Snow has arrived!

Old Man Winter isn't done with us yet.  Snow arrived over the weekend as predicted.  Approximately 16 inches fell.  It isn't snowing at the present time and the roads have been plowed and are passable, but they are not melted off.  Here is what Cal Trans has posted about Highway 243:

SR 243
CHAINS OR SNOW TIRES ARE REQUIRED FROM THE JCT OF SR 74 TO THE NORTH
BOUNDARY SAN BERNARDINO NAT'L FOREST (RIVERSIDE CO)

So if you are planning on driving up or down the hill, be sure you have chains with you if you do not have snow tires on your vehicle. 

For those of you with part time homes up here in Pine Cove, yes you will have a berm in front of your driveway.  If you need assistance in plowing you driveway out,  you can check with the Pine Cove Property Owners Association, as they have a list of people who do snow plowing on their blog site.  The link is listed on the left side of this blog.  Otherwise, plan to spend some time shoveling your driveway out if you decide to come up for some fun in the snow.

The sun is peeking in and out, but there are still some clouds lurking about.  The trees are covered in snow and it is very beautiful, as it always is after a snow fall.  Temperatures are expected to rise as the week progresses.  So if you want to play in the snow, now would be a great time to come up and visit.

Just use common sense and be prepared for winter driving and cold, snowy weather.  If you are planning to leave your mountain home, please turn your water off at your customer valve prior to leaving.  While leaks and breaks can occur at any time, it is even more important to do it now when there is a danger of pipes freezing and then bursting. 

Snow Forecast

The weather report for this weekend is calling for more snow and cold temps.  Yikes!  Just when you think it is safe to put your woollies away.  You would think I would know better.  It seems each year around March, I get spring fever and anxiously want spring to arrive.  And invariably, we get a big winter storm right about the time I am ready to get out the Birkenstocks and put away the Uggs.  But that is life in the mountains I suppose. 

So as always, remember to turn your water off at your customer valve when you leave your mountain home.  Check the side bar of the blog for websites containing information regarding road and weather conditions. 

Happy Leap Day

This year February has 29 days.  So instead of March coming in like a lion or a lamb today, we will have to wait until tomorrow.  As for today, the sun is peeking through the clouds.  The roads are in good shape and most are clear with the exception of a  few icy patches where the run off from melting snow froze overnight.  Highway 243 is in excellent shape and there should be no problem with leaving the mountain or coming back up.

Tonight will provide another chance of snow or rain so it looks like March might come in like a lion.  After that it is clear skies for several days.  It  should be a great week end to come and play in the snow,  if there is any left by then. 

There are still some pretty good berms along some driveways, so if you haven't been up recently, be prepared to shovel the berm out.  Or you could just wait it out and let Mother Nature melt it for you.

Snow Again!

Well it seems as if we are going to get a whole winters worth of snow inside of a couple of weeks.  Yesterday another storm moved in and as of this morning, we have close to a foot of new snow!  While the plows have been out, there is still snow on the roads, especially the side roads.  They are passable, but do be careful.  The sun is out and shining so I expect that they will start melting off before too long.  The trees are covered in snow and it is quit the winter wonderland. 

You should be able to come up if you need to, just be careful.  You can check the blog for links to highway conditions to find out more specifics.

Road Conditions

Jerry just got back from Idyllwild and declared that the roads are in good shape.  There is one closure though.  Highway 243 from Banning up to Pine Cove is closed due to a big rig that spun out and is blocking the road.  Once they get it moved, the road will be re-opened.  If you are planning to come up the hill today, you will have to come up from Hemet or Palm Desert instead.

There be snow! Finally.

Well it has been a fairly dry winter thus far, but last night we got pummeled.  We now have over a foot of snow on the ground and the wind is blowing it around like mad.  Roads have been plowed but are still very messy.  The sun is out and shining brightly so hopefully the roads will clear off somewhat today.  It is cold out and if you are planning to come up, be careful.  Make sure you carry chains with you as well as other emergency supplies.

Winter is Back!

Well winter has returned with some cold temps and about an inch or so of snow.  While there isn't that much snow on the ground, the roads are icy.  They have been plowed and cindered, but they it is very cold and they are not melting off.  Not sure how they are in  Idyllwild or Mountain Center, but here in Pine Cove, they are not melted off yet.  They are passable, but be careful.

Hold on to Your Hats!

It looks like this nice spell of unusually warm winter weather is going to continue for another week!  However, the winds are going to be back this weekend.  While I am not fond of the wind as I consider it very scary and dangerous, think tree branches falling onto house roofs and fires, I guess it is easier than shoveling out after a big snow storm. 

