Quick update to yesterday's post: I misreported the snowfall from the Nor'easter. I was correct about the snow total at the base, but remember how I mentioned more at higher elevations? Well, at 3000 feet there was about 3 feet of snow. At 4000 feet, 4 to 5 feet. Yup.

As of first thing this morning, the Road was cleared to 3 mile, but that was no easy task. As I mentioned yesterday, we worked with crews from the Mount Washington Observatory and Mt. Washington State Park to get to the equipment at halfway. Joe made an initial attempt on Wednesday to get to the equipment on snowshoes. Now, I'm not out of line saying this and I'm sure he'll concur: Joe isn't much of a snowshoer. But, he does know how to run the equipment, so he was the best choice to head up. To his credit, he struggled through deep, deep snow only to get just about to halfway to find a large tree down across the Road. I wonder what he said when he saw that? Anyway, Joe turned around and snowshoed back down knowing that crews would have to head back up with a chainsaw.

Yesterday, instead of snowshoes, crews headed up on skis with skins, which made the travel much easier. The tree was removed and Snowcat was freed. The crew used the Snowcat to plow down the Road and cleared as much snow as possible. With the amount of snow reduced, the crew was able to plow with the pickup truck to 3 mile.

So, we're back at it again today. Stay tuned.

Comments

Re: 4/20/07
by Ben on Apr 20th 2007, 10:29 am

Hair dryers, dude. An army of hair dryers.

Re: 4/20/07
by TOM on Apr 20th 2007, 3:47 pm

Guess it looks bleak for a May opening. (sigh)

Re: 4/20/07
by Ryan on Apr 20th 2007, 3:58 pm

I wouldn't say it looks bleak. Afterall, May is a long month. ;-) But seriously, anything can happen. Much warmer temps in the forecast, and that snow can melt as fast as it fell. Early May? Probably not, but you can't rule anything out. As with everything on the Road, and you'll hear this phrase a lot, it's all weather dependent.

Re: 4/20/07
by TOM on Apr 23rd 2007, 8:25 am

I meant the first week of May looked pretty bleak...Thats when I'll be there.

Re: 4/20/07
by Ryan on Apr 24th 2007, 10:17 am

Tom - I'd say you're right. sigh, indeed. Unless of course, Ben hooks up all those hair dryers.

Re: 4/20/07
by TOM on Apr 24th 2007, 1:27 pm

I'll bring a hair dryer.....I kind of had a feeling, but, vacations have to happen when they happen sometimes. You just make do with what you got. I'll drive by any way, just in case a miracle of warmth and effort open the road.