Sunday, November 19, 2006

Uncle! Uncle!

Sunday: Snow...Heavy at Times...Windy. Snow accumulation of 12 to 19 inches. Highs around 32. East wind to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Decreasing to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of snow 90 percent. (courtesy of National Weather Service)

OK, winter. Good joke. We're all laughing. 45 inches of snow? In a week? In Juneau? We thought it was pretty funny. We broke out the moldy snow shovels and rusted-out plows and all had a hearty chuckle about how you got us pretty good. So why are you still here, lingering, threatening a seemingly unending barrage of snow? I say, winter, there's no need to be a bully. Enough is enough.

Don't get me wrong. I'm on your side. A "winter" person through and through. I can do snow anyway you send it - love the powder for snowboarding; love the wet stuff for snowshoing; love the crusty, icy stuff for snowbiking. But in all things, moderation. Sinking up to my thighs and becoming stuck in wet concrete snow, spinning out on newly plowed roads, and scaling snow berms taller than me is not moderation, winter. Oh, and biking? That hobby I have that keeps me (mostly) sane? Playing Chicken with SUVs in the ice-coated bobsled run between neck-high snowbanks is not moderation, winter. I believe in Russia they called that Roulette.

At least the ski-area season-pass holders are happy. Keep it up, and they'll be able to slip down the slopes until July. In the meantime, I'm learning one of those life lessons about a little too much of a good thing.

I miss the rain.

But don't ever, ever tell anyone I said that. I'll vehemently deny it forever.

In the meantime, winter, can't you lay off a little? Just a little cold sunlight, a little settling, a little freeze-over, just to get me back on the trails, on my bike, where I belong?

Thanks again.

- Jill

4 comments:

  1. don't let cabin fever get you jill. it's only november!

    peace out, yo!

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  2. Funny how people were telling you just two months ago it doesn't snow in Juneau. I've learned never to believe 100% of what people tell you, you just have to wait and find out for yourself. For instance, when I'm backpacking and I come across someone coming from the opposite direction and they say, "It's all downhill from here". Never believe it!

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  3. love when i'm riding and people tell me there is a hill around the bend or its all downhill....

    Jill- I'll hopfully have my fixed snow rig done by the first of dec... I'll have pics soon I'm getting a new to me camera so I should have some pics very soon of my build.... Hows your snow bike coming?

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  4. I've really been enjoying the snow in the last week or so around Juneau. Just read up on Simon's winter biking tips and put the fun between your legs. After biking Mon-Thurs last week, I did give up and ski in on Friday. A foot (or two) a week is aok with me! The snow is deep and fun!

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