Merry Christmas from Bailey the Unknown Reindeer

Just in time for the holidays, here’s a dog having a blast in the deep snow.

I shot this video on VHS-C in my backyard, near Ward, Colorado (8,700′ elevation) during a blizzard in the late 1990’s; a local weatherman said it was the most measureable snow (if memory serves, it was 54″ in 48 hours) from the least amount of moisture ever. Sadly, Bailey died FAR too young in a house fire on December 26, 1998 so this is all I have left but, truly, she was unique–she was also a self-taught skier, ice skater, and first-class snuggler. Anyway, I’m glad she is now bringing as much pleasure to you as she continues to bring to me. Cheers to dogs, and to all those that love them! Please be well and Happy Holidays!!!

[via: baileyandfriends]

Snow Removal Operations

Where I live, I’ve seen snow plows get stuck, I’ve seen roads where snow plows don’t even dare to go, but I’ve never seen any operation like what I saw in Canada. They have it down to a science.

Think of your typical snow blower, on steroids, and the size of a large backhoe. Instead of a shovel in front, they had a box full of huge rotating blades that ate up the banks of snow and ice and spit them out 50-100 yards away. Or in the case of more populated areas, spit what it chewed up into a waiting line of semi trucks.

I’ve been told that where they dump all this snow, sometimes the pile doesn’t melt until late summer. I’ve also been told that sometimes the snow comes out red, from blood. As you might think, kids love to build forts and tunnels inside these huge snow banks. By the time the rotary snow plows chew through, it’s too late. Here are some of the coolest (pun or no pun) snow plowing operations I’ve seen.

A train plowing snow from Goodland, KS to Limon, CO on the Kyle Railroad.

In more rural areas such as the Haines Highway in Yukon, Canada, they don’t bother with hauling the snow, they just blow it out past the road.

Here, eventually, you see that in more urban areas, the snow plows direct the snow into waiting trucks where the snow will be dumped in another place.

Even reporters who are reporting on the dangers fall victim to the plows.

Think you’ve seen big snowbanks? Think again.
This is from Cascade, Idaho.
Large Snowbank

This is from a previous post about a “Real Russian Winter” (Courtesy of English Russia).
real_russian_winter.jpg

Got some better snow removal operations video or pictures? Show what you have in the comments.