Heading back to Colorado today, I crossed 500 miles of snowy landscape, from central Missouri to western Kansas. The deepest snow was in Columbia (still nearly a foot) and the depth gradually decreased as I drove westward. Once I reached the High Plains of western Kansas, the snow rapidly dissipated beneath intense sunshine and a mild southwest breeze. Farther west, the snow reappeared across the Palmer Divide and persisted into Metro Denver (another sixty miles).
As expected, raptors were common on the snow-laden Plains and northern harriers were especially abundant, flying low above the fields and crop stubble. At least a half dozen coyotes were observed on the wintry landscape and large flocks of Canada geese reliably graced the scene. The highlight, as is often the case for me, was a flock of snow geese that circled above the highway west of Topeka.
Of my numerous road trips across the Great Plains, this was certainly one of the snowiest (though no snow was falling and, fortunately, the Interstate was clear and dry). As the climate warms and winter snow cover decreases, this may become a rare experience for future travelers.
As expected, raptors were common on the snow-laden Plains and northern harriers were especially abundant, flying low above the fields and crop stubble. At least a half dozen coyotes were observed on the wintry landscape and large flocks of Canada geese reliably graced the scene. The highlight, as is often the case for me, was a flock of snow geese that circled above the highway west of Topeka.
Of my numerous road trips across the Great Plains, this was certainly one of the snowiest (though no snow was falling and, fortunately, the Interstate was clear and dry). As the climate warms and winter snow cover decreases, this may become a rare experience for future travelers.
