High Wind Advisory

September 23rd

Helen texted me the weather forecast for my area.  A high wind advisory and rain tapering off later in the day. Yeah.  Right.

Instead of hunkering down, I did my usual:  I started hiking my way out.

Once I got to the ridge, the wind got serious.  My guess was a steady 30 mph with gusts to 60 or 70.  I have been through a couple hurricanes so I have a sense of wind speed.  So walking on the ridges became an arsenic-or-hemlock choice.  I could lean into the wind rushing up the slope and hope it didn’t pause, or I could stand up straight and hope the gusts weren’t strong enough to push me over the steep edge.

I trudged along leaning against the wind and taking wide steps.  My hips hurt from the odd walking. It was like robot walking with the wide stance.

My hands were numb again. There  were times when the wind was so strong that the only thing I could do was turn my back to the wind, point my butt at it, and squat by bending my knees.  I know it is sophomoric, but I couldn’t help but think that I have broken a lot of wind in my life, yet this was the first time my rear was a wind breaker.

By afternoon the wind had died down.  The rain had tapered off.  Unfortunately it tapered off to ice and then to snow.  I looked at my maps and figured I could push and make it to Wolf Creek Pass where the highway to Pagosa Springs passed by. It was  not that the snow was bad.  It was more a desire to get truly warm after last night and today.  In fact, the snowfall was kind of nice, maybe an inch an hour. Helen came through again and was able to get me a motel room for that night, but I had to get there on my own.

I figured the sympathy hitch would work.  An old guy at a pass with a backpack in the snow.  Wouldn’t you stop?  Anyhow, it worked.  A cool guy named Connor stopped after only 15 minutes.  He sold Salomon shoes and by the end of the ride, he had convinced me of two styles I should try.

I got to the motel, ate a huge dinner and took a hot shower.  I never fully regained feeling in the the tips of my fingers, but am sure it will come back soon.

[Note: I  don’t have any photos. My fingers were so numb I couldn’t unsnap my camera case and push buttons.  I think I have one video later in the day and will post later if possible. ]