We are down half of our annual snowfall. We have been needing snow for four months. It started snowing this morning at about 7 AM here in North Pole. We went to the Dog Races in Fairbanks this morning, it snowed the whole time we were there. It made for hard mushing for the dogs, that new snow piling up made for hard pulling sleds. Also poor footing. I got bit by two dogs while holding them back at the starting line. Glad I had on heavy gloves. Maree's dogs are just as sweet as can be, but when harnessed they get excited. When at the starting gate they gt to jumping up and down. They are barking like mad and sometimes start snapping at each other. my right hand got in the way twice, ouch.
Saw lots of accidents on the way home. Mostly people off the road in the snowbanks. Did see a three car pileup, and just avoided being in it myself. Trooper stopped to check out someone off the road. Snow and Fog was heavy, add to that the exhaust from the cars and trucks that made a sudden area of poor visiability. Trooper did not put out flares back up the road, he just turned his blue and red lights on. Troopers have a bad habit of parking with the drivers side half way out in the traffic lane. I was in front of a pack of vehicles. I was traveling at 40mph in a 55 mile zone. Being in the lead I was able to see the fog bank coming, and slowed down even more. Then I saw the lights through the fog. I hit the brakes and moved to the left lane, throwing up even more snow behind me. I turned on my flashers, but appearently the cars behind me could not see them.
The car directly behind me suddely saw the Troopers lights and swerved to the left to avoid the Trooper car. Someone else in an SUV, had gotten tired of going so slow and was in the process of passing. SUV in the left lane went into the snow bank. Car in the right lane hit the Trooper car. Next car hit his brakes and went sideways hitting both the car and the SUV. There was a gap in traffic, and the rest of the following vehicles were able to stop and not get involved. Trooper had dove over the snow banks to get out of the way. I stopped and walked back down there. Everyone got out OK, no injuries, just three damaged vehicles. Tow truck was in the group that was able to stop, he turned his lights on and was able to warn people coming up.
When I saw no one was hurt I got back in the KIA Sportage and left. Michelle called Sky to warn him of the accident, thinking he was behind us.. We found out Sky had already passed the area. He was just ahead of us, and had passed the Trooper sideways himself. He said he did not see the flashing lights till he was too close to stop. He swerved to avoid the Trooper car and went into a skid. He corrected and hit the throttle pulling out of the skid. Since he had not hit or been hit he went on towards home. Sky will not make calls on his cell while driving, and before he could find a safe place to pull off the highway to call and warn us, his Mom had called him.
But with all this new snow, I'm going snow machining. Life is always interesting here in Alaska.
