Our 1st Blizzard & Crampons

Wednesday, November 16th

Gotta love the white picket fence

WOW !!.......As I sit here inside writing this, warm and dry, our first Alaskan Blizzard is raging outside. We had just finished digging out from the last big storm that dumped 30" of snow on Haines and got to enjoy about 4 hours of actual sunshine when this storm moved up the Lynn Canal. It started snowing Tuesday night and by morning we had another 12" of fresh snow. Then the wind started blowing and blowing and it is still blowing, sometimes 50 mph! 

We decided we had to go out in it to really experience it so we bundled up and walked to the grocery store.

The getting ready thing is really one of the tough parts. You start putting on layers, then your snow boots, then your hat & scarf. By now, you are starting to overheat as you put your parka and gloves on so you try to hurry out into the storm to cool your body (which doesn't take long). Oh, and don't forget your crampons.

Play the video to come along with us while you are sitting there barefoot in your shorts & tee shirt.

Some of our friends and family were asking about the crampons I mentioned in the last post. For those of you who have not lived your entire lives in the warmer parts of the country, please skip this chapter while the others catch up.

Crampons are devices that go on the bottom of boots to provide grip when walking on ice.

They come in many shapes and designs depending on if you are climbing glaciers on Mount Everest or trying not to fall on your way to the grocery store. 

These are some of the cheapest designs which explains why we have this type. We Paid $20 for two pairs of these at Costco in Juneau.

That's what "crampons" look like (now you know)

They are made of rubber kind of like those black bungee cords. These kind have 2 types of metal grippers, a spring (like chains) up front and small spikes on the heel. 

This is what they look like after you have struggled to stretch the rubber over the soles of your boots (to do it with your gloves on is almost impossible). 

Even with the velcro strap, we have still managed to lose one and not even know it (should not have got the cheapest ones I guess). 

After the first storm, one of our friends came over to plow our driveway clean with his John Deer tractor. We had not had our truck out for 3 days so the plowing was welcomed. 

Oh how I wanted to take a shot at plowing with that John Deer. Since I barely got to drive the John Deer mower all summer long I thought it might be my chance...maybe next time :-(

This is what our driveway looked like less than 24 hours later! He had cleared the snow down to the concrete but you would not have guessed it the next morning.

Some of the locals are saying this blizzard is as bad as any they can remember ever having. They did cancel school today and Lori's restaurant did not open - good thing cause she would not have wanted to walk to work this morning and I wouldn't have been able to drive her. The snow is supposed to let up but the wind is forecast to get worse before it stops.

So we are going to...(new Alaska term)...

...HUNKER DOWN  !!

As brutal and harsh as the winter cold seems, 

it can be equally as beautiful like these ice crystals on the inside of our windows.