Walking the dog in a blizzard

We've needed more snow here. The mountains have gotten enough, but the plains have been dry for most of the winter, and we really need the moisture. The weather service issued a winter storm warning last night, and this morning their prediction finally came true.

A moderate snow was falling at 6:00 a.m. The snow was falling harder at 9:30 a.m., and I passed several cars that had slid off the road on my way home from Fort Collins. I got home at 10:00 a.m. and smiled at the snow that was falling gently, but straight down. I went in the house and put my things away. At 10:08 a.m., I looked outside and saw a blizzard. In those eight minutes, the wind had arrived and the whole world had changed.

At 10:30 a.m. the schools closed and everybody went home. Evening meetings were canceled, and everybody snuggled up in their homes to enjoy a spring blizzard. I grouched about it at first, because it's hard doing my normal job-search activities when the family is at home. But I eventually got into the spirit of things.

This evening, I took dog-ra for his usual constitutional, but I was really into the spirit of things, and decided to do it right. I donned leather hiking boots, wool socks, Swiss military wool pants, Cabela's gaiters, fleece vest, ski jacket, ski gloves, and wool felt wide-brim hat with the built-in unfoldable ear flaps. I was warm and dry the whole time. The dog just wore his skin.

We were out in the blizzard for a good half hour. First we tromped across a field with um, maybe 10 inches of snow (twice that in the drifts), and then we took to the back roads. Baggy was off his leash most of the time. Post-holing through the deep snow helped to keep me warm. The crystals stinging my face and whirling in the light of the street lamps made it a magical night.