This is becoming a reoccurring theme: it snowed last night. It fell fast and hard. The fast part was mostly due to the strong winds which created havoc in Hayden Valley. Numerous employees in the Park need to cross through Hayden Valley to reach destinations such as Fishing Bridge, Lake and Grant but yesterday proved once again that Hayden Valley can be a no-man's land where everything goes and anything can happen.
When the wind blows through Hayden Valley huge drifts are formed, such as Grizzly Drift, and snowbanks spread snow onto the road creating huge finger drifts or completely covering the road. With the relative warmth yesterday and the strong winds part of a drift collapsed onto the road and in other areas the snow had turned into slush. Equipment was brought in to clear it away but it caused a caravaning group of RV's, as well as numerous other vehicles, to wait up to 2 1/2 hours so that they could drive through Hayden. With deteriorating weather conditions Hayden Valley was eventually closed to Admin Travel late in the afternoon with near 0% viability.
The wind blew hard most of the day but it wasn't until late afternoon that the snow started and it was near blizzard conditions for a short while outside. If there was any measurable amount of snow that fell it was blown away and only a dusting is actually on the sidewalk outside. And in that snow this morning are a fine pair of fox prints walking up and under the overhang and to the front door.