If you are planning to come up the hill this weekend, there should be no problems other than the possibility of the high winds.  The days have been warm and sunny and perfect really.  The nights are cool, crisp and clear.  The full moon has been just beautiful against the pristine, star studded sky.  So come on up while the weather is good and enjoy these unusually warm January temperatures.  Hopefully we will return to winter soon complete with lots of moisture.   

Tuesday Morning

Good morning all.  It is a brisk morning, but those winds from last week are gone and the sky is partly cloudy today.  They aren't calling for any more snow this week and in fact, the weather service says it should be in the 50's by the weekend.  So a little reprieve from the cold winter weather we have been experiencing.  The roads still have the occasional icy spots in the early morning from the snow that melts during the day and then freezes up overnight.  So if you are out on the roads heading to work, be careful.  Otherwise, the driving is fine here in Pine Cove.

But don't let the daytime temperatures fool you. It still gets cold at night and water pipes can develop leaks at any time of the year. So don't let your guard down just because the daytime temps have warmed up a little bit.

Turning off your water at your customer valve, when leaving your mountain home is the single most important thing you can do to prevent damage and loss from a water leak or a frozen or broken pipe.

 It only takes a minute and could save you a lot of headaches and money. So get in the habit of turning it off when you leave your mountain home.



With the upcoming holidays, many part-timers and visitors will be here on the hill.  Luckily, the weather will be nice so we won't have snow covered or icy roads to contend with.  It should be a beautiful weekend for this time of year and we hope everyone has a memorable time while here in Pine Cove.

If you are visiting, please remember to find a safe place to play in the snow and not on the side of the road.  County Park in Idyllwild is a great place, as there is plenty of parking, lots of room, to run around and play, rest rooms, picnic tables for a picnic in the snow and no danger of accidentally going into a busy road.

REMEMBER, the turn outs are for cars that need to pull off the road and are not parking areas. It is also dangerous to let your children play in the turn outs because should an emergency occur and a car needs to pull in there unexpectedly, someone could get hurt.  It is also very dangerous to play along the side of the road. So please play in a safe area so that you go home with nothing but wonderful winter memories.

Hold on to your hats!

Update:  At 10 a.m., the sun is peeking through, but there are still dark clouds looming over us, so I don't know what the day will bring.

Wow, what a windy night we had. I was awakened at 3 a.m. by things hitting my metal roof.  That is the trouble with a metal roof.  A gentle rain sounds like a hurricane and small bits of branches sound like whole trees.  So I just lie there awake listening to all the noise.  It has died down some what, but it is still windy and snow flurries are flying around helter skelter.  The sky looks ominous and I don't know what is in store for us.

Here is what the National Weather Service has as the forecast for us.

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. East wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a east wind between 20 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

I can tell you from where I am sitting here in the office, it is not partly sunny.  We had a small accumulation of snow late yesterday afternoon and evening.   The side roads have been plowed and cindered, but some of them are still slick as it was very cold and windy overnight.   Hwy 243 seems to be OK.  If you are planning to come up, I would advise checking road conditions first, just to be on the safe side. There are links on the left side of this blog to check weather and road conditions. 

Hope you all have your propane tanks filled or your wood shed full.  As always, please remember to provide for you outdoor animals.  Bring them in if possible.  In the case of other types of animals, please provide them with a dry, draft free shelter and fresh food and warm water.   This morning my chickens are enjoying hot oatmeal with apple cider vinegar and sliced apples, topped with meal worms and corn.  They also got hot water with vitamins and have a thick layer of pine shavings in their coop and in their nest boxes.  The warm food and water helps to warm them up from the inside out after a long, cold night. 

Winter doesn't even begin until next Thursday, but it seems as if it is here in full force, so we better be ready.  Hope you all have full propane tanks or woodsheds.  Please remember to check on your neighbors, especially the elderly ones, during these bouts of cold weather.

Tuesday Morning

Good morning folks.  After a day of on and off snowing yesterday and last night, we have only accumulated a couple of inches so far.  The side roads are a bit icy, but have been plowed and cinders have been put down.  They are calling for another inch or two today, and it is currently very overcast, but there is no snow falling as of 10:30 a.m. 

Please check the road conditions if you plan to be out driving today.  There is a link to the Cal Trans site as well as CHP traffic information under Websites of Interest.

They are calling for clear skies for Wednesday, which is great because it is our monthly board meeting.  The public is welcome and it starts at 10 a.m. sharp.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  We hope to see you there!

