A. Most. Epic. Winter.

Tuesday January 10 2017

It's been EPIC so far.

Snow on the ground since December 4 - which has been thrilling enough, in these drought years.

Then a week ago Monday: an inch of snow. Monday night: 2 inches. Tuesday: 6 inches. Tuesday night and Wednesday: 8 inches. Wednesday: more snow. It's astounding. Thursday, Friday, the weekend, today, more snow that falls, gets packed down, freezes hard, layers on more, rains, snows again… I have lost count.

Unprecedented in the 10 or so years I've been here. (Wednesday set a couple of records in Boise, including a 65-year record.)

Everything is slower. You can't run around in this stuff. Hiking takes a long time when you sink to your knees (!!!) at every step. If you've got to walk to the neighbors', just expect it's going to take some time, because you'll be pulling each leg out of a deep hole every step. 

If you've got to hike/climb to the internet tower to brush the snow off the solar panels, take a backpack of gear and extra clothes, maybe some climbing ropes and crampons and an ice axe, and an extra bottom layer for when you have to bust through that hip-deep snow cornice near the top. 

But don't forget to be astounded by the views. Everything is stunningly beautiful. From the high desert landscape buried in snow, to the Owyhee mountains buried in snow, to the horses decorated with ice it is seriously a unique, extraordinary winter wonderland.

The horses are fine out there with plenty of hay to eat, and I am sure the horses prefer the winter to heat and bugs!

Dudley does, he's throwing his head up, "yes!"

Who woulda thunk I'd'a needed snowshoes this winter just for around the ranch. And winter's not over yet!

Shiver Me Timbers

Tuesday February 4 2014

Just call me: Sick and Twisted.

I seem to be the only human being in Owyhee, and possibly on the entire planet, save a woman who moved to Alaska back in the late 1800's because she was hot all the time, who loves the cold.

There's been a whole lotta whinin' emails flying around here: "Wah! Wah! It's cold! I hate winter!" (Mind you, I just as loudly whine the polar opposite complaints in the summer!)



Just me alone, I was delighted to wake up to a surprise snow cover that snuck in overnight. I hiked up on the ridge in the morning, into a strong biting shivering wind that blurred my eyes with frozen tears and numbed my ears, as cold air seared my lungs with every breath. It was magnificent.

All over the place, I found that snow angels had flown in and glorified the beauty and delights of winter.


The horses didn't seem to mind a bit either. So, the angels and the horses and me, we are charmingly sick and twisted.

Owyhee Winter Wonderland

Saturday December 7 2013

It's that time of year, when I wax poetic about winter, the cold and the snow - a time for flitting in the flakes, cavorting in the chill, and generally wallowing in the weather.


Depending on your own tolerance of the cold, you'll think the horses are either freezing, or comfortable in this lovely winter blast, some of them wearing snow blankets on their bodies. I'm sure you can guess which opinion I have!


Do you think they look cold, or comfortable?