The Snow that Stopped the World

If it snows just an inch in a place where people aren't expecting it, you have yourself a serious mess. When it snows in the high desert on a Sunday, its even worse. Every road coming from the mountain was closed except for Hwy 2 and it wasn't moving. In fact, traffic was moving so slow, I actually got out of the car I was in and walked down to my friend Mark's house to link up with my big red machine and head north to Mammoth to conduct a USASA Judge clinic.

MAN WAS I IN FOR A SURPRISE.

1:30 pm: Leave the West Resort.

4:15 pm: Make it to East resort a mile away and find out the "back way" is closed. That option is off the table.

4:40 pm: I start walking from the East Resort to Mark's house, in a snow storm, luckily down hill.

6:10 pm: I get to my truck only to find the batteries were dead.

7:10 pm: The journey to Mammoth begins and I get behind every slow driver snowy road scared silly.

7:50 pm: Hesperia In N Out Burger. Hwy 15 South is a parking lot as is 395 South.

8:10 pm: Finally get my food after getting behind the slowest person ever. I think this was their first time using a drive thru.

8:35 pm: The skies clear up as does the road. Smooth sailing until....

9:40 pm: Just south of Ridgecrest, the road get slippery and, once again, amazingly crappy driving skills slow my progress thanks to an uphill accident on a slippery hill. at least 30 cars waiting.

9:45 pm: Reroute myself, 30 miles out of the way to the Hwy 14 North.

10:15 pm: I get behind some tweakers in a 1987 Ford Thunderbird driving super slow due to foggy-ish conditions. I guess meth affects your vision or ability to use the accelerator.

10:43 pm: I make it to Inyokern and punch it...20 miles later I'm slowed by slippery roads and signs directing me to lower my speed to 35mph. DAMN!

1:15 am: I make it Lone Pine, the roads are grippy and I was supposed to me sleeping peacefully in my hotel by now.

1:35 am: Grab fuel at the Indian Casino in Bishop, its snowing but no "go slow" signs so I get on it.

2:20 am: Pull up to the front desk at Mammoth Mountain Inn only to find some YO in a Honda Element pulling in right in front of me. Yep...another line at 2:30 in the morning to check in.

2:50 am: I finally get to my room.

3:15 am: The last time I remember seeing before I woke up at 6:45 am to begin my day molding the minds of future snowboard and ski judges.

15 Hours to travel what normally takes just under 5 hours. At least I made it and had a great group of students.

Off to Tahoe....