Snow

There's snow this morning. Not much here at the house, but it rings the valley a couple hundred feet above. The weather forecast is for more today and tomorrow.

That's good news for everyone here. All of our water in the Mancos Valley (with the exception of a very few wells and springs) comes from the La Plata Mountains that form the east edge of the valley ... plus the rain and snow that falls on the ground inside the valley. So, our snow pack this winter is, essentially, our water ration next summer!

Incidental to that (water for the town, the valley and Mesa Verde National Park is a much higher priority), we hope to have a good base of snow for Mancos Mush IV, which will take place Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9 and 10. The Web site for the Mush is www.mancosmush.com.

If we have good snow, the races will start at 8,031 feet elevation and go up to 11,093, with both a 30-mile and a 40-mile course each day. There WILL be snow at higher elevations, no doubt about that. But lack of snow at lower elevations may require moving the starting point a little higher (this was done in 2006) and that both shortens the courses and makes it more difficult logistically.

I was out streetwalking yesterday to raise sponsorships for the Mush, and will go again today. The Mush is getting established as an annual event now, and it comes at a great time for Mancos (what else is happening around here in February?), so support is good.

We're getting some ancillary activities going to coincide with the Mush. The library is going to host an event then, raising money for our new library. Mancos artists Veryl Goodnight and Patsy Davis are planning a dog-themed art show, Wolves at Heart, with an exciting Junior Wolves at Heart art competition for students in Montezuma County. So, we're planning on a yippin' good time in the Rockies, regardless of the snow depth!