Tales from the field #21

Another weather-related tale to follow the drizzle in Arizona.  Last Friday I was scheduled to sit in the gift-shop at the 29 Palms Art Gallery, and was also going to take artwork in for the upcoming membership judged show.  I knew that there had been a little snow in the high desert because Snake Jagger had posted a picture of some snow in his front yard in Morongo Valley on Wednesday.

I love snow in the low desert: it’s up there on the mountains, where it looks pretty, not down here in the driveway where you have to shovel it.

On the Thursday afternoon, Darlene who is the scheduler at the 29 Palms Gallery called me and said that the previous day the grade between Morongo Valley and Yucca Valley had been closed because of snow on Wednesday and that it was snowing in Yucca Valley right now and was forecast to continue snowing until 11pm and freeze overnight.  She thought the chances of my making it to the gallery safely the next day were slim and had called in a possible substitute.

I said let’s wait until the morning to see.  Friday morning I called her and she said the sun was shining and everything was melting.  Caltrans website confirmed the 62 was open so I set out.

There’s even snow on the Santa Rosas

San Gorgonio mountains with snow is not unusual

Getting closer to Morongo – on the 62 now – yes, it snowed up there!

I had to stop in Yucca Valley to pick up a painting that Raini had collected for me from the prior show so I was able to take an unusual photo – me with snow.

Selfie with snow (and sunshine).

I had considered taking a pic of me holding a snowball but the thought of cold wet hands made me reconsider.  This is quite close enough to the snow for me.