12/11/2016 Visibility Zero

[ditto1958]

It takes a lot to keep us cheeseheads from doing things we want to do, but today I am skipping my usual Sunday range outing. Why? Can't see the targets. I know, I know- sounds like a weak excuse. I mean, pretty near every year we read about blind guys deer hunting and bagging a 12 point buck. I just am not up for shooting targets in a snow storm if I can't see them.


The good news? After a winter storm passes through, it always clears up. Tomorrow, or Tuesday for sure, we will have crystal clear skies.... oh, and sub-zero temps, too!

[PT7]

Sound quite "cool," Ditto. I remember that winter weather when I lived in southern WI.
Always enjoyed those very crisp days with the "crystal clear skies."

[North Country Gal]

We're missing the really heavy stuff. Probably three inches, today. The snow is more of a snow mist. I will be taking the fat bike out and then finish up with some XC skiing. Snow time is still fun time, for me, just not shooting time.

[ditto1958]

Well, I lied. I did end up taking a quick trip to the range. No long range shooting. Just plinked a bit at some steel with the Colt .22 revolver and kept the RO entertained for awhile. No one else was shooting while I was there.

[RanchRoper]

We're missing the really heavy stuff. Probably three inches, today. The snow is more of a snow mist. I will be taking the fat bike out and then finish up with some XC skiing. Snow time is still fun time, for me, just not shooting time.

How fast do you have to pedal to get across that pond?

[North Country Gal]

Hey, those big balloon tires just float me across.

[RanchRoper]

Pretty setting, does that lake freeze over?

[ditto1958]

Pretty setting, does that lake freeze over?

Yup. Thick enough to ice fish.

[RanchRoper]

It takes a lot to keep us cheeseheads from doing things we want to do, but today I am skipping my usual Sunday range outing. Why? Can't see the targets. I know, I know- sounds like a weak excuse. I mean, pretty near every year we read about blind guys deer hunting and bagging a 12 point buck. I just am not up for shooting targets in a snow storm if I can't see them.


The good news? After a winter storm passes through, it always clears up. Tomorrow, or Tuesday for sure, we will have crystal clear skies.... oh, and sub-zero temps, too!

Hopefully it clears up so you can send some lead down range!

[ace73]

We're at 6 1/2" here and it's still coming down! Still going to my indoor range in the morning!

[ditchparrot]

My 7-year-old daughter is begging for us to get snow this winter, but I secretly hope it doesn't happen. I'll just take her a few miles up the hill a couple times to play around in it over Christmas vacation.

I like looking at snow and participating in certain activities in it, but I can do without having it be a big part of my daily existence.

[Tape]

I miss snow and snow storms so bad

[ditto1958]

I miss snow and snow storms so bad

So... that's your story, and you're sticking to it?

[Tape]

Got that right buddy

[Deadwood Dutch]

Having lived in Pennsylvania all my life I have seen snow and snowstorms, probably not like some members who live in upstate New York where they get the lake effect snows from Lake Erie, Lake Ontario near Buffalo, and like in Canada and parts of the West, but last year we had a record 30" snowstorm in south central Pa. and other parts and that Toro snow blower surely came in handy. For many years I have had all wheel drive as is the case now with my RAV4.

[Bish1309]

We're missing the really heavy stuff. Probably three inches, today. The snow is more of a snow mist. I will be taking the fat bike out and then finish up with some XC skiing. Snow time is still fun time, for me, just not shooting time.

Love those bicycles and the tires are just cool as can be. My neighbor has one of those....Thinking of getting one myself....uh who am I kidding?

[North Country Gal]

Those are called fat bikes and have been around, now, for about ten years, though they never really hit the market, big time, till a few years, later. We have four. That one is a Surly Pugsley, the first commercially popular fat bike and much beloved in the fat bike world, which is one of the reasons I own it.

Fat bikes were originally designed as a bike to ride in snow or beach sand, but now a lot of us use them as our main mountain bike for all our trail work, year round. They're a great bike in the summer on our gnarly north woods remote trails. Even folks in the city are using them as all weather commuter bikes. They're sort of the ATV of the mountain bike world. They just roll over about anything in the trail. Lots and lots of fun. They won't take the place of skis or snowshoes in the really deep snow, but are still ridable on groomed trails and snow packed roads.

Here's a Salsa with even fatter tires. This is the one I use when things really get rough.

[PT7]

Have a Q for you, NCG.

Is it tougher to get going and keep going with the fat tire, say as opposed to a racing bike with the really skinny tires? Seems to me there would be quite a bit of resistance with what I see in your photo here. But I'd also guess it rides smoother, too.

Interesting and healthful way to travel!