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SpaceNut · 2019-02-05 17:27:02

Here is the outlook in NH as the polar vortex has subsided and we are having a spring time melt instead in what should be the middle of winter. Instead of a 6 foot high snow bankings and still cold and windy.

GW Johnson · 2019-02-05 23:50:41

Hi Josh:

To answer your question, a 30 foot snowpack looks like white as far as the eye can see. There is nothing else to see.

Where I was in Mankato, it wasn't anywhere near that deep, only 2 to 5 feet. 5-10 feet looks like Robert's pictures.

The deep snowpack started only a few miles west of me in Mankato. I drove out there on roads kept bulldozed open (with really big bulldozers). The roadway cuts in the snowdrifts were vertical walls of white well over 30 feet high. It was quite alarming to drive roads under those conditions.

In Crystal City 10 miles west of me there was a homeowner who made the TV news out of Minneapolis, for keeping a 20-foot-deep trench open with a snowblower all winter, in order to get into his house. On the second floor!

His house was buried under a 50-foot snowdrift all winter long. That was winter 1996-1997. The second one I was up there. None of that -20 F to -30 F stuff in Mankato. Just -10 F. It's a different pitch crunching under your snow boots.

I still have those boots. I just cannot wear them in Texas. They would be too hot, even standing in crushed dry ice, in these parts.

Just FYI, there are no tire chains or stud tires allowed in Minnesota, at least. You drive on your rubber, on whatever ice-clearing they can achieve. At -10 F and colder, car exhaust freezes and falls on the road as round marble ice balls of microscopic size. That's the real "black ice". Slicker than owl shit on a slate rock.

I learned to make turns on that stuff at intersections by deliberately gunning the engine to break the rear wheels free, in a front-engine rear-drive car. Gun it just right, with the front wheels pre-cocked into the turn, and you slide around almost exactly 90 degrees. Under conditions that otherwise slide you off the crown of the road into the gutter, just from engine idle vibrations. It is impossible to stand on that stuff in snow boots.

Between that alarming-looking maneuver, and keeping my Texas plates as long as I could, no one would come near me on the road. I never, ever hit anybody or anything while I was up there.

GW

Last edited by GW Johnson (2019-02-06 00:04:56)

RobertDyck · 2019-02-06 01:04:26

In the '90s my sister lived in a house on a street near mine. The street led to a bridge across the river. When I parked in front of her house, I would have to make a U-turn to get back home. It was a busy street, 2 lanes in each direction, no median, and parked cars on both sides leaving one traffic lane. In winter I would wait for traffic to die down, drive to a spot with no parked cars on either side, and gun it. I called it a "Bat turn". With a 1987 Firebird, front engine, rear wheel drive, and wide tires. It slid around to make a 180° turn. Slid a lot, I really needed the whole width of the street, but I was in my late 20s / early 30s, it was fun.

SpaceNut · 2019-02-06 16:56:36

Yes very fun when it works out but not so much when it ends not so good....with a tow truck hauling you car away.
Its been so warm here that the usual place to park my vehicle is sinking in the mud....

RobertDyck · 2019-02-11 12:40:17

Another flight, to Poplar Hill, Ontario this time. Larger aircraft for Northways Aviation: Pilatus PC-12. From the airline's website

kbd512 · 2019-02-11 13:12:56

Very nice. Two thumbs up on that ride.

SpaceNut · 2019-02-11 17:36:14

Nice and clean and shows exactly why one size does not fit all applications of use....

RobertDyck · 2019-02-11 21:50:48

SpaceNut wrote:

Nice and clean and shows exactly why one size does not fit all applications of use....

True. Left Saint Andrews outside Winnipeg with myself and one other passenger. He got off at Deer Lake Ontario, 4 got on. That aircraft had 6 passenger seats so only one empty seat for the last 15 minute leg. Well, space for 6 more seats was blocked off by a net for cargo.

The cockpit dashboard had a label that said "aircraft not certified for Northern Domestic Airspace". I had to look that up. In this case Northern means much farther north.

RobertDyck · 2019-02-21 13:25:46

My furnace went out. Tried to light the pilot light myself, but it turns off as soon as I release the "light" knob. Called Manitoba Hydro (they bought Centra Gas in 1999), they say they'll be here this afternoon. Thermometer reads 10°C (50°F). Weather outside is -15°C (5°F).

Void · 2019-02-21 13:57:16

Feel for your trouble sir. I live in a not quite a nasty place for cold.

I hope it works out. Don't forget to turn on the faucets to a drip if the house gets too cold.

tahanson43206 · 2019-02-21 14:26:00

For RobertDyck #84

Best wishes for a quick resolution!

