Yesterday was my first day off since working the previous 15 days straight plowing snow and rock slides, sanding ice pack and bucking up trees from the roads here in the very northwest corner of the state. The work days days ranged from 12 to 16 hours, mostly at night. Friday was spent with a loader, 10 yard dump truck and a very large chipper disposing of trees we'd removed from Highway 199.
I have to admit, at 65 years old I'm just plain getting tired. Feeding that chipper is hard work and old eyes grow weary driving a plow truck and spotting rocks (boulders) on the road in a snow storm at night.
On the bright side, the Smith River didn't quite reach flood stage, but it jumped up and down a number of times with the combination snow and rain storms. A lot of river bed material was moved around and a number of land slides (much of it old high bench round river cobble) entered the river.
Jeff, one of the clear pristine creeks up the 199 canyon has run milk chocolate brown a couple times this year. With this creek, it can only mean significant land slides took place upstream. We'll have to check it out when things slow down and warm up. This was a very rich gold producer back in the day.
Also, where we crossed the river, last time out, it looks like that got a good scouring. I was going to cut that tree out of your way on the access road but just didn't have time.
Well, another sizable storm is due this week so I'd better clean the gutters again and fill the wood bins. Real nice out today.
Mike
John
Saw lots of snow pack in the higher mountains while in town yesterday. This one seems not as extreme as the last...looks to go big then steady.
