View Full Version : Dear God, Mother Earth, Father Christmas, Baby New Year, Idols, Charms and Spirits
telegirl
01-02-2007, 11:11 AM
Look, I know you all are busy with all these different things going on, what with the holidays, changing of the seasons and the new year, and I don't want to seem ungrateful. Really, I don't. It is just that when I moved up to Vermont, I figured that I would be doing a lot of skiing, or at least some riding on frozen snowmobile trails. Instead, we are entering into our....oh, I don't know....18 gazillionth mud season, making riding impossible and skiing impossibler. Oh, I know, they are trying to make snow on some of the mountains, but you guys keep popping up the temperature! I understand that you all might be miffed at all those greenhouse gasses, etc., but what about those of us who try to do our best for the environment? Is just a couple feet of snow too much to ask? Ok, what about 18 inches? And some cold weather to freeze the ground for riding? I don't want to sound B****y, but it is January, people....uh, gods....uh, sirs/ma'ams!!
Look, I will take anything I can get, but I would really appreciate it if you all could maybe have a meeting and see if something could get done before Spring hits.
Thank you very much,
Karen
CycleChic06
01-02-2007, 11:46 AM
Tele - I feel your pain!
Usually at the begining of each season I bring my snowboard to be waxed and tuned, this usually happens in late November, early December. Well, this year I waited and waited and waited and it's the latest I've ever gone without hitting the slopes. So I figured I had to change my thinking. I decided to go get it tuned last week, kinda thinking like "if you build it, he will come." If I wax my board, it will snow.
WELL - I came home last Saturday after a few days out of town and there was 3 inches of snow on my car in NH. Not much, but it's a start! I get so excited, I rush home, and pick up my board a day early from the shop and what happens the next day? It rains, not just rain, but pours!!! What the heck???!!
I had plans to go the Mt Snow aka Mt Mud next weekend, but now that it's supposed to be almost 60 on Saturday I might take my bike out instead. How messed up is that?
Emily
BleeckerSt_Girl
01-02-2007, 11:50 AM
Not a bit of snow yet here in upstate NY. And I bought snowshoes right after Christmas! I have faith the snow will come....:rolleyes:
mimitabby
01-02-2007, 11:54 AM
sounds like all the snow went to Colorado this year. Wonder how Cheri from NY is doing out there.
Dianyla
01-02-2007, 12:23 PM
Not a bit of snow yet here in upstate NY. And I bought snowshoes right after Christmas! I have faith the snow will come....:rolleyes:
Ah, that's the "Buy It And They Will Come" philosophy of gear shopping! :p
anakiwa
01-02-2007, 04:54 PM
I'm with you Karen- I'm going nuts.
I like to X-country ski in the winter, and essentially stop everything else. I managed to ski this weekend, but I'm worried that the little snow we have won't last the week.
Every year it seems to get worse, someday I'll get the nerve to move to Canada.
CycleChic06
01-02-2007, 05:18 PM
I managed to ski this weekend, but I'm worried that the little snow we have won't last the week.
.
What mountain did you go to...how were the conditions??
BleeckerSt_Girl
01-02-2007, 05:43 PM
Ah, that's the "Buy It And They Will Come" philosophy of gear shopping! :p
Yeah, like when I got my first training bra. :rolleyes:
anakiwa
01-02-2007, 06:36 PM
What mountain did you go to...how were the conditions??
X-country
I went to both Trapps and Craftsbury. They're both quite skiable, though certainly not the best. Supposedly Oles had good snow as well.
telegirl
01-03-2007, 03:03 AM
Yeah, like when I got my first training bra. :rolleyes:
LOL....
I just want the mud to go away......If I have to ride all winter instead of ski, fine.....but the mud is killing me!
Anakiwa: We were out in Utah over the X-mas holiday and we started looking at property out west- And have talked about Canada, as well! I WANT WINTER, DARNIT! Hubby is going to try downhill at Killington today....but I'm not holding my breath. Especially considering it is supposed to get up toward the 60's by the end of the week and rain on Sat. I am just hoping against hope that some of the more northern mountains and areas can hold their snow. I'm surprised there is ANY X-country!
