Sierra Winter?

As we continue to hear reports of more snow in Colorado, prospects on the home front remain kind of...well...dismal. Over at ESAC, Sue Burak's avy forecast for the day notes, "There is more hazard from hitting rocks than starting an avalanche."

On top of that, a bitter cold snap is settling over the range, promising to stir up stability troubles that could linger throughout the season.

Does this sound familiar? Last year looked almost identical at this time, though the cold snap didn't really kick in until February.

Of course, I'd welcome the second half of last year, when record snows blanketed the Sierra (minus the instabilities, please), but these dry early winters certainly test the spirits.

If you like to engage is such speculations, it does make me wonder if we're getting a glimpse of a human-induced warmer future. At least the Coloradans are happy. And the San Juans are only a quick 14 hour drive away. Sigh.

— January 12, 2007

Andy Lewicky is the author and creator of SierraDescents