Chinook Winds: August 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

My Sunday

Enjoyed a wonderful hike to Ice Berg lake in Glacier Park. Lots of people still out hiking.

The morning I took these I was coming home from a morning walk and thought finally the light is right. These where taken like Aug 8th. Now it is dark at this same time in the morning. It amazes me how quickly the days shorten up, makes me sad. It has been a good summer to garden here, lots of unseasonably warm or should I say hot weather, and not frost! Happy me.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Summer fun

July

We have had wonder warm weather and the garden is responding in a most positive way. I took these photos July 15 and things continue to grow daily! Picking peas and beans, and will harvest the garlic next week.

What are Chinook Winds?

Chinook winds blow in from the Pacific in late winter and early spring. Their moisture evaporates as they pass over the Rocky Mountains. Once the winds come down from the mountains onto the high plains, the air can be quite mild and extremely dry. When a Chinook takes effect local temperatures can warm up from as low as 5 degrees below zero to 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The air is so dry that when it hits snow, it sucks up the moisture, changing the snow directly into water vapor, bypassing the liquid phase that slushy phase-- entirely. Called sublimation, this is a common way for snow to disappear quickly in arid climates.
As you may guess these changes in temperature, little snow cover, but bitter cold temps make it hard for things to make it through the winter. We hope to have a 90 day growing season and 12 inches of perspiration in a year.

Chinook Winds

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

My Sunday

My Garden

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Summer fun

July

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