SheFly
01-03-2007, 03:46 AM
LOL....
And have talked about Canada, as well! I WANT WINTER, DARNIT! Hubby is going to try downhill at Killington today....but I'm not holding my breath. Especially considering it is supposed to get up toward the 60's by the end of the week and rain on Sat. I am just hoping against hope that some of the more northern mountains and areas can hold their snow. I'm surprised there is ANY X-country!
Forget Canada - unless you move somewhere NORTH of the St. Lawrence. My family all lives near Ottawa, and they are having the same weather we are - NO SNOW!
DH and I skied at Sunday River over the holiday. The snow was surprisingly good for man-made, but there is NO natural base or snow at all.
Lisa - new snowshoes are a small investment to be sitting in a closet. Sadly, we purchased TWO BRAND NEW SNOWMOBILES this year, and there is no place to ride...
I'm convinced that we won't see much winter this year. In fact, I'm heading out on my bike tonight after work...
SheFly
Haudlady
01-03-2007, 04:32 AM
DH grows a beard every winter. He shaved it off on Sunday, hoping it would spark the old "now that I'm unprepared for winter, it will come."
No such luck. It's supposed to be fifty degrees today...
Surlygirl
01-03-2007, 04:44 AM
Okay, I'm in the minority here, (don't mind the lack of snow) but I'm plannning on riding my bike this Saturday. Its suppose to be 59 degrees. Who'd a thunk it. January in New England and no snow. We're heading to Whistler to find snow in Feb.
telegirl
01-03-2007, 04:53 AM
Forget Canada - unless you move somewhere NORTH of the St. Lawrence. My family all lives near Ottawa, and they are having the same weather we are - NO SNOW!
Sadly, we purchased TWO BRAND NEW SNOWMOBILES this year, and there is no place to ride...
SheFly
I'll just stay here and whine (got cheese?). Any way we can start a Post- cyclocross season?? For those of us who are still in the 'tween time?
Most of my brother-in-laws' families bought new snowmobiles last year, were skunked on snow, and were counting on this year to get some use.....
Even the poles are losing their snow (earth, not ski)......:( Maybe Father X-mas wasn't one I should have asked to help.....
SheFly
01-03-2007, 05:09 AM
I'll just stay here and whine (got cheese?). Any way we can start a Post- cyclocross season?? For those of us who are still in the 'tween time?
Most of my brother-in-laws' families bought new snowmobiles last year, were skunked on snow, and were counting on this year to get some use.....
Even the poles are losing their snow (earth, not ski)......:( Maybe Father X-mas wasn't one I should have asked to help.....
You bring the w[h]ine, and I'll bring the cheese :D ! I'm up for another 'cross season if this weather keeps up the way it is... I'll be out on mine tonight - should be over 50 here in MA today!
Last year was a bad snow year, too, but DH and I still managed about 2000 miles on our snowmobiles. We figured we were safe to trade for this year - now we are having some regrets. I was just on the snowmobile forum, and if you think WE are whining, you should head over there!
I heard yesterday that a chunk of ice the size of Manhattan has fallen off of the polar ice cap - they're worried about the ice bergs once the shipping lanes re-open.
If this is global warming, I'm not happy about it!
SheFly
p.s.
Karen - tell hubby to be careful on that knee if he is heading to Killington ;) .
CycleChic06
01-03-2007, 05:46 AM
I actually heard someone was skiing last weekend at Killington and the conditions were pretty good. Let me know how the conditions were, maybe I will go to Killington this weekend instead of Mt Snow.
Emily
telegirl
01-03-2007, 10:52 AM
Hey Emily- If you are interested, I just got off the phone with hubby. He skied Killington this afternoon and was suprised at the number of people who were skiing midweek - Then again, it is still right around the holiday and some people still have time off. But he said it wasn't too bad. Of course, areas get scraped off, but the snow wasn't bad. They were still making snow up top.
