Two days ago, we were finally all ready to open up the store and start welcoming the hundreds of tourists to the Alpine Tundra. That plan failed when the park service decided that our company should not open the store before they had the visitor center open. There was no explanation included; logically it may have been a legitimate concern for the safety of the visitors, because the ranger station has EMT's present when operating. So, at two o'clock, on Tuesday, I got the word back in the cafe' that we weren't going to open that day. We haven't been back up the mountain since.
Yesterday, a cold front rolled in and the road was closed due to intense fog and ice. It rained down in town yesterday, but I was able to walk to the downtown area and find things to do in the afternoon. Today, I was all ready to go but it was still foggy outside. I went to the EDR for lunch and written on the board was, "Snow Day! ... Again." Then the wind picked up in the late morning. It gusted at up to 60 mph, but had a sustained wind of almost 40 mph all day long. The fronts here seem to just get stuck on top of the mountains.
Tomorrow, I am hoping that the store will really open. We all are hoping for this. It's alright to have a day off when the weather is great, but it's much different situation when it's not; especially without a car. I am ready to go to work tomorrow and witness the fog lifting off the mountains to reveal a bright sunny sky and the majestic peaks which can be seen for miles away. However, there have been reports of snow up on top. I am not looking forward to anymore shoveling. Whoever heard of, "Snow!... In May?".
