A Study in Contrast

The snow on the nearby mountaintop; brilliant fire cactus in the front yard loves all this rain; looking west toward Big Bear; and the tram mountain under several feet of new snow.

When I left the house for my classes up the hill Thursday, it didn't take too much thought on my part to turn around while I could still return home. My timing was impeccable: classes were canceled by the college as road conditions continued to deteriorate and the grade between YV and MV was closed intermittently. By Friday, the weather was totally in command of the hi-desert, which resulted in no one going anywhere for the day.

It's not just the rain (and Lord knows we have had RAIN), but the debris fields created by the rushing water across the roadways that make driving dangerous. Because the water cannot soak into the ground as fast as it falls from the skies, it accumulates rocks, pieces of wood, and brush as it tumbles toward lower ground. Much of this accumulation is deposited when the water reaches either flat desert or a road in its path toward the lowest spot. Often, unfotunately, the lowest spot is a dip in the paved roadway that follows the natural contours of the land.

When it's too dangerous to be on the roads, it's time to stay off them. However, one marine in a hurry to get to his duty post decided full speed ahead yesterday morning. When he lost control of his vehicle, which was traveling a good 20 mph faster than anyone else on the dangerous drive to work, he not only caused himself major injuries, but interrupted the lives of the people in the other two vehicles he involved in his traffic accident. Nope, he didn't make it to work on time, nor did his victims. The good news is that there weren't more accidents caused by the drivers who have never heard the term hydroplane.

This morning, Saturday, the winds are blowing, but the rain has moved eastward. We're scheduled to have a good weekend, but more storms are heading our way Monday. Yep, we need the rain, but not much of it has had a chance to seep into the aquifer as there's been too much in too short a span for that to happen. We will, however, have Spring flowers this year and lots and lots of weeding to do once the weather warms in March.