I don't know how it would compare to Mt. Snow, but it is skiable.....that's something, right??:rolleyes:
BleeckerSt_Girl
01-03-2007, 01:12 PM
Lisa - new snowshoes are a small investment to be sitting in a closet. Sadly, we purchased TWO BRAND NEW SNOWMOBILES this year, and there is no place to ride...
Yeah, snowshoes ARE a small investment- especially since you don't have to keep buying gas to keep them running! ;) I sympathize with you about the brand new snowmobiles. :( Seriously, though, as with buying my bike, I did consider the added good environmental feeling of getting something that ran on leg power alone. I do so MANY errands into town on foot or by bike now instead of using my car like I used to.
Around here, we are seeing AMAZING numbers of boats, RV's, pickup trucks, campers, skidoos, Jetskis, kids' scooters, and off road vehicles sitting by the sides of the roads EVERYWHERE with For Sale signs on them. You practically can't even give them away at this point, what with gas prices so high and our paycheck power shrinking every day.
I also like the feeling of knowing I will be able to get into town for supplies if gas becomes totally unavailable and the roads are all closed in a blizzard. (ever the optimist!) ;)
anakiwa
01-03-2007, 05:29 PM
I was listening to the Eye on the Sky forecast this morning on VPR. They said that all the warm weather we're having is NOT global warming, it's El Nino. I feel better knowing that maybe it will all be better next year.
Supposedly there's still cross-country skiing in Stowe- I have most of tomorrow off and am planning on getting a long ski in before it all melts this weekend.
tygab
01-03-2007, 05:35 PM
I love winter and this is the 2nd winterless winter. It is kind of worrying me, though on another level I am not minding not having snow to scrape and having to wear gloves, hat and coat everywhere I go.
But, this thought's stuck in my head - a few years ago I read that w/global warming aka climate change, our climate would become more like Atlanta's is today (or at least what we think of it as) at the end of the century. No skiing in winter. In fact it'd be rare to even get snow. And we'd have hot muggy summers.
Um, isn't that what we've had the last two years? I know, two years are meteorologically speaking a poor statistical sampling. But it just has stuck in my head that the future is here a few years early.
Anyway, yeah, I'd like some snow. I didn't ski last season at all. I haven't skied in New England yet this year. Robyn and I have plans to snowshoe if there's ever enough. Last year's Tubbs Snowshoe 5k was in mud, not snow. This year's is looking the same way (and I'm not registered, mostly for this reason).
It's not quite warm and bright enough to entice me out on the bike, though if it's going to be 60 that's about the right temp to get me out there...
Crankin
01-05-2007, 03:29 PM
OK, even though I love being able to get out on my bike, I feel weird about this weather. First, it feels like the season has never ended. Not that there's enough light to ride after work now, but in another couple of weeks, there will be, for me at least. But I've had my bike on the trainer, back outside, back in, for weeks now. Every time I ride outside and it's 50 degrees, I feel like it might be my last outdoor ride for awhile. Then it isn't. The really cold weather (less than 35 or so) allows me to feel totally not guilty for trying to ride outside in the cold. So far, I've only had this happen once this year. I really do want to use my snow shoes and x country skis. We are going up to NH at the end of January. Hopefully, there will be some snow. I sort of feel like I'm back in Arizona. Cold nights and fairly warm days at this time of year.
Am I the only one who feels strange?
Teddyparker
01-05-2007, 04:43 PM
OK, Am I the only one who feels strange?
I feel the same as you. Its January 5 and I was out on the trails slogging through mud and water. I am glad to be riding but prefer lower 40s and frozen dry trails. I am a bit disappointed that its going to rain tomorrow though(I was thinking road ride). Sunday will be better.
However, being a teacher, this is the time of year I like to watch weather forecasts hoping for those days off so I can have fun in the snow (snowshoeing, xcountry skiiing and shoveling;) ). I have feeling we will get our snow soon and these days will be fond memory.
