Trailers and Switchbacks

The amount of snow is unusual for this early in the season. We've never had any issues with getting our RV off the mountain and down the switchbacks before Thanksgiving. This year is different. The snows resulted in snow packed steep mountain switchbacks making travel with the RV very 'iffy'. The alternative is to have left the unit in place on the mountain and hope the weight of the snows did no damage to the roof of the RV.

Trailer and truck in the snow

Pretty lighting as we prepared to leave

We decided to take the risk of getting the trailer down the mountain using chains on the truck AND the trailer and go VERY slow.

Chains of the rear of the 2WD pickup

Chains on the front axle of the RV

The deer were very interested in our preparing to head down the mountain

We took two hours to go 10 miles with stops several times to throw snow on the brakes to cool them down from the constant braking. We used the trailer brakes to lock up the wheels in the packed snow and let off periodically to let the truck brakes take over. It was a balancing act all the way down the switchbacks.

Letting the brakes cool

We started near the top of the mountain in the background

Julie was glad to be off the hill

I'm glad we got the RV off the mountain, but don't expect to ever do that kind of adventure again.

Snow

The weather here got a lot colder than normal much earlier than usual resulting in LOTS of snow.

Julie clearing snow from the pickup

Having a black roof helps the sun warm the snow and let it drip into rather incredible ice sickles.

We purchased a tractor to use for clearing snow and it arrived just in time. The delivery truck  and trailer got stuck at the bottom of the driveway and we had to unload the tractor and clear the road so the delivery guy could get out.

We've had three days of snow which allowed the tractor to get lots of use clearing snow and me learning how best to do so.

                            

Plowing the drive 

We keep track of the weather with a digital thermometer and a barometer using an old aircraft altimeter. It is interesting to watch the altitude change as the pressure changes. Readjusting the altitude to our location allows us to read the barometric pressure on the little window at the 3 o'clock position on the dial.

Altimeter and temperature help us track weather changes.

Tractor Shopping

We are exploring the tractor market and learning a lot. One thing we have found is how tractors come shipped to the dealerships...

Shipping frame protects the tractor in transit...

We've been driving all over looking at various brands. The nice part of that is the scenery is fabulous! Both of these images are taken at the rest stop on Highway 24 overlooking South Park, Colorado.

South Park History

This view of the Elk mountains  includes the Collegiate Mountains with peaks named Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale and Oxford 

Can't make a trip to the Front Range without going to eat at IKEA and doing some shopping.

Julie enjoying lunch at IKEA

Must have been a big one

We have a bird feeder mounted on the corner of the deck. It seems to keep the various birds and one squirrel happy, but no more.  We came home from Denver and found something had gotten on the deck and pretty well destroyed the feeder. Broke the plastic pipe holding it in place and shattered the bottom.

I'm on the watch now to figure out how that happened...

Critters

Lots of animals around here! The deer are almost like pets and are very comfortable with having us around, to the point they come up and inspect you rather closely.

Open range includes sheep and cattle and there is the usual assortment of birds, squirrels, chipmunks, grouse and elk.

This deer comes up and sniffs you sometimes...

One of the herd checking Julie

The sheep run down the middle of the road and only reluctantly let you by.