Tough Weekend

We finally got some snow on Friday...not much, but it heralded heavier amounts near the divide, which is what the ski areas need and we will need when it melts next spring/summer.

Things looked to be good.

Saturday we were going alpine climbing. That night we had a couple of XMAS parties, and of course it was Marlys and my birthday's. Those were not so much celebrated as survived.

Then the shooting at Newtown hit the Internet and TV. Took some time for the impact of it to become known, but we couldn't stop watching, thinking about the parents, kids, etc. and trying to understand why someone would kill little kids.

The snow stopped.

We turned in that night knowing that it would be an early call to meet up with the other at Falls Gulch to practice belays, rappels, protection placement and removal.

10:48 PM the phone range.

A neighboring county needs help. A father when out to cut down a XMAS tree and didn't come home.

The morning just got earlier. Sleep escaped us, thinking about someone out on a "new snow" night in an area forecasting hurricane force winds the next day.

Turned out at 0330. Met up with the short team that was heading out in Canon.

Rondezvoued with the other Team at a general store in the Wet Mountains. People there included the missing persons friend, wife and children.

We headed up to the search area with the family following.

Marlys, another team member and I were stopped and told to turn the family around...their husband/father/friend had been found.

He did not make it.

We needed to keep the family back at the store, but we could not tell them he had been found.

We did this for about an hour. Then the family was told of finding him and their loss.

It was a very sad time after that.

Hard to celebrate the season that evening, knowing that there were families across the country that will always associate the season with the loss of their family members.

Forecast for bigger snows starting tomorrow. It will make it "look" bright, fresh and "holiday...like".

Snow Sky?

We need moisture! 

Hopefully the reflection of the "red sky at morning" really is forecasting some snow today and an even larger chance on Saturday and Sunday.

Yesterday it was close to 60 up here. Really doesn't have that pre-Christmas feel.