powderfreak

https://www.reuters.com/

There are plenty of good news sources left... the problem is we as a society have gotten to the point where we don't read what we don't want to hear. Plan and simple. "Fake News" isn't truly "fake" as in made up... it means "news we don't agree with." The nation is as divided as it ever has been and people go to the comfort of their sources that tell them what they want to hear. Its complete echo chamber and you throw out any news you don't like as "fake" or that's what a powerful person has taught us. I actually enjoyed just reading through what ModFan posted because it's news that's different than my view point.

That’s the internet for you lol. Got up to 69F here... rain started and it’s cooled off to a less historic but still ridiculous 65F.

This is spot on. All you hear about is the stock market from the gov't when they talk about national economic health. But that's been the dichotomy this whole pandemic it seems... all this talk about economic ruin but then every day the stock market holds its own. Very interesting to read about. I know @cpickett79 has been all over that.

The new CoCoRAHS map is great for tallies. Some east coast Florida totals since October 1st... looks pretty wet. A widespread 12-36".

Already a 20 degree diurnal swing today at 61F by 8am.

Wear a mask, social distance, avoid large groups, be respectful of the situation, but beyond that it’s hard to enforce. Meet in the middle.

2018 (photo) around this time was the start of the snows in this area. Definitely not this year. Though we also hadn't picked up a decent event like we have this year.

The weenie in me was shocked that there was still a small patch of snow just about rotted gone along the edge of the field next to my place. It has been so warm, for so many days. 4 or 5 straight record highs on Mansfield? I guess we are lucky to have gotten that one good storm of the season down in town, lol.

As long as you can "quarantine at home before traveling" it's all a moot point. No one knows what you did at home before hand. Lots of folks working from home these days, too. I think Phin and I are on the same page as it penalizes those following the rules as they then see their neighbors going on vacation and having a great time. Like the kid in high school who wants to have fun but follows his parent's guidelines, while all the other kids are having the night of their life at the big bonfire party in the woods behind the High School. Unless the Gov't goes back to "Stay at Home" type stuff, after a few weekends of ski season I think most will feel comfortable... but still sucks the state wants to put people in the position of lying. That's a very Vermont thing to do... make a rule based on honor or morals.

Oh it’s the definition of unclear. Humans do not like rules without penalties, that’s well proven. Honor code is like the most basic psych study out there. If no one is watching, what will you do? It’s like they haven’t figured out how to set a capacity... like they don’t want 100% of tourism but they don’t want 0% either. They want like 50-75%. And they can’t figure out how to get there. So they assume some rule followers won’t come (say 25% of potential visitors will opt out), while others will say they don’t care...and arrive at that 75% business level like they did this summer and fall. I truly think for the state it’s all about controlling a spigot that they haven’t figured out how to get the nozzle screwed on right.

Those rules were for New York, I just don’t know if they are followed or now. But I Gotcha, yeah I’ve always agreed that a “rule” without quarantine isn’t anything. Like telling people the state law is 65mph on the interstate but there won’t be any state troopers to enforce it, so the other drivers can sort it out themselves. At least NY has a $10,000 fine for failure to comply or failure to even sign their form. I guess a lot of places have some sort of travel restrictions it seems...but I just don’t have any idea if people follow it there because I’m here. Are people taking a COVID test on entrance to NY? This VT newspaper cartoon says it well... like the honor box at an unoccupied roadside farm stand, just put your money in the box but no one is checking if you steal.

Cowards! For whatever reason the VT quarantines get all the love. Doesn’t make it better but there are a lot of states in the northeast with quarantines against other areas. Maybe a blend of all of them works better. I mean this is New York... maybe VT should just go this route, show your negative test when you arrive? For travelers who were out-of-state for more than 24 hours: Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York. The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days. On day 4 of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain another COVID test. If both tests comes back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test. For travelers who were out-of-state for less than 24 hours: The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State. However, the traveler must fill out our traveler form upon entry into New York State, and take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York.

Yup. I half expect the adolescent black bear to show back up at my door going “well that was a short winter, got one good snowstorm though...when you planning on taking out the trash?”

People eating dinner outside on patios entering mid-Nov in northern VT .

These sunsets have been insane.

They’ve been auditing businesses but looks like they’ll be stepping it up. They go to hotels and verify that they have the files on hand of people who signed them...make sure restaurants don’t have more than 50% occupancy, etc. Counties are all red. New York has been much more effective at regulating businesses and handing out fines or shutting down non-compliance. I think VT will start replicating that more as cases spike. They can enforce any individual if they sign the form, no one knows what you did before you got here so nothing changes for the individual... but businesses have been put on notice. I personally still think a winter spike will cause it all to continue to tighten...maybe a curfew like Mass is coming among other measures. I still think we’ll be hitting capacity but it’s the rule followers who “lose”... as I’ve said several times. The “good guys finish last” while the guy who doesn’t care is enjoying vacation.

Holy shit. 75F at MVL now. 61F at MMNV1 (two shy of the Nov record).

Yeah it’s a long winter. 2018 even pushed it for me... snow cover solid from like early Nov till April in the yard. This is pretty nice, but yeah can also see Phin wanting a 7-month 220” cry for mamma winter to get fully welcomed in first winter.

Looks like the November record for Mansfield is 63F set in both 2019 and 1958. We've now set 4 straight daily maximums and it's currently 60F up there, so we'll see if we can beat 63F.

71F now at MVL off the low of 32F. Almost a 40 degree diurnal swing prior to noon.

Yikes, also impressive.

Yeah I thought the one I ran into hiking was an unkempt German Sheppard that got away from his owner... until you see no collar, the burrs in the hair and how skinny it really is and the fact that the German Sheppard looking canine just scaled a 30 foot ledge like it was hoping up onto an owners couch, lol.

I've only seen them twice on the mountain, but one was really close on a hiking trail coming down towards me. They are so skittish though and my one observation was how nimble the thing was in close quarters... this is no domesticated dog lol. He pretty much went straight up a good sized ledge when he came around the corner and saw me, in full flight mode. Mangy looking thing but very cool. The other one I saw crossing the Nosedive ski trail in the spring with some animal in its mouth.

Ha yeah, November 2018 we had permanent snowpack down now. Last Monday and Tuesday was like mid-winter for 48 hours... but we do get these Indian Summer's in November but not quite to these levels. I actually think November 2011 was like this but later in the month. We got an 8-10" snowstorm and then it just went sunny and mild with these massive inversions. That was the only time I have photos of snow cover in the valley but not up higher. It was wild. 1,500ft was just 50s for days on end while 700-1,000ft rotted in freezing fog and 28-33F until on Day 3 the warmth finally broke the inversion.