By: Duane A. Ose

Duane A. Ose — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:08:22 +0000

Very complete. Well done…. I have a lot of miles on my wooden big wide long ones. ….Several winters ago, I over extended myself in searching for a cabin that had a snow machine inside it. The owner asked me to look at it and make him a offer. A snow storm blew up before I could get there. Time wise and all I turned and made my way home. In the proses over heated and became snow blind ( Having only one eye already ) and in a storm.. Thinking of taking shelter under a spruce tree and waiting till first light but no it was around 30` F. below zero. By now I was moving slow feeling my snow shoed path in about 5 feet deep snow. I could not see at all. It was dark but in the forest and my path was all I could feel. Taking 1/2 steps now inched my way up a mountain forest. I could feel the rises for each ridge I had to get over and to the top. 3 big climbs. Praying the trail would not be covered or that I fall off it and some way loose my bearings ( Mined you I was blind and in the dark besides ).. Snow shoed path was deep in this suggar snow so it would be some time before it would be leveled. I reached the summit, what a releaf but the bigger fear was the wind. Would the trail close in ? I had to keep going resting offten but only for moment at a time. Then finaly I was headed down, closer now to my dug out home and my worried wife. Rena who I had said see you tonight that was right after breakfast. Knowing the trail well now I was very close. I was about 50 feet away and I heard the dug out door open and a light, dim but a light. The words I heard were refreshing .. Thank God ! Then . Get in Here !. But I have to take off my snow shoes and my iced cloths. Again ! “Get in here ” Rena stuffed a warm cup of coco into my hands and undresed me part at a time. Rena did not know weather to kill me or hug me for the scare I had gave her..It was 4 A.M. I was exausted and colasped on the bed. You see I am the last Federal Homesteader to file and sign on the line. The 9′ x 11′ dug out was my habitable home tiil we could build a real log home. In any case I know about snow shoeing all to well in 5 feet of snow storm on a dark night being snow blinded.
Yours Truly D.A. Ose

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By: Duane A. Ose