Lots of Rain!

Lots of rain..... and no phone service.
No phone service, No internet.
No internet, No Blog entry from the Lodge.

I have to say that it's funny, the Lodge is definitely in the city, and in a neighborhood.
Heck, it is in between two streets!
Yet, it is also at the edge of hundreds and hundreds of acres of open forest.
It is on a trail, next to a brook, below the Cascades.
There are no buildings behind it.

When there is 6" of snow on the ground and no shovelling has taken place the lodge feels more remote and deeper into the forest.
When there is a shoveled path or trail, but it isn't possible to get the vehicle up to the lodge it is not quite as remote, but it requires a short hike uphill to get there and again feels a bit more in the forest.
In a strong wind and rain storm with trees falling around the house it is decidedly remote and sort of wild.
Loss of electricity, excitedly remote.
And now, a new wrinkle, no phone service.... remote.

The ability to call, to log-in, to chat is gone.
The place of the phone in tying you into the world is pretty big, and pretty noticable when you are on a psychological fringe of the forest.
It is unexpected, exciting, and a project to fix.
It is also a cell phone deadspot for most carriers.

Yesterday we had 0.51" of rain.
As of 9:00 am we had another 0.59" of rain.

There is still snow on the ground, though a fairly thin layer that all but disapears when you step on it.
The brook has swollen well beyond its banks (there are smaller trees in the brook.)
The Cascades are definitely running, and have some volume!
The northern side channel of the brook has water, but no flow as yet.

As for the trail, it is in fine shape, and is very visible.
Traction is key, and waterproof is next in line for priorities.
Tricky spot is the rise from Cascading Waters to Cataract Street where is is slick and icy and right next to the brook.
As the ground is pretty frozen and snow covered head in away from the brook bank and walk on the snow, as it is safer and won't expand the trail or erode away the ground cover.

As of 9:00 am the conditions were cloudy, but no rainfall:
35.4 degrees F and steady;
98% humidity and steady;
29.47 " of mercury and still falling.

The Cascades are quite nice and the Visitors Parking Area is open and clear.