Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan is published by William Morrow. It tells the story of my adventures with Atticus M. Finch, a little dog of some distinction. You can also find our column in the NorthCountry News.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Windy, But He's Warm On His Woolrich

Last night I slept on the couch while watching a late movie. It was quite comfortable with my comforter, fleece and dog to keep me warm on a blustery winter night. I woke up to you-know-who's gentle snoring. He's happy where he is on top of me, snuggled up in the folds of his Woolrich Fleece. He can hear the wind howling down through the Notch and is in no hurry to get going today. It's not snowing right now but the forecast tells me it could drop maybe an inch. But the concern has more to do with what the wind will do to the snow that fell this weekend. One on-line forecast predicted possible white-out conditions due to the wind and this weekend's snow. We'll head out in a little bit and check out a protected hike along the Kancamagus. The wind is coming from the north and west so the Hancocks, Osceolas and Tripyramids would be good choices if they are not too drifted. Not sure what will happen today but we're going to head out and check out the conditions. We're off, as soon as I can wake up the little guy.

This from the National Weather Service:
WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL AVERAGE BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH WITHA FEW GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS THIS STRONGCOULD CAUSE TREE LIMBS...LADEN WITH THE WEIGHT OF SNOW...TO BEDOWNED. THIS IN TURN MAY CAUSE SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES.THE GUSTY WINDS WILL CREATE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE FRESHLYFALLEN SNOW.

And this from Mt. Washington Observatory:
In the clouds w/a chance of snow showers. Wind chills 65-50 below
Highs: mid singles below°F
Wind: NW at 70-95 mph w/higher gusts, decreasing to 60-80 w/higher gusts