLDWIDE PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY DAY gallery. Taken yesterday at about 3:30 PM during a light snow flurry at Old Faithful. The data for submission is:

Canon 30D, short extension tube & black cardboard with electrical tape seal. Tin foil pinhole, f256, 1/3 sec. Snowing lightly.

.. Snow has continued to bless us with it's presence and it's been wet and warm. About 12" during the last week. It is usually melted by mid-afternoon. Snow cover on the ground is down to about 3 - 4 feet and melting at a pace that will nourish trees and rivers alike.
.. Fishing & catching continues to be between good and spectacular down canyon on the Gallatin River. Very few midges, but some brownish mayflies are showing up. Fish are eating nymphs and small streamers. There are only a few reports of exceptional surface catching: we're headed down canyon now.

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Hamilton's Store #101 & Light Pole

.

Obligatory Bison

GENEROUS SNOW PACK

No Muddy Water - Yet

very few visitors

The Stroll
(note injured horn)

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.. It's incumbent upon every visitor to Yellowstone National Park to photograph a bison in the road. So we did. They look less stressed from the continuing winter than was to be expected: the ones that survived.

Gibbon River At National Park Meadows

.. Our brief reconnoiter was just to Old Faithful for ice cream and then back to town for chores. We only stopped briefly to view the waters. We did see fish rising in Biscuit Basin. Must have been the phantom midge hatch.

Firehole River Just Above The Falls

.. The roads are mostly clear of snow but the continuing snowfall, (4" today,) will keep most visitors in their cars, (a fairly normal way to "see" Yellowstone - anyway.) There are only a few pull-outs that are navigable, while most have between 2 and 4 feet of snow blocking passage.

Nez Perce Creek At Grand Loop Road Bridge

.. The snow is wind polished and crusted; some of the 4 foot deep snow banks even held our considerable mass and girth as we ventured close to the waters for a better view. Persons of the rotund variety, (including us,) could easily find themselves chest deep in the white stuff if imprudence wins the day.

Upper Gas Station At Old Faithful

.. The river edges are still covered with overhanging cornices in many stretches. Too close a look and cold and wet awaits. The warm meadows and geyser basins are clearing nicely but not a trace of green grass is yet to be seen.

Old Faithful Inn

.. We did some dry-run photos for World Wide Pinhole Photography Day and have about mastered the digital techniques. The large format pieces are at the processor's right now. We'll see: aiming, exposure, reciprocity effects, and film choice are variables that we're not very conversant with yet.
..Time is precious right now and we'll continue to monitor the snow melt and grass greening inside Yellowstone National Park. But, the trip "down-canyon" to good fishing gets shorter every day and the gradual warming, punctuated with some spring snowfall, is making the trout crazy. We'll be there tomorrow.

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Opening Day Ice Cream

Biscuit Basin Bridge - Digital

Biscuit Basin Bridge - Digital Pinhole

.

Let It Snow

SNOW PACK STILL HIGH

Cold Temps Slowing Rivers

cautious optimism

(Click on image for larger size.)

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.. We're becoming cautiously optimistic that there will be good stream-flows and correspondingly good catching this coming season.
.. The snowpack is up more than just a bit, (LINK #1, LINK #2,) and the recent intermittent chilly temperatures, (-40° F or so,) have us thinking of those bygone days when stream closures for flow or temperature were not even a thought in fishy planning.

.. Two or three coming weather events have tempered our optimism just a bit. The "Valentines Day Blip," the "St. Patrick's Day Breakup," and the "Tax Return Rains," are still to come.
.. Some time in the next two weeks there will be a spike in the mid-winter temperatures. This blip can cause havoc with the stream flows, snowpack, and fishing plans. If the warm spike lasts for a week or more we can be in deep do-do, (literally and figuratively.)

.. Generally we know that Spring, (such as it is up here,) has arrived in mid March. If it warms toward moderate temperatures the melt accelerates and the rivers turn a lovely color that is reminiscent of chocolate milk.
.. In this part of the world "Spring Break" has more than one meaning. The kids have their own idea and the fishers have theirs. Both groups are already talking about it with eager anticipation.
.. By mid April we've entered our wet season, (it usually lasts through June.) If the rains come with any sort of persistence the snowpack can be washed away in the blink of an eye.
.. Cool is cool for the next few months. We're keeping our eye on the data and the forecasts and will let you know how things are shaping up.

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