Slushy Snow Day

We seem to be having a lot of this in the past couple of weeks, but it was another slushy, icy, snowy, rainy day here.  We had a couple of inches of snow, mixed with some ice and sleet, and finally about 2 inches of rain during the course of the day – with a high temp of 35 F (1 C).

We were curious what those 2 inches of rain would have meant if it had been just a little colder.  A “rule of thumb” (now why isn’t that called a “rule of paw”?) is that an inch of rain equals 10 inches of snow.  But the reality is that that depends on the density of the snow (are we getting scientific or what?).  According to the National Weather Service, an inch of rain could equal as little as 3 inches of wet, heavy snow or as much as 100 inches of dry powder.  We think we lost out on 15 feet of snow today.  Ok, probably not, but we sure wish we had had more snow than this steady cold rain.

But you know The Herd.  We never miss our walk.  That is the deal with the humans.  Walk us everyday and we will not destroy the house.  Maybe The Herd is good at the extortion racket, what do you think?  Anyway, hope you enjoy our soggy, cold walk.

Red Team starting out on our walk. Do you think Rusty is happy?

Kiska fluffing her tail against the wind and rain.

Queen Natasha - Ever alert for critters underneath the snow's surface.

Coming back down our drive at the end of the walk, Kodiak executes a perfect "Cheoah slide" to maximize snow coverage.

Today’s forecast is for a few inches of fluffy snow. Let’s hope.

UPDATE – 7:34 a.m. – We just read Max’s of South Africa update. We know most of you are already checking in, but please go there right now and wish Max and his family the best. They have just received the news that none of us ever want to hear.

28 Comments

  1. snowie on February 8, 2010 at 12:43 am

    heya! thanks for leaving a comment on my bloggie.
    and wow, u guys look gorgeous!

    love, snowie

  2. Mochi on February 7, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    Rusty looks sooo happy…but Rusty always looks happy! 🙂

    Did the Queen find any critters?

    Kiska’s tail is extra fluffy today!!!

    Cheoah is doing a great job of teaching Kodiak the Cheoah Slide! 🙂

    Mochi

  3. Wild Dingo on February 7, 2010 at 2:35 am

    because paws don’t have thumbs…but it would be “the rule of dewclaw…”

    and my dingo always made me get outside. even though i was a bike rider and trained daily outside, something about “walking” outdoors, smelling the snow, or roses or redwood trees in the forest… enjoying a walk with 1 or 2 or 6 of your best pals… there’s nothing in the world like it. they’re not extorting. no. they are teaching you a valuable lesson, though you already know it because you wouldn’t have six sibes if you didn’t adhere to that lesson! “get out doors, enjoy the outdoors and nature every day. no matter what.” that’s what my dingo taught me. sigh. i miss the dingo. dingos and sibes… very close in ways of thinking.

  4. Jake and Fergi on February 7, 2010 at 12:27 am

    We are so sad about Max. We wish there were words to make everything better.

    Thinkin’ of you in the snow – just where you look most at home.
    Jake and Fergi xxoo

  5. norwood on February 7, 2010 at 12:26 am

    You got ice and slush!?? Uggh. But it does make the perfect surface for Cheotah Slides. Most fun.

    That is such sad news about max. Mom gets teary reading it.
    norwood

  6. Siku Marie, the White Dog on February 7, 2010 at 12:07 am

    I think you were cheated on snow! Who ever says, “Gosh I hope we get lots of RAIn so we can go out and play?” Ok maybe a DUCK, but they have tiny brains. I think you should have Khyra express mail you some of HER white stuff.

  7. Steve & Kat on February 6, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    We actually had a sunny day today in Rainsville (that’s Seattle, if you don’t know). I’d have rather had some snow, but I will take sun over the rain equivalent of snow.

    Kat

  8. Huskys Rule on February 6, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    Rusty you are so funny & Kodiak love the slide:-)

    Woo Woo,
    Kody

  9. Khyra on February 6, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    I enjoyed some snow fur woo and woo and woo and woo and woo and WOO!

