April Powder Brings June Flowers

It's impossible to know when we will have the season's last powder day, but if today was it, that's OK.  

With perhaps 15-20 cm of new snow, Room of Doom in upper Mineral Fork was ours this morning.  One could feel the stout melt-freeze crust at times, but the skiing was still fun.  

Given our fair snowpack conditions, this storm was desperately needed.  We need more, but every little bit helps.  Some of the moisture from this most recent snow will evaporate into the atmosphere.  Some of it will be used by plants.  Some of it will recharge our soils, which are remarkably dry.  And some of it will enter Big Cottonwood Creek and provide the water we all need for taking showers, flushing toilets, and watering gardens.  Thus, it is not a stretch to say that April powder brings June flowers, at least in this part of Utah.  

The view below from the top of our climb shows the upper reaches of the vast Mill-B South drainage, also known as Lake Blanche Fork.  What you see in white is our summer water supply and one of Salt Lake City's most important water towers.  

Let's give thanks for the snow we have and hope that next season is better.