The Great Snowblower Disaster of 2008
By Tom Chandler on Jan 6, 2008 in Underground Entertainment
The new Trout Underground World Headquarters is higher up the mountain than the old homestead, and while we knew — on an intellectual basis — that we’d see more snow, we hadn’t entirely confronted the issue in the truly visceral sense.
Well, I can scratch that item off the list (”Confront increased snowfall on a visceral level: check).
Friday the snow was wet and heavy; lifting a shovel of the stuff was an act of elbow abuse, and yet the new Trout Underground World Headquarters had a 200′ driveway jammed with a foot of the stuff — and that after I’d completely cleared it of eight inches of snow on Thursday.
This — unfortunately - set the stage for the Great Snowblower Disaster of 2008:
Sadly, my ailing snowblower wasn’t up to throwing wet snow, which lead to a lot of shoveling, which lead to my cough/cold coming back, which lead to a call to Chris Raine, which happened just before the power went out, which lead to a cold house, which I left just as Chris showed up with his snowblower, which wouldn’t start, which happened just before his truck got stuck in my driveway, which was just before I dug out my Bronco, which we used to unstick Chris’s truck, which was just before I broke his snowblower (which finally started) throwing the wet snow.
Simple, eh?
Snow Business
Over the last four days, we’ve seen more than a couple feet of snow, and the Trout Underground/Man Cave World Headquarters backyard features belly-deep drifts that swallow Wally the Wonderdog whole when he hurls his sausage-shaped body at them in pursuit of dog treat.
It’s what passes for entertainment when the satellite dish is too clogged with snow to function, and besides, the whole house is suffering a bit of cabin fever.
In fact, I’m taking a little snowshoe trip up the road to where the county road ends and a forest service road begins, and the Wonderdog and I will spend a couple hours trying to navigate through several-foot drifts of what will become next year’s trout stream water.
Then I’ll come home and finish up my 2007 wrap-up post, which shouldn’t be too hard, what with the week ahead promising little but more snow.
There’s nothing like a captive writer when there are words to be written, though Wayne Eng told me the river’s actually fallen into fishable shape, and since it’s going to stay cold, it’s possible you’ll see a fishing report.
See you somewhere, Tom Chandler.
Bastard Shay | Jan 6, 2008 | Reply
Damn Tom…
Here (obviously) a GOOD friend drives UP the mountain to help you and there is NO mention of an insuing BBQ? You couldn’t find it or something?
Your storm finally reached central AZ yesterday and resulted in annoying drizzle. Got mud on my fenders. Damn it.
And why didn’t Roberts drive (mostly) down to help as well?
Just what the hell kind of people live in Jefferson anyway?
One guy goes out of his way to fight and help you, the other stays warm and dry in his house and laments your obvious condition and ties some new March Brown pattern while eating chili and waiting for the river to clear.
Mike
ijsouth | Jan 6, 2008 | Reply
I guess I shouldn’t rub it in by saying it was in the 70s and sunny here…oops, I said it.
El Pescador | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
Heavy snow has hit us here in the east too TC. I’ve had to rake the roof 4 times since returning to Maine from my 3 month stint in SoCal. Keep that snowblower tuned and ready. I think we’re in for more whitewater.
http://www.wayupstream.com/2007/12/fly-tying-season.html
Harry | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
I hate to jump on the bandwagon & rub it in, but I will since it is somewhat sunny & almost 70 degrees here in Cincinnati.
On the downside, we don’t have to worry about spring trout water since we don’t have any trout to speak of either.
KW Morrow | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
Ah! This reminds me of the difference between our intellectual understanding and visceral understanding of living in a lodge on 28′ stilts in the Mississippi River flood plain.
I feel for you, man.
Don | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
If you’re trying to make me feel good about living in Oakland it ain’t working, but I do appreciate the effort.
Tom Chandler | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
In truth, it ain’t that bad. Snow’s pretty fun when you’re not trying to impose your will on it, and somebody’s gotta watch out for next year’s trout water.
The question now is this — are we already ahead of last year’s snowpack?
samistopdog | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
Chandler, Chandler…jeeze this is so simple.While we stumble through lifes pitfalls…one has to keep track of ones position and abilities…operating a snowblower requires much more feminine qualities than both you and Chris posses.Call Roberts or Wayne set up a meeting place (on the river) and casually mention it would be nice if the driveway was cleared by the time you returned so you could walk to the house from the car (in the garage) with you summer flip flops.Then let us know how dinner was.
Tom Chandler | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
sam: You’re the Cloven Hooved Deceiver himself, right?
ijsouth | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
Well, to be fair, y’all who live in trout country will get your revenge in the summer, when it’s 95/95% here every day from late May until October, so it all works out.
Geaux Tigers!