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Winter Living in the Mountains and the Art of Procrastination
– by Chris Fellows 11/30/16
These early snow storms have been a welcome delight with resorts opening and our favorite backcountry stashes filling in with cold untouched powder. I would never complain…however when you are a procrastinator, early snow storms can leave one a little behind the preparedness curve. If you are the proverbial ant (of the grasshopper and ant fable) who gets your winter chores done in May then read no further, but if you are like me, then this winter preparedness checklist may help.

Stay ahead of the storm with your smart phone:

Checking the weather regularly, even hourly when the big dump is about to happen can save time and energy. By being in tune with the weather happenings in your local area you will feel more like a mountain living Pro. Staying informed will not only give you a jump on getting fresh tracks in the morning, but will make the total experience enjoyable especially when returning to your cozy humble abode in the mountains. Here’s some good ones:

1. National weather service smart phone app. This is my go-to site for finding out what is happening with the weather in my area on an hourly basis. It also gives info and links on road closures.
2. Local weather news smart phone app. My favorite is Open SNOW- I read the Tahoe Daily Snow by Brian Allegretto. Brian updates his layman language weather reports daily. This helps if there is a system moving in which keeps me on the leading edge of the storm. This also gives me to the minute alerts so I know how much time I have before I truly have to spring into action.
3. myRadar smart phone app- This gives me real time radar images, so I can follow a storm as it moves into or away from my location. I can make timely decisions that make a backcountry tour or resort ski plan with friends more comfortable and better timed.
4. Avalanche forcast smart phone app- This app gives me a current avalanche report in my area as well as other mountain locations in the US and Canada.

Take action to preserve your creature comforts:

Now that you are well informed it’s time to take action!
1. Dress for the worse case scenarios. It’s easier to strip a layer or two than to freeze from going too light.
2. Make sure your wood is dried out and you have stoked the fire before heading out for the day. Keep the woodstove fire burning low, so you can enjoy the cozy warmth when you return from your snowy adventure.
3. Food from a slow cooker is the best when you return from your winter outdoor activities. There are great recipes on line for slow cook chili, pot roast, stews or chowders. The smell of warm food as you walk in is heaven.
4. Turn up the heat setting on your hot water heater so when you return with a sub normal core temperature you can baste yourself in hot water. There is nothing like the feel of life seeping back into your body after a frigid day on the mountain. Hot tubs are good for this too!
5. Warm up your bed with a small heating pad or hot water bottle for 20 minutes before bed time. This will make that cold back bedroom bed comfy and warm before you dive in.

Batten down the hatches:

Winter storms can wreak havoc on your home with ferocious winds and driving snow. House prep work will help keep the after storm pickup and damage to a minimum.

1. Secure anything that can be blown away by strong winds. Wind gust in the mountains can reach above 100MPH. At this point in the season all patio furniture should be stored or at least tied down and protected. That mini grill you love to tailgate with all summer can easily be knocked over and damaged by strong winds.
2. Make sure that any tarps covering wood piles are secured or you might not find them until spring.
3. Get hard jobs done before the storm hits. There is nothing worse that dealing with a house issue in driving snow that would have been way easier on a day 15 degrees warmer with no wind. Don’t procrastinate. Get ‘er done!

These are just a few of the mountain living tips that the high altitudes locals use to make life a little easier in winter. I am sure there are some obvious ones that I am missing like: get a real shovel instead of the gardening spade you have been struggling with…or: keep a bucket of sand in your car trunk for added weight and slick surface traction. Of course there are countless winter survival hacks that you can read online by some nerd using chemistry to thaw out a frozen windshield, but keep it simple and don’t overdo it on prep. Do only what is going to make the experience richer. Living in the mountains can be a challenge but I wouldn’t trade it for any other other living situation I have seen. So if you are like me and like to put things off until absolute last minute, know that there are a few things you can do to make the journey a little easier, which will inevitably leave you more time to do what you are here for….SKI!

*Note*
Power does go out during winter storms-
Power outages convenience kit contents should include- flashlights, batteries, candles, lighters and/or matches, a few canned foods, and water. Try to keep your electronics charged as best as possible and, if the power goes out, shut off unused cell phones and electronics to save their batteries for emergencies. Have a good book that you can read by candle light.