So I decided that since the weather looked warmer for Monday, 12/15, that would be a good time for a quick work trip to the cabin. I went up Sunday after Church and breakfast at Risser's Restaurant. I expected to see snow at least part of the way up based on NOAA's Interactive Snow Information. There was a little snow in the higher elevations, but very little...until Sullivan County. From Sonestown north on Rt.220 as far as I went there was anywhere from 2 to 6 or 8 inches of snow and up to a half inch, or more, of ice on everything. The dirt road to the cabin had been plowed and treated, but was still an "interesting" drive.
When I finally arrived, the trees, under the weight of the ice, blocked the driveway! The first order of business was to clear the ice to get the car in. I really didn't want to haul 50 pound bags of coal over 100+ feet of icy driveway. Second order of business (after calling home , of course) was to shovel a path to the privy! This was the first attempt to stay at the cabin under true winter conditions. The temperature when I got there was 34 degrees outside...28 inside!! By 11:00 PM the cabin was a comfortable 72 degrees. After banking the fire for the night, I lost only 4 degrees overnight.
By Monday morning the ice was gone from the trees, along with a fair number of branches and power lines. The initial plan had been to stay 2 nights, but after studying the updated weather forecasts for Monday night and Tuesday, we decided a strategic withdrawal on Monday afternoon was in order. Even so, the dirt roads that had been snow the day before were ice by noon on Monday.
It was a strange trip and a good learning experience. Now I know how to open the cabin under winter conditions and be able to hole up there, if necessary. Kinda cool, realty!
As a side note, although the power to the area had been out for most of a day just after the storm, Sullivan County Rural Electric did a commendable job getting it back and keeping it on under difficult, icy, conditions. The power remained on for the time I was there, but I was prepared to do without it. While the TV was nice to have, I did have a gook book and gas lights to see by. A coal stove requires no electricity and provided warmth, hot water, heat for cooking and a pleasant, warm glow.
Most of the food didn't require refrigeration and what did would have survived for several days in an unheated part of the cabin. A zero degree L.L. Bean sleeping bag provided all the night time warmth one could want without electric heaters or blankets.
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