The forecasted storm arrived Sat during the day. What was comfortable open van door turned windy and low clouds. Bought a 6 pack of 1554 on the way out of town to Deer Pass, provisioned for several days in case I was snowed in. Winds picked up rocking the van parked back inot the wind meaning I couldn’t open the roof vent that opens to the back, hence into the wind. Just after I put my book down around 11:00 I heard rain smacking the sheet metal driven by the wind. Again, the sleeping pills give me about 6 hours sleep then wakey time, this AM it was 5:00AM. Still dark outside yet I saw snow landing on the windshield. Snow fell steadily on the warm ground melting. Fixed bfast and cleaned up. Not enough snow to keep me parked as I wanted to drive down VOC & BnB to have my new wheels built up. I drove out climbing up to Sedona where @ the first stop light on the west end of town about 4″of snow was on the ground. Local government having snow plows? This is AZ desert, didn’t think so. Road was vehicle drive ruts. Made it to BnB. Gonzo was in and the customers were not. I hung in shop all day while Gonzo built my wheels. Snow fell heavily through out the day but none stuck. Trails are thoroughly wetted and will be unrideable until maybe Thurs. Richard lives in VOC, he reported an inch of rain collected in his rain gauge. Rain plus melting snow should make some of the washes run, maybe even Dry Creek might flow. Tonight I am back @ Beaverhead on crushed rock hardpan dirt that remains firm after this wet.
In the desert in a snow storm. This is only the second snow I have driven in this winter, the forst being where it should be: Durango.
New Stans no tube ZTR Arch-EX rims laced back to my Chris King hubs. I rode the DT Swiss rims for 2 years. The former wheels were still true and might have lasted longer. My concern was metal fatigue from pounding that could cause the rim to fail @ some inopportune location. I mitigated that possibility by having new wheels built. I put my worn Ardents back on which I will replace w/ Continental Trail King lls first of the month.
Tapering off the prednisone chemical dependency and my adrenal glands turning back on is leaving my body in stressed condition as my heart rate is still high. March 28 I will be off.
Hanging @ BnB today was a gathering of hard core regulars that came to socialize. Ah, my friendships.
Forecast is for 2 to 4″ snow tonight and 1-2″ tomorrow b4 clearing on Tues. Today 180 miles of I-40 was closed as was I-17 north of Sedona into Flag which got hit by snow. Trapped in the valley. Melting snow will raise Oak Creek thru Sedona inundating Red Rock crossing.