Snow Storms Hit Northern Idaho

Northern Idaho was hit by a huge snow storm on Tuesday evening and it has continued into today, Wednesday. Rising at 5:00am this morning I managed to get the car out of the driveway that had just been shoveled yesterday afternoon. My husband and I drove to work through the snow covering every part of the country including the roads. It is one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen and yet every time I am amazed at the unending beauty.

As we drove along the quiet morning roads snow plows were hard at work trying to clear the main roads before morning traffic made it's appearance in an effort to keep businesses running. Already we could see the affect. The roads were slick despite the best efforts of the city. Private citizens were out with plows on the front of family trucks clearing driveways and small business parking lots. Business owners were arriving earlier than usual to clear their walks before opening to the public.

But as we drove along we witnessed our first accident. A small truck making a turn at a stop light was driving too fast for the conditions and slid across the road and into the ditch on the other side. We stopped to offer any assistance, but he said help was on the way as he held his cell phone. He was a nice man wearing a winter jacket, but no gloves or hat. No matter how long someone has lived in snow country they soon feel like they know what they are doing and don't have to be as careful as someone living in it for the first time.

About a mile further on there was a great big beautiful 4x4 Bronco stuck solid in a snow bank. Seems he didn't want to wait for the snow plow to move from the road and figured since he had a 4x4 he could do anything. So throwing it in low gear he went off the road into a field to make his way around. When we drove by he was talking with a tow truck driver trying to figure a way to pull the truck from the snow .

The truck was sunk up to the passenger side window. Even in a 4x4 there are limits in soft snow.

The storm continued, but I made it back without a problem in my small family car with snow tires and easy, careful driving. When I pulled into the driveway it took some effort because the snow was getting deeper by the hour. I didn't shovel right away instead I went in and fixed a cup of hot coffee and sat in front of the fire place. We have large windows looking out the front of our home. The yard is covered in new fallen whiter than white snow. There are huge pine trees out front and each limb is weighted almost to the ground with snow with flashes of greenery showing through. Across the street my neighbors are starting to wake up, their lights are on and behind them I can see a mountain of white with trees reminding me of the Christmas cards I loved as a child growing up in sunny California.

Day light finally began to appear without the benefit of sunshine. I grabbed the snow shovel and opened the door to the crisp cold morning. I spent an hour shoveling the driveway. Why so long? The snow was light, but there was a lot of it and I had to find new places to start piling it. The yard is already full from previous storms so now I am trying to throw the snow over to the center section of the yard. I am so glad to be out early while the snow is still light weight flakes. Once it begins to melt or settle it becomes heavier to move.

Every ten minutes I take a break and change jobs. I walk around to the beautiful pine trees knocking snow off of the bottom limbs in an effort to keep them from breaking. It's so pretty to watch it fall from the trees. I make snow balls and throw at the upper limbs hoping to relieve them of some of the weight only to be covered by the released snow. It's like having a snow balls fight with the trees I love so much. Then it's back to shoveling snow.

After a while I take another break and remove some of the snow from the cars. I write love notes to my husband knowing they will probably be covered by the time he gets home but it's ok, because I am having a great time. As I continue to shovel the snow slowly I noticed my muscles are getting a great workout while I am just having a great time. This is my chosen form of exercise for the season! If you are going to shovel snow for exercise remember to take your time. Working the muscles continuously for an hour is better for you than trying to work quickly only to hurt later without much benefit.

Most of the schools in the northern Idaho area are closed for the day due to snow. That doesn't happen often because we are used to snow, but it's supposed to get worse. There have been many accident on the roads and highways at this point because of icy conditions and blowing snow and many in the area are with out power.

As I write this article I can see it is starting to snow again. This is the next storm coming in and is going to continue for the next three days. We are going to have a lot more snow before the week is over and I will have a lot more exercise to help control weight gain. There will be more accident, more drivers doing what they know they shouldn't be doing and cars with dents everywhere.

I am glad I have plenty of food for the week and very, very glad I have more than enough hot chocolate to take me through the season. When you live in snow country you have to look at everything in a positive light because this far north it is the only light you are going to experience! It is dark till later in the morning and sunset is about 3:30pm. You can't let it stop you from activity or you will fall into a deep depression. That is one of the reason a lot of people move away after their first winter here.

But north Idaho residence are a tough lot and we wouldn't trade our life style in winter for anything else in the world. It is a quiet kind of beauty only a few can truly love season after season. We are thankful for the heavy snow because it always brings much needed water to carry us through the summer months for farming, ranches, drinking water and lakes. For tourist who visit our lakes to enjoy the beauty and fun just remember we are here all year long making sure this land is well cared for and we welcome you with open arms.