Snow Fall Totals

I was asked to post snow fall totals here on the blog and I think that is a great idea.  So each time it snows, I will do that.  As I said in my previous post, it is snowing as I type today, however, it really isn't sticking to the roads at this point.  They are wet at this point, but that is about it.  If you have any questions about weather conditions or road conditions, I have posted a pretty conclusive list of places to get that information on the left side of the blog.  Just scroll down to where it says websites of interest. 

I know when you are off the hill it is sometimes hard to get accurate information about what is going on up here weather wise.  I hope these links are helpful as are my posts.  As always, it is best not to be out driving during a storm if it can be helped.  But if you do find yourself having to go out, it is best to be as prepared as possible.

Get Ready Folks

We have been having a nice spell of weather, but that is about to change.  Sunday night they are calling for snow and most of next week will be cold and have the possibility of snow showers.  If you are coming up for the weekend, please remember to turn your water off at your customer valve before leaving your mountain home. 

If you haven't done so already, now would be the time to winterize your home.  It is better to be on top of these things than to get caught unprepared.  Plus it is no fun working outside in the cold and snow, so do yourself a favor and get outside and get ready for the cold weather now.  You can never be too prepared.

Snowy Thanksgiving

Another storm moved through yesterday and left us with a few inches of snow.  Looks like it is going to be a white Thanksgiving this year.  More rain/snow if forecast for Thanksgiving Day, so if you are traveling, please drive carefully.  And remember, many times it is the other drivers on the road that are causing the hazards, so stay alert and go slow.  Better to get where you are going a little late, than not at all. 

Winter Survival

Here is a little something I wrote for the Idyllwild Town Crier.  Hope it helps someone.

Winter Survival by Vicki Jakubac


Winter in the mountains brings to mind images of roaring fires in stone fireplaces, cute, snow covered cabins and children frolicking in the snow. However, there is another side to winter that everyone, whether visitor or local, needs to be aware of.

While winter in the mountains can indeed be beautiful and idyllic, it can also be dangerous. Preparing yourself, your car and your home prior to a storm arriving, will help you survive should a winter emergency befall us.

Some unique challenges we face here on the hill are frozen or broken water lines, power outages and dangerous or impassable roads. High winds and heavy wet snow can topple trees onto roads or houses and you can find yourself being housebound or isolated for the duration of a storm. Preparation is the key to warding off a potentially, life threatening situation.

Any time you come to the mountains to visit, make sure that you let friends and family members know where you are going to be. Power outages are common during winter storms and you cannot be sure you will have phone service or power to charge your cell phone if there is an extended outage. If you own a mountain home, it is best to keep one old fashioned corded phone in the house that does not rely on electricity to operate.

When planning a trip to the mountains, think ahead! Bring adequate amounts of the proper clothing and footwear for cold, wet, snowy weather for each person in your party. Many people are surprised at just how cold it can get during the winter and how wet snow can be. Having the proper attire and footwear will make your snow experience a more pleasant one.

Winterize your car and be sure to have a full gas tank prior to leaving for the mountains. Stock it with emergency items like tire chains, flash lights, snow scrapers, sand and a few old rugs. Make sure you have enough blankets, snacks and drinking water handy in case you get stranded in your car. And remember, if the roads are bad, it is always best to just stay home and wait until it is safe to venture out. Preventing an emergency situation is always easier than trying to rectify one.

If you are planning to stay on the hill for several days, be sure you have enough food and an emergency supply of drinking water to last through an extended power outage. People don’t always realize that if your pipes freeze, you will not have running water. With just a little forethought and preparation, you will have a much better chance of getting through whatever Mother Nature throws at you.

If you own a home here on the hill, winterizing it is the first step in preventing unexpected emergencies such as frozen or broken water pipes, which can cause leaks. Insulate all water pipes and faucets in unheated and outdoor areas before temperatures plummet. Disconnect and drain hoses from outdoor faucets allowing water to drain from the pipe. Seal off access doors, cracks and around vents. Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. When you leave your mountain home, turning your water off at your customer valve is the single most important thing you can do to prevent coming home to frozen or broken water pipes.

Winter can be a magical time here in the mountains, so be informed, come prepared and you will leave with wonderful, winter memories!

What the heck?

OK, who ordered all this snow?  Not me, that is for sure.  I am not ready for winter.  I was highly enjoying our brief autumn season.  Some of the trees hadn't even turned colors yet and now they are flopped over heavy with snow.  That is the funny thing about living here in the mountains.  The seasons can sure trick you.  So ready or not, here we are with a pile of snow to contend with and it is only early November. 

