— by Lin McNulty —
Photos: Janis Ghazel
If you live in Deer Harbor, Orcas, or Olga, you are perhaps wondering what the big deal is. Orcas Village Store reports only trace amounts of snow there. Deer Harbor Inn says they have maybe an inch (and reminded me, of course, that they are in the “banana belt”). Olga Post Office reports maybe a couple of inches.
Meanwhile, if you live in Eastsound (where it is still snowing) you probably have 6-7″ of snow on the ground. Buck Mountain? You’re snowed in with 15-18″.
San Juan County Sheriff’s confirms they have responded to no snow-related incidents. Same good news from Orcas Fire and Rescue, where I spoke with Pat Ayers who had walked down Buck Mountain to get to work today. I was impressed!
The major roads are clear, thanks to San Juan Public Works crews. There had been a few trees down and across the road in Moran State Park, but they have been cleared.
The main roads are allowing hungry shoppers to stock up, as Island Market reports a fair amount of traffic in and out of the store today.
Seems like just a few days ago, I was marveling at the daffodils poking up out of the ground, and in front of Darvills they were already in bloom. Today, they are completely covered in a cold white blanket.
Forecasts call for another 1-3″ today, but that depends, apparently, on where on the island you reside.
KOMO Weather and NOAA both report it will be in the high 40s tomorrow. Huh?
We are at the end of Buck Mountain Road on the north side of Mount Constitution. We have two feet of snow with no signs of stopping at 15:45.
We had a foot in Sea Acres and lots of big branches down!
We are on Lookout Mountain, looking down on the sound and the village. We have a couple feet of drifting snow on most areas.
We had wind and snow all day. Around 4 we couldn’t seen the sound or the village.
Now if it will clear up tomorrow so we can go to the market that will be just fine!
Is that why Orcas Islanders seem to have such diverging ideas of “the truth”?
We are on Otters Pond where snow has been melting all day with no new downfall since last night (Monday). The only appearance of flakes has been from snow falling off branches.
Great time to read: I’ve zipped through John Grisham’s The Confession today and once again am awed by his humanity, ability to create a lovable character, and his considerable observational powers.
Lin, If you really miss the snow when it’s gone, come spend a winter in Idaho. Makes visiting Orcas seem like Palm Springs, except closer. I think the daffodils secretly like it.
My steep half-mile lane leading to
Pt. Lawrence Road has a foot of frozen snow.
Chris Brems, our Road Master, spent all day Monday cutting eight-inch dia. fallen limbs.
Today, Tuesday, he is up chainsawing
two new 22-inch fir limbs! We can’t win!
If we suddenly need a fire truck or EMS,
tell them to bring chainsaws!
Janis Ghazel’s photos are beautiful!
I live at the bottom of Buck Mountain – and have been ‘snowed-in’ since Sunday with 12″-“24 inches of snow.
Had my road plowed today – but without a 4WD, I am reluctant to drive on my steep, icy driveway to the main road. Soon cabin fever will give me the courage to slide down to town.