OK, even though I love being able to get out on my bike, I feel weird about this weather.
Am I the only one who feels strange?
Yup, very strange. I was sitting outside in shirt sleeves working a sudoku puzzle this evening at 7 pm and cooking on the grill.
KnottedYet
01-05-2007, 06:38 PM
Geez.... some people have all the luck! (Deb... this means you!)
- Knot shivering in her 2 pr socks, long undies, fuzzy pants, sweater, wool vest, wool ear-flap hat, and INSIDE with the heat on and sippin' a hot toddy.
tygab
01-05-2007, 07:28 PM
well, I guess it's a good thing it was nearly 60 today, cause the oil burner decided to break today. It does this about once a year... and always on a weekend :cool: This time it's the power fan thingy, guy has to come back tomorrow with a part. And no, we have not been using the heat a lot this year (it's all programmed and we use it about 1 hr in the am and maybe around 4 hrs at night before sleeping). Anyway, tho the house is a touch cooler than usual, nothing a hot bath and an extra blanket can't handle! If it were say 20F out tho I'd be shivering right about now!
Edit, and yes, it feels very strange. I do not feel like we are in New England at all!
SheFly
01-06-2007, 04:26 AM
My furnace in Maine has gone south on the COLDEST day of the year the past two years - you are lucky that it happened now!
You know, the warm weather is nice (I was able to go out and do a ride in SHORTS yesterday for gosh sakes!), but I really was, like Deb, looking for a change in activity after a long season last year. I figured that after Nationals were done, I could hang up the bike for a couple of weeks, do some skiing, snowshoeing, etc., but that hasn't happened. Instead, I am still out on my bike (and will be again after the rain today).
My fear is that I am going to get burnt out on riding if this weather persists! Oh yeah, and my tulips are all up about 2-3"....
SheFly
In homage to the 60 degree weather, I slept outside last night in my hammock with a bare head and mostly out of the sleeping bag. So nice to swing in the hammock, feel fresh air across the face, and listen to rain on the tarp overhead. But how freaky to be doing that on January 5-6. [I have slept in the hammock in January at -10 but this was a totally different experience.]
Teddyparker
01-06-2007, 05:04 AM
My fear is that I am going to get burnt out on riding if this weather persists!
SheFly
Its been so warm that it feels almost like we would feel guilty if we didn't ride .
In homage to the 60 degree weather, I slept outside last night in my hammock with a bare head and mostly out of the sleeping bag. So nice to swing in the hammock, feel fresh air across the face, and listen to rain on the tarp overhead. But how freaky to be doing that on January 5-6. [I have slept in the hammock in January at -10 but this was a totally different experience.]
Tha sounds great. I slept with window open, but I guess thats not the same thing:D.
The cooler weather is coming though. I hope a little snow comes with it.
Crankin
01-06-2007, 05:34 AM
I also feel like I might get burned out on riding if i don't get the enforced break that freezing weather usually gives me. That's what I was trying to say in my last post, which when i re-read didn't make sense at all (my son had just walked in the room, arriving from Virginia). I just can't pass up riding outside when it's this warm. We had this discussion at spin class yesterday morning. I am only going to spin once a week, since I am doing a winter training program at home. Some of the newer people were asking the instructor if he had been riding outside. He said no way, he won't go outside again until the streets are cleaned up. Well, sometimes that's not until late April! He seemed worried about his bike getting wrecked. He has the same bike as me, and I figure, well, I can always clean it! If it were warm and the streets were really full of sand or salt then I would take my mountain bike out on the road for a short spin, just to get out.
Well, Tasha, perhaps we will eventually get to snowshoe together once this winter. Sorry about your oil burner. I too slept with the windows open, but it was because my husband found that we had pine needles stuck behind the damper in one of our fireplaces; of course this was after he had thrown a burning wad of newspaper up there, to try and fix something else... our smoke detectors were going off for an hour or more and now the whole house stinks.
