We went over to Post Falls, Idaho yesterday to get our new Yorkie puppy. We rode with our oldest daughter and her husband and met our granddaughter who got the puppy from her roommates parents in Boise, Idaho. Going over was fine, good roads, a bit of light snow, but not bad. We were having lunch in Post Falls and when we got out, it was snowing harder.

"Uh oh" Jerry (son-in-law) says. "It doesn't look to good over the mountains."

"What mountains?" I reply. Snow has wiped out the view of the top 3000 feet of any mountains in a hundred mile radius.

We had back east I I-90 and we get to Mullan Idaho, at the bottom of Lookout Pass and traffic (all of 10 vehicles) is pulled over in the chain-up area behind a state trooper car.

"A semi jackknifed about 3 miles up the pass and they're getting it straightened out before we can go over" the trooper tells us. It is really snowing hard now......8 inches of new snow in three hours.

Just in front of us is a car with Alabama plates on it and an older couple and their grandson are standing along side of it taking pictures. Jerry strikes up a conversation with the couple and the granddad is scared shitless to drive over the pass. They have never been in snow before, and this is some deep snow.

Jerry finally convinces them that when the road is open he will drive them in their car and I will drive the Durango and our precious load up and over the pass. They agree, and about 30 minutes later we start up the pass. I've got the Durango in 4-wheel low so no problem. Jerry is driving their Honda with front-wheel drive. No problems going up to the top and the Idaho/Montana state line.

At the top we get stopped again. There is a large pull out area where truckers can check brakes for the descent and also an exit to lookout Pass Ski Resort. We are waiting for a Montana Road Dept. snow plow to get to the top and turn around and lead us down the pass. We all get out and this couple and the grandson are having a ball. Throwing snowballs, taking pictures. The kid had never been in snow before, and now he's in 7 feet of snow. He was about 10. We're looking up at one of the runs on the ski mountain...the top part is in the clouds and obscured....when two snowboarders come screaming out of the clouds and down the mountain right in front of us.

I thought the granddad was going to have a heart attack right there.

"My God, are they nuts?" he says.

"Probably" Jerry replies. "That run they're coming down is an EXPERT run for skiers. Most good snowboarders don't try that one. They value their lives somewhat."

The plow shows up and again a look of amazement from the Alabama people. I've never really thought about it, but the blade on this plow is about 8 feet tall and has wing blades about 6 feet up that push the snow even further off the road. I guess they do look like some kind of monster from Avatar.

We follow the plow down the pass into good old Montana and the roads are pretty good now....de-iced and plowed. We stop at the chain removal area and the Alabama people are on their way.

"I told them to stop at the Silver Dollar Bar and take a break and get some food or coffee before they continue" Jerry says to me. (it's 15 miles from where we are)

"I wonder if the sell underwear at the Silver Dollar?" I reply," because I'm sure they need a change by now."

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