We struck camp before noon and headed home in the snow Thursday, the earliest snow in the Rapid City area since 1888. Just a few days before it was near 90 degrees, and then the cold front settled in. Two days of continuous light rain in 40-degree temps. And then Wednesday night the temp went below 30. By morning it was snowing.
My wife doesn't rise as early as I do. I just can't stand lying in bed past 6 or so. Get too antsy. So I headed up the trail, my Stanwell 198 loaded with Newminster 403 Superior Round Slice. I found a tree to lean against as I softly sipped at my first morning bowl, big downy flakes crashing into the wet ground around me on a beautifully serene, dark morning. Silence but for the occasional sizzle of errant flakes meeting my pipe's ember.
I was hoping to catch a glimpse of some Big Horn Sheep, but all I got was a big doe Muley crossing from treeline to treeline in front of me.
I wished I had the fedora we bought later. Nice heavy felt one, something like Indy's -- the only thing missing from a perfect piping moment.
Two bowls and then I returned to start breaking camp, packing the truck, and heading home to Minnesota under a winter weather advisory.
Earliest snowfall since 1888
My wife doesn't rise as early as I do. I just can't stand lying in bed past 6 or so. Get too antsy. So I headed up the trail, my Stanwell 198 loaded with Newminster 403 Superior Round Slice. I found a tree to lean against as I softly sipped at my first morning bowl, big downy flakes crashing into the wet ground around me on a beautifully serene, dark morning. Silence but for the occasional sizzle of errant flakes meeting my pipe's ember.
I was hoping to catch a glimpse of some Big Horn Sheep, but all I got was a big doe Muley crossing from treeline to treeline in front of me.
I wished I had the fedora we bought later. Nice heavy felt one, something like Indy's -- the only thing missing from a perfect piping moment.
Two bowls and then I returned to start breaking camp, packing the truck, and heading home to Minnesota under a winter weather advisory.
Earliest snowfall since 1888