OK, going to wait for this rain to clear, so I can go out and ride! :)
CycleChic06
01-06-2007, 09:48 AM
Was just out running errands and saw DOZENS of cyclists riding up Mass Ave through Arlington towards Concord. More than I usually see during the most beautiful days during the summer. I'm soooo jealous. I want to take the bike out, but I have so much stuff to get done today!
I was supposed to go to Mt Snow with my little bro tomorrow but they almost completely closed today, save 3 or 4 trails! So we decided I'd bring both my snowboarding gear and hiking gear and if the mountain is still close we'll go hiking instead. Why should I even be making that decision on January 6th??!!
Emily
CycleChic06
01-08-2007, 05:43 AM
Did anyone get out on their bike this weekend?
I actually made it up to Killington on Sunday. Conditions were mixed, but I just really wanted to get out there and ride (my snowboard, not my bike!) for a bit. Course now my knees are bruised after a few bad falls...oh well, it's all part of the game!
I rode Saturday. I believe Robyn did too and had a bad experience. Check the Saturday rides thread.
SheFly
01-08-2007, 06:30 AM
Friday - quick 13.5 in shorts and long sleeve jersey
Saturday - 50 miles on tandem with DH in shorts and short sleeve jersey, followed by 20 miles on bike path on single speeds (went to dinner and a party)
Sunday - recovery 25 miles. Had to go back home to get a jacket!
If this weather keeps up this way, I am going to be forced to let the air out of all of our bike tires just to get a bit of a break :D
SheFly
kerrybelle
01-08-2007, 08:09 AM
I had every intention to get out on Sunday, since the forcast was so favorable! I didn't care if was road or mtn bike, I wanted to get out.
Sunday morning I wake up with a raging migraine! :mad: Couldn't believe it. I was so po'd. I'm having a saddle sore/cyst removed on Wed. So, now I'll have to wait at least 2 weeks to ride again! :mad:
Kerry
BleeckerSt_Girl
01-08-2007, 08:59 AM
Yep, I rode Friday and Sunday. Today is rainy, but hope to ride again tomorrow, in the upper 30's.
Teddyparker
01-08-2007, 01:01 PM
I rode Friday and Sunday too. Now i am actually looking forward to the cooler temps that are on their way. I will try to mountain bike again Wednesday and Friday. Maybe the trails will be frozen and dry.
telegirl
01-09-2007, 05:43 AM
I haven't been riding, between the rain and my horrible cold/flu/creep-n-crud, I got out only once this past weekend. Went to Pico to try to do a few turns and left after one run. All ice, not a lot of snow to turn in - just the thing to make me break a leg. Not worth it!
But it was flurrying this morning as I left for work - gives me hope!
anakiwa
01-09-2007, 05:57 PM
We got 1-2 inches of snow this afternoon. It's not enough to ski on but it's sure nice to have it looking like winter again.
CycleChic06
01-10-2007, 07:31 AM
Yay! Snow!! :D
BleeckerSt_Girl
01-10-2007, 09:03 AM
Woke up to an inch of snow, but it's half melted away now. Not anywhere enough for snowshoeing, but enough to make sloppy nasty roads that I don't want to bike on. :mad:
Supposedly more "ocasional flurries" later this week....(sigh).
anakiwa
01-24-2007, 05:38 PM
Reviving this thread to make sure that everyone knows that (at least in northern New England) winter has finally arrived! I woke up to close to a foot of new snow Saturday morning and have cross-country skied just about every day since.:) :) :) :) :) :) :)
BleeckerSt_Girl
01-24-2007, 07:25 PM
I rode my bike today while it was snowing, but nothing stuck to the ground.
Still no more than an inch of snowfall at any one time here- just dustings still.
:( Still waiting....but it's supposed to go down to the teens for the rest of the week now, colder, anyway. No significant snowfalls predicted though yet.
tygab
01-27-2007, 07:13 AM
same here. We are getting snow right now, but it's light and I'm not even sure it'll be an inch when it's done.
Not enough to play with, but at least it looks nicer than brown everywhere...
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