HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

High wind overnight, and due to the metal roof, it sounded like we had a pretty hard rain. Turned out, we had barely any rain. We do have low clouds at about 7000' on B.M. but well over the 7600' on Skeleton Mesa.

Jim_H wrote:due to the metal roof, it sounded like we had a pretty hard rain

I love that sound on a tent or tarp when camping too. It always seems to be a torrential downpour, but if you get out from under it you realize how much lighter it really is.

At a recent hikers' event, an acquaintance of mine remarked that after moving here from the Midwest she was amused to learn that whenever it rains or snows in Arizona, we say we are having some "weather." As if the rest of the time, we do not have "weather," and therefore we are unaccustomed to it! ;)

And yes, we are having some WEATHER right now in Flagstaff. Lightning struck very nearby just a few minutes ago, and I just about jumped out of my skin it was so loud. And now it is pouring weather. I mean, rain! And I can still hear some thundering in the distance. So far, I still have electricity and internet.

azbackpackr wrote:whenever it rains or snows in Arizona, we say we are having some "weather." As if the rest of the time, we do not have "weather"

Similar to people saying that they are going on a diet. As if they weren't on a diet before. A life of twinkies and beer is still a diet, just not a very healthy one.

I prefer the honest sound of an asphalt or tile roof, none of that false advertising of a hard rain just to see it's as light as a feather.

Snowbowl reported snow falling this morning, which at 9300ft isn't shocking. But Blue Ridge RS also just reported snow from this afternoon, which at ~6900ft is a bit more of a surprise. Welcomed by me!

This will probably be the first year since 2006 that I could care less about snow or would prefer we skip winter all together. I know it's good for Flag and the Peaks and whatnot, but being far from it, it means little to me. I guess I will probably make the drive to Flag or Colorado to do at least one peak over 12,000' this winter, but I really would like it to be spring (without the sandstorms and wind we get here). October to December are depressing months, anyway. As soon as the mild days are over, it's just shortening days. Plus, out here, we have that ridiculous contraption, Daylight Savings Time, to slap you in the face with an hour earlier sunset. I know I "gained" an hour almost 4 weeks ago, but still.

Watched some dark clouds buildup this afternoon while I played basketball with my brother-in-law, cooled down noticeably in the process, then got some sprinkles. Refreshing. It felt like Flagstaff in August.

Oh, Jake, hush you! "Like Flagstaff in August!" I would spend EVERY winter in the desert if I could swing it. I loved my two winters in Yuma, (as most of you probably got tired of hearing about... ;) ) And the winters in Tucson, when I lived there.

So, hahahaha, I'm going to Costa Rica for four months, so no cold weather for me (except between now and mid-January, when I leave.) (I can whine about the excessive heat instead, haha!)

Maybe I will try to get in some cross country skiing, before I go.

Not having grown up in a four-season climate I thought it was quite an adventure, for the first few years. Now, I'm just tired of it. I have lived up "on the mountain" for 12 years now. I'm starting to whine these days as soon as the daytime temps dip below about 70 degrees. What? Too cold to wear shorts? I wear sandals with socks as long as possible, though. Thicker wool socks later on.

Isn't it time to change this thread to "The First Winter Snow of the 2011-2012 Season"? Because while flakes have fallen, and there's even snow above 9-10k right now, we all know that's not really what Jim meant when he changed the thread title the first time (back in 2006?)

There it is! Sept 20, 2009:

Jim_H wrote:The summer monsoon is gone. Maybe it will be active next year. Now it's on to winter. Obviously, we'll get some rain before we get snow, but that isn't too interesting. When will we get the first lasting snows of the 2009-2010 season? Will Snow Bowl be open under highly favorable el nino conditions that drop 4 feet by Thanksgiving Weekend? Will this winter produce like we want it to?

Isn't there color out there, somewhere? Seems too early for snow. I was thinking on my hike how much I prefer the snow to hold off.

All I saw on Lower Oldham were the usual yellowing Gambel's Oaks. They are never too spectacular, just lend a feeling of fall. I am going to have to find a pair of long pants to hike in pretty soon. It's starting to get chilly. I used to hike in much colder weather in shorts, but now I have the knee issues. The knees like to be warm.

See Canyon was so-so......mostly past peak color but some areas that were colorful. Unfortunately the trail is looking pretty scorched from whatever fire rolled through it since my last visit in 2006. Lots of trees blocking the trail, areas where it was hard to find the trail and missing many of the maple and oaks that once lined this trail.

Tough times here. No power or heat for almost two days now and it will probably stay that way until Friday.

I was just out in New Jersey last weekend, racing at Englishtown. Spent a day driving out to Sandy Hook, as well. Sure glad it did not snow then!

big_load wrote:Tough times here. No power or heat for almost two days now and it will probably stay that way until Friday.

Brr! Do you have a wood heating stove? I used to work at a wood stove store, and many people would buy the little Lopi wood heating stoves because they didn't want to be cold in case of a power outage. But then they ended up heating with them all the time, because they are so cheap to heat with, assuming you get a cutting permit from the Forest Service and cut your own firewood.

No stove yet, but I'm getting a small propane heater so I can die of carbon monoxide poisoning instead of hypothermia. So far indoor temp is hovering in the mid-upper 40s. My wife says it's like backpacking without scenery.

big_load wrote: My wife says it's like backpacking without scenery.

I have several friends in NJ they are all in the same boat no power some have wood stoves and fireplaces and are making due others are just miserable.