Last night was quite the show as well with the thunder and lightening.  I always find that strange to have thunder and lightening with snow.  I am not sure why, but I think it is weird.  Snow fall always seems to be a quiet type of weather.  So many times when it is snowing up here, it is so very quiet.  I love that.  No cars on the road, no snow plows noisily flying down the road.  The animals all seem to have disappeared, hopefully taking shelter somewhere dry.  The world just seems to go to sleep while the snow silently falls.  Thunder and lightening is not part of my snow picture and I find it somewhat unsettling.

The snow also presents a challenge if you have animals that you keep outside.   Please be sure to give them fresh warm water, clean, dry, fresh food and make sure they have a shelter out of the wind, rain and snow.  Remember, they can't self cater and rely upon us for their needs.  If you take on the responsibility of an animal, please be a responsible owner and see to their needs.

Also use caution when driving because as we all know, the roads here can be treacherous and many times it isn't the road conditions so much as the other drivers on the road.  Beware of people who don't know how to drive in the snow.  I have had many near misses due to inexperienced drivers coming up to the mountains  unprepared.  Go slow and leave a large distance between you and the cars in front of you.  As always, if you don't have to go out, then don't.  No sense risking life and limb for something that can wait until another day. 

So stay warm, stay dry and stay safe.  Hopefully it will warm up and most of this snow will melt away and autumn will come back and give us a few weeks before we settle into winter for good.  I am so not ready for winter.

Heads Up! Weather change coming

Well it is that time of year again folks. The weather can change on a dime and while we have been enjoying nice weather these past few weeks, there is change afoot.  There is snow in the forecast for tomorrow.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Increasing clouds, with a low around 32. West wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday: Rain showers likely before 11am, then snow showers. High near 34. West wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

I guess 1 to 3 inches isn't too bad for the first storm of the season, but I am enjoying this fabulous fall weather and would prefer to keep it at least until December.   However, moisture is always needed and welcome, so should we receive some, I will not complain. 

So make sure you are ready for snow.  It is better to be safe than sorry because the weather can be unpredictable at this time of the year.  As always, remember to turn your water off at your customer valve when you leave your mountain home.  This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent leaks.  Please take a minute and check the side of the blog for more cold weather tips.

Also, if you have animals outside, please be sure you provide for them in this colder weather.  A warm, dry shelter out of the elements is essential as is fresh food and water, no matter what the weather is.  Remember, they depend on you to provide for all their needs and it is your responsibility as a pet owner to provide what they need. 

We also have a link to the weather forecast on the left hand side of the blog as well many other helpful links and phone numbers.  I continually add to the list any websites or phone numbers that I think may be useful to the residents here in Pine Cove.  If I have missed any, please drop me a line at Vicki@pcwd.org and let me know.

Heat Wave?

The weather forecasters are calling for a heat wave over the next few days.  Last week they were talking possible snow and now a heat wave.  The weather sure is mixed up these days.  My poor tomato plants aren't sure what to do.  Some keep growing and some just gave up and died off.  Can't say that I blame them.  It is hard to figure.  And the leaves haven't started changing yet either.  Hopefully, they will start soon.  It won't feel like October, until they do.  We have had winter and summer weather within the past week and that leaves me to wonder, where is autumn?

This Weather, Yikes!

Well, I thought it was spring, but surprise, not yet.  This is very discouraging.  There is something very wrong about snow in May.  It is depressing!  I don't want cold and snow and ice chunks falling off the trees.  I want sun and 60 degree days and to be out in the garden planting vegetables.  Luckily, I did get a lot of work done in my garden on Saturday, before this storm moved in, so it is getting a nice watering at least.  But, I was just getting started and now have had to put everything on hold. With each storm, I think, OK this is the last one!  However, Mother Nature always has the upper hand and I can never seem to out guess her.  So I guess we will just have to live with it.  The good news is that we are getting more moisture!  So that is wonderful.  Now if only the temperatures would rise we would be in good shape!  Hope everyone stays warm and dry.

Meter Reading Time

Yes boys and girls, it is that time again.  The boys are out and about reading meters today.  It will probably take them until Wednesday to finish up due to the snow.  Luckily it is warming up and the snow is melting.  If you would like to help them out a bit, you can make sure your water meter is shoveled out so they can read it.  This really helps the process along.  Other wise they have to stop and shovel out each meter before they can read it.  Since we have almost 1100 meters in the district, you can see how time consuming this could become.  We appreciate any help you can give us with this matter.