Taste of Winter

Temperatures are starting to dip overnight into the sub-zero range, sometimes leaving works of art on the windows.

Disclaimer: Minus five is not really cold in this area. 

The air is clear and has a slight bite. Coats, hats, and gloves are necessities for me, but others dash about with none of the above. Experience has taught me that even a puff of wind can turn these temperatures drastically lower and even deadly in an instant. Winter weather is to be respected: I carry wool blankets, an extra coat, hat, gloves, shoes, socks, snacks, and a sleeping bag in the trunk of my car in the event that I get stranded on the road.

In this valley, the mountains hold the cold air, causing an inversion. Surrounding communities come out of these cold snaps faster, but temperatures here can be in the deep freeze for days on end. During those times, I welcome the wind because it blows the cold air out of the valley.