At 16:15 12/22/01, you wrote:
Beautiful photos, John! I was particularly struck by the recollections
aroused by the scene of the Great Basin in Wyoming, my home state. I bet
not too many list members know what the "fence" in the background is
for. It is used to cause the snow to drift at the fence rather than on
the road (from which the photo was taken). In winter the incessant wind
in that area blows the snow horizontally hour after hour and the "snow
fences" help to keep the roads open.
Dave Dougherty
Geez Dave . . . I thought they were early versions of "tank traps" used as
a defense against "siege engines" and put up to protect the "secret
factories" from aggressive competitors.
:-)
There are places with three or more rows of these fences, one behind
another, spaced apart for drifting snow to pile up between them.
As someone already mentioned, snow on much of the Great Plains doesn't
melt. It has a sand-like texture (versus large flakes) and grinds itself
into oblivion from friction and abrasion as it drifts. Takes until about
April before it's too small to see with the naked eye. It had been over 20
years since crossing the Continental Divide on I-80. This time I noticed
the giant railroad style crossing gates at every exit between Rock Springs
and Cheyenne (except for the ones inside a city). Enormous signs tell
travelers to turn around and go back to the last exit if the gates are
down. I guess warning signs and flashing hazard lights weren't enough to
convince some people (causing a rescue nightmare when they get stuck . . .
*if* anyone knows they're out there). Those and the snow fences are a clue
that drifting snow can often be more than the snow clearing equipment can
handle.
-- John
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