Spring comes slowly in the mountains called the Sierras. Some residents of the mountains think that just because they live in the lower regions that snow will not get that low in March. Old timers of the region know how fickle the weather can be all year long.

 

Last week the weather took a warmer turn as storms had come during the past few weeks in the Sierras dumping about 14 inches in Grizzly Flats. Then, all at once, another storm approached! Grizzly Flats is about 4,000 feet up.

Just as the 14 inches had melted off, as residents thought that maybe winter was over, alas, it was not to be… yet! Another storm came along dumping another 8 to 10 inches on the landscape. Squirrels could be seen scrambling about trying to find the nuts that they had so patiently buried for emergencies. Deer herds were observed searching vainly for the greenery, that just a day before, was openly apparent. Old fence posts were searched in vain for worms as woodpeckers hoped that the weather had grown warm enough for bugs and worms to begin crawling upward.

 

Before the last storm, old timers could be seen preparing for the next offering of snow. Some could be seen tarping piles of brush that they had intended to burn as things were drying out. Some, who needed to go to work next morning, parked there automobiles at the end of their driveways as close to the edge of the street as they dared to park them! This they did hoping that the snowplow would not leave a high berm preventing them from going to their jobs. Even with these precautions, some had berms next morning! Snow blowers and shovels could be seen as residents began digging out once again!

 

The last few days have been overcast and during the night, rain has fallen incessantly. Prayers went up asking the Giver of storms to only allow it to rain and not to snow again as residents are tired of shoveling the white stuff! So far, prayers have been answered as temperatures soar in the upper thirties.

 

Robins can be seen flitting about and chickadees, mostly seen in winter, were still around, but would soon head to higher country. Long-time residents of Grizzly Flats have a yearly saying, “winter is not officially over until snow can be seen on the dogwood blossoms!” Dogwoods will not come into bloom until about the middle of April or early May. Most residents hope the old timers are wrong this year as spring showed on the calendar on March 20, 2021!
Do Grizzlyites have another snowstorm or two to look forward to before spring has finally sprung?