(th)

SpaceNut · 2019-02-21 17:16:07

I know all to well the conditions of staying warm in a cold climate when you have no heating system.

Hopefully it will stay somewhat warmer for you RobertDyck.

Its not enjoyable but one can manage if you have funds to do work arounds.

I still have that situation but hopefully when I have funds I will get to change that situation as we did try wood for a bit but the cost to blow the air up stairs was to much when the cost of just 300 kwhrs of use cost the same as the first 800 kwhrs...

The wood was its own issue when unprepared to burn it for heat at this time of year not much of it is dry wood and is green to purchase in enough quantity.

I have had propane and got rid of it when the cost went to 600 in a month and the use of oil for the furnace that needs replacing costs in cold months 300 or so for each month.

RobertDyck · 2019-03-06 11:38:04

Another fly-in job. Flew to Thompson yesterday on a Metroliner III, transferred to a small Dash 8 to Lac Brochet. Very far north, almost as far as Churchill. Flew back this morning on an old smaller Metroliner II. We'll see what I get for the flight back to Winnipeg. Those Metros really squirm when lining up for the runway. Flight to Thompson this morning I was the only passenger.

::Edit:: Return flight was Metroliner III.

Last edited by RobertDyck (2019-03-06 22:45:28)

SpaceNut · 2019-03-06 17:27:06

When Ivisit the topic I begin to hum a tune...On the Road Again...Of course some love the traveling life while others put down roots so hard that they do not even venture outside of the town or city; let alone to a neighboring state....

I sounds like the work agrees with you and I can only hope that it will last.

RobertDyck · 2019-03-06 23:34:12

This job pays the bills. Got off welfare, but it's part-time. I get called when something breaks. Used to be a software developer. Lost that job when I won the nomination for the federal election. Still haven't gotten a job in software development. Nomination process for the next election is now. I'm trying. Haven't put a lot of effort yet, but I'm working at it.

RobertDyck · 2019-03-07 18:32:39

Inspector just left, from natural gas division of Manitoba Hydro. Checked carbonmonoxide levels. It's fine. So I successfully re-assembled my furnace. Yea! I have heat. Ironically, just as weather is getting warmer. It's -8°C outside right now, overnight low predicted to be -12°C. Wednesday next week predicted high +1°C. Friday March 22 predicted high +2°C, then every day will be above freezing, night below. That's a late thaw. Usually all snow expect snow banks are gone by April 1st. But still, it's nice to have a warm house.

RobertDyck · 2019-03-12 15:25:51

-1°C today, black asphalt of street is warmer, above freezing. Spring melt has begun.

SpaceNut · 2019-03-12 18:31:53

Same here freezing during the nights with mild 40's during the day to allow for lots of mud and water everywhere so be careful of black ice in the travels the next day.

RobertDyck · 2019-05-18 09:29:07

I'm on my way to Keycon now. This city's annual science fiction convention. This year my talk is titled "Mars or Bust", starts in 30 minutes. I have 2 hours because past years when I tried to squeeze it into 1 hour the discussion ran way over, running into the next panel's time.

PARTY!

SpaceNut · 2019-05-18 10:45:04

Sounds like a fun time

RobertDyck · 2019-05-18 14:50:40

The lady I have been seeing wants to get back together. A hospitality suite played a movie, not only was she there but also two ex-girlfriends. Is it just me or a is that a little strange?

RobertDyck · 2019-05-23 21:34:06

Another couple day trips. Tuesday to Poplar River via Cessna Caravan, but a different airline. Thursday to Churchill via 737-400C. The last flight was out of the Winning international airport, but didn't use a passenger bridge. The front half of the aircraft was dedicated to cargo containers; passengers boarded via ramp rolled up to the tail.

Churchill is way north. Weather in Winnipeg us +14 to +21°C daytime, snow was gone end of March. But Churchill was -4°C with melting snow.

RobertDyck · 2019-06-30 20:23:27

Summer. It's June 30 @ 9:22pm and the sun is still out. Just setting now. Doesn't feel late because the sun is still shining.

SpaceNut · 2019-06-30 20:33:25

We are having a wet thunder storm cycling through the area and its just now warming up...

RobertDyck · 2019-07-03 21:56:19

Temperature right now is +16°C (+60°F); a little chilly. This is July, supposed to be the high point of summer. Weather prediction is +24°C (+75°F) tomorrow noon, and +26°C (+79°F) tomorrow @ 4:00pm. So where's my +33 to +36°C (91.4 to 96.8°F) weather?

When I was in Miami Florida I missed home, but now that I'm here I miss Miami.

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