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TIM CURRAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
December 2008: the biggest snowfall since 1950, another December to remember for everyone in Portland in 1950 and 1968. I experienced the latter, but wasn’t alive for the former. From what I’ve read about the 1950 event, this year’s storm had similar characteristics: snow, sleet, freezing rain and blowing snow.
Unlike that week in ‘68, when it snowed as night fell and for hours after, this storm of ‘08 was by no means great. This one had meanness to it, blowing snow, blasting all day, piling snowdrifts right up to people’s hips. Mirroring the woeful financial times, this unforgiving blast of arctic air slapped us in the face; reminding us even our Portland enclave wasn’t safe.
Despite their efforts not ODOT, PDOT or any other acronym could help. If TriMet buses weren’t full, maybe one would pick up people trudging through the snow. But many Portlanders on secluded side streets were out of luck. Snowbound, hopefully with food, this Christmas didn’t make their top 10 list.
Here are the official numbers: Portland logged nearly 19 inches of snow in December, eclipsing the old 1968 record by three inches, missing the all-time record, set in 1950 of 22 inches. This Christmas was Portland’s snowiest since records began being kept in 1940, when National Weather Service temperature readings officially began at the Portland Airport.
It seems everything nowadays, especially weather storms, have to be named. I don’t know if it started with having to name computer files or what. But no matter what you call this event — “Arctic Blast,” “The Big Chill,” “The Great Snow” and, my favorite, “Snow-mageddon” — the names will probably be forgotten. But the storm will not.
We’re out of it now; I bet there are still small piles of white reminders, somewhere, but from one who was there in the ‘68 December; this is another one to remember.
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| On Thursday, Dec. 18, near the beginning of the weather event, an intrepid cyclist (above) tools down Southeast Stark Street. We didn’t slow him down to ask, nor would he probably have stopped to tell us why he was braving the arctic air conditions on his bicycle. MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
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This snowman, standing on a hill looking over I-84 on Northeast Fargo Court, was built with care by Mya Love, recent Parkrose High School graduate. MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
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| With its big hills, Glendoveer Golf Course is always a great place for sledding. Gresham resident Ryan Glover shows his sons how to have “snow much” fun. MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
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Conquering another Glendoveer Golf Course hill, Davis Glover smiles in triumph. MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
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| Not to be left out, little brother Jackson Glover attacks the same hill. MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
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Tough going for birds during the snow, an Anna’s hummingbird takes respite and repast from a feeder. Small and sleek hummingbirds, along with other flying creatures, fluffs it feathers, to loosen them, trapping air between the fibrils. The combination of trapped air and feathers a much better insulator that feathers alone. |
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| Getting stuck in a snowstorm while visiting Argay friends was the last thing the Simpson family, from Seattle, had on their holiday agenda. But, like many locals, they made the best of it. Three-year-old Pearl Simpson makes her first snow angel. COURTESY MICHELLE SIMPSON |
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An ornamental crabapple tree is frozen, and yes, protected by the cold. COURTESY TOM SIMPSON |
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| On Dec. 22, an Argay resident ventures outside to check out the snowfall: Yikes! COURTESY MICHELLE SIMPSON |
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Eleven-year-old Aidan Simpson builds a snow cave with sister Pearl’s help — good idea if the power goes out. COURTESY MICHELLE SIMPSON |
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| Untouched by foot or vehicle traffic, many side streets in Mid-county looked this way for days. COURTESY TOM SIMPSON |
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Digging out ain’t great or fun, but it has to be done. Here an Argay resident gets help from a two- and a four-legger. COURTESY TOM SIMPSON |
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