SkiSickness

Last Saturday I was surprised by a bunch of cold crystals on my car.


So I hopped in it and drove north through snow along the Rio Grande to Taos Ski Valley.


It was a good day for early season at Taos. Wish I'd gone Sunday too, because they got a bunch more snow. But I drove up the hill to see how the storm treated Pajarito.

It's nice to have a ski hill to yourself!

Looking toward the caldera from the top.


I wasn't going to ski the next day, but it snowed a bunch more and they closed the lab and ... why not?


Then -- surprise! -- the sun started to shine again.

Looking to the south. Those are the Sandias on the right horizon.

I didn't ski yesterday and I was feeling a tiny bit of stress about some things at work. But I made amends today by making a possibility into reality: a proof of principle. I hit the lab about 8 am and by half past noon it seemed like the time was ripe.

12:43 pm
Start car in parking lot at lab

1:00 pm
Pull into parking lot at ski hill

1:15 pm
Finally get my ski gear ready after indecision because it looks like the ski hill might be open. But it's just patrol getting some things ready for a future opening.

An untouched groomer with windblown packed powder for lunch?

Yes please.

Poser feeling high.


1:55 pm
Start car and head down the hill. Demolish a delicious vegetarian burrito with guacamole Xmas at El Parasol. Grab a cup of coffee.

2:47 pm
Park car near favorite crag at White Rock.

I love desert snow. Me gusta El Rio Grande.


Throw a rope on one of my favorite climbs. This is Unrelenting Nines, probably the hardest thing I've ever climbed clean on lead. Got it while Naomi was here for Thanksgiving.


Today? I struggle up the "easy" crack next to it, then I take a hang at the crux on UR9s. Damn it, I have this climb dialed! So I motor to the top, rappel and reset. Try again, hang again.

Oh well, it's still a great day. And that' s a first for me: climb and ski on the same day. Nevermind also working a full day. I will send again.

4:20 pm
In the office again. Work it.

Have a great weekend.

love the double-dip. and getting paid. tough duty.

Fun days! LA is a good place.

Skied to my heart's content at Taos on Saturday, climbed until I was wasted yesterday, now it's snowing again.

Check it:

weather.gov
National Weather Service

Watches, Warnings & Advisories
Go to the NOAA Homepage
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Local weather forecast by "City, St" or zip code

3 products issued by NWS for: Los Alamos NM
Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
332 PM MST MON DEC 12 2011

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO IMPACT PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND
NORTHERN NEW MEXICO...

.A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST WILL SLOWLY
MOVE TOWARD NEW MEXICO TONIGHT THEN OVER THE STATE TUESDAY AND
TUESDAY NIGHT. PLENTIFUL LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ADVANCING NORTHWEST
FROM TEXAS AS WELL AS A TAP OF SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE WILL COMBINE
WITH THE STORM SYSTEM TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD MOUNTAIN SNOW ACROSS
WESTERN AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED
TONIGHT OVER THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS FOLLOWED BY A
SECOND ROUND TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO DEPART THE
REGION WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...LEAVING BEHIND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST
WINDS. FOR THE LATEST NEW MEXICO ROAD CONDITIONS VISIT NMROADS.COM
OR CALL 511.

NMZ502-506-508-510-511-130600-
/O.CON.KABQ.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-111214T1900Z/
CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
332 PM MST MON DEC 12 2011

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST
WEDNESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
NOON MST WEDNESDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 8 INCHES BELOW 7500 FEET...8 TO 16
INCHES ABOVE 7500 FEET WITH LOCALLY UP TO 2 FEET ALONG
SOUTHWEST FACING SLOPES AND HIGHER PEAKS AND RIDGETOPS.

* TIMING....SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AND BECOME HEAVY AT
TIMES TONIGHT THEN AGAIN TUESDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...NO WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT WINDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING. WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO
25 MPH TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

* SNOW LEVELS...6000 TO 7500 FEET THROUGH TUESDAY THEN FALLING TO
ALL AREAS TUESDAY NIGHT.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS CAN BE
EXPECTED...ALONG WITH REDUCED VISIBILITIES AT TIMES IN HEAVY
SNOW. TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE...
ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN. TRAVEL ON INTERSTATE 40
MAY BE IMPACTED...ESPECIALLY OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...
AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$



Short Term Forecast

SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
600 PM MST MON DEC 12 2011

NMZ510>526-539-540-130300-
ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-
ESTANCIA VALLEY-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-SANTA FE METRO AREA-
SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY-
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALBUQUERQUE...LOS LUNAS...RIO RANCHO...
ANGEL FIRE...MORA...CARRIZOZO...CHAMA...CLINES CORNERS...ELK...
ESPANOLA...GRAN QUIVIRA...LOS ALAMOS...MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...PECOS...
CERRO/QUESTA...PICACHO...RED RIVER...RUIDOSO...
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST...TIJERAS...SANTA FE...SOCORRO...TAOS
600 PM MST MON DEC 12 2011

.NOW...

AREAS OF PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH INTO PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. SNOW LEVELS WILL BE QUITE
VARIABLE...BUT WILL GENERALLY HOVER BETWEEN 5500 AND 7000 FEET.
THROUGH 8 PM...EXPECT GENERALLY LIGHT AMOUNTS WITH A FEW BANDS OF
HEAVIER RAIN AND SNOW DEVELOPING IN LOCALIZED AREAS. EXPECT A DUSTING
TO AN ADDITIONAL QUICK INCH OR TWO OF NEW SNOW AT THE HIGHER MOUNTAIN
ELEVATIONS AND ONE TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH OF RAIN AND DRIZZLE
IN LOWER ELEVATIONS. SOME OF THE LOCATIONS MOST LIKELY TO RECEIVE
LIGHT RAIN OR SNOW BEFORE 8 PM WILL INCLUDE SOCORRO...BERNARDO...
BELEN...ALBUQUERQUE...TIJERAS...SANDIA CREST...EDGEWOOD...CLINES
CORNERS...BERNALILLO...LA BAJADA...SANTA FE...ALAMO...LAGUNA...LOS
ALAMOS...CUBA...AND TAOS. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED TO A MILE AT
TIMES IN SHOWERS...AND SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE.

$$



Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
600 AM MST MON DEC 12 2011

NMZ501>540-131300-
NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-
SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-
FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY-
HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY-
QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES
COUNTY-
600 AM MST MON DEC 12 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

PATCHY FOG WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO ONE MILE OR LESS THIS MORNING
ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS. RAIN AND
SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING THEN
SPREAD OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS BY
THIS AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL BECOME HEAVY TONIGHT OVER THE
WESTERN AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS WHILE RAIN AND SNOW SPREAD ACROSS
THE LOWER ELEVATIONS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IS LIKELY OVER THE WESTERN AND
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...WITH SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE OVER SOME OF THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF THE
CENTRAL AND WEST. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF BY WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON.

ANOTHER POTENTIAL WINTER STORM MAY AFFECT NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW
MEXICO FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY.

WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS...
WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SNOWFALL OR RAIN AMOUNTS THROUGH THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB SITE OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637.

$$











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Page last modified: May 16, 2007

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