    Mom has been khwite sad much of the day after reading Max’s post –

    We’ve mentioned him to start our Sunday post – and pawing that made us khry again then –

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: Nice tail Ms K!
    PeePeeEssWoo: We are furry happy woo weathered the akhtivity in your part of the valley today

  10. Huffle Mawson on February 6, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    Well, at least you still have a little bit of snow. It’s very sad news about Max isn’t it?

  11. achieve1dream on February 6, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    Rusty looks ecstatic! 🙂 Great pictures and interesting information about the snow/rain thing. 🙂

    Jackal

  12. Dennis the Vizsla on February 6, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    hello thundering herd its dennis the vizsla dog hay my mama and dada lernd the hard way wot it it meens to reezist the ekstorshun i am glad to see that yore parents ar smarter then them!!! ok bye

  13. The Army of Four on February 6, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    If it had been a bit colder here yesterday, our rain then wet snow mix would have really been lovely! And we wouldn’t have had to get toweled off as much after our walk!
    Snow expected late tomorrow, though! 🙂
    Love,
    Ammy

  14. Martha and Bailey on February 6, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    We are not so keen on the slush! You guys always make us smile with your pics!
    Enjoy your weekend.
    xxx

  15. Teddy Bear on February 6, 2010 at 3:38 pm

    Did Natasha find anything under the snow? We hear that a lot of snow is headed your way. You all must be so excited!!!

    Love,
    Teddy Bear

  16. Twinkietinydog on February 6, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    You have a good pack pact in place. A walk a day, guaranteed? Go Thundering Herd! Of course, this is not a deal a tiny hairless Chi would ever make. I love the outdoors, but I can’t deal under all weather conditions.
    As for Max… I was there earlier. Got the news.
    Twink!

  17. Amber on February 6, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Were any critters found under the snow?? 🙂

    Nala

  18. JacksDaddy on February 6, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    Be careful on the ice! It’s really easy to slip and tear something!

  19. The OP Pack on February 6, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    Max’s post was the first stop we made this morning and we were so saddened. We know that feeling only too well. We were hoping for a miracle, now we hope for some good days of love and comfort for our special boy.

    We got about 6 inches of snow yesterday, it was also very wet. It seems to have shrunk down overnight and looks like only abou 4 inches now. BUT more coming in another day. Now to figure out how to get the Momster out for a walk.

    Woos, Phantom and Thunder

  20. gus, louie and callie on February 6, 2010 at 11:41 am

    Ya at least you do have snow to play in. We have mud and Mom and Dad keep tracking it in…

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus, Louie and Callie

  21. jack a-roo & moo too on February 6, 2010 at 11:02 am

    This is so not fair. We’re father north, we should be getting snow too, even if it is slushy snow….but noooooo, no snow for in sight! Enjoy your walk & frollic, herd!

  22. NCMountainwoman on February 6, 2010 at 10:35 am

    Same mess around here. Lots of downed trees and power outages. No word of mudslides like you are having. Stay safe.

    Interesting that a short romp in icy, slushy snow can really give the dogs a workout.

  23. Houndstooth on February 6, 2010 at 10:05 am

    We got more rain than snow here, too. None of us are happy about that! Rusty, thank you for our morning smile!

  24. KB on February 6, 2010 at 9:41 am

    Funny, our dogs are part of the same extortion racket… the deal is identical. If we exercise them, they behave well and don’t destroy the house.

    Here’s to 15′ of powder!

  25. The_Dogfather on February 6, 2010 at 8:43 am

    Seems like a SLURPEE good time the herd is having!

  26. tula on February 6, 2010 at 6:51 am

    to left to left to right to right..Cheoah slide sibe slide! i like that dance too!

    thanks for the walkies. pooped trying to keep up with the T-herd!

    tula

  27. Corgi Country Crew on February 6, 2010 at 3:19 am

    Slushy snow … is it hard to walk in that? Hard for your humans at least? Probably just what Huskys like, though, huh?

    Grammy and Papa were talking about taking us up into the mountains tomorrow if the snow level dropped low enough so that we can see what it is. I sure hope we get to go! The Corgi Country Pups

Leave a Comment





Read Another Story

← Back One Story ◊ OR ◊ Forward One Story →

Hu-Dad's Novels

His books pay for our food!