As the snow stacks up everywhere, I can’t help but resign myself to three more months of winter. And while Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this year, portending an early spring, we in the mountains of Colorado know better.

This winter is not close to being over.

While there are some good things about having lots of snow such as skiing, sledding and other fun winter sports, driving around in this stuff, square in the middle of another eternal winter, is not my idea of a good time. Although this is something my brother and I are having to do more often as our classes are down in Colorado Springs.

Returning home during the last major snowstorm, we were traveling toward Woodland Park from the Springs. Around halfway up the pass, we hit ice, and the snow had increased dramatically. Fortunately, we also found a snowplow parade! We ended up in a very long line of cars, each displaying a similar desire for self-preservation, as our car traveled about 20 miles per hour behind the capable CDOT plow leading the way. Thanks, CDOT!

On another fateful day this winter, we were traveling down the pass. The sun, having just risen, made it difficult to see anything. We rounded one of those tight corners above Manitou and my brother immediately slammed on the brakes. I didn’t understand why at first, but it quickly became clear. The car in front of us had accidentally hit a deer and was trying to evaluate the situation along with ourselves and others that had gotten over, leaving this dead deer to itself in the left lane.

Unfortunately, a black Toyota came bounding down the left lane, clearly enjoying his early commute too much, he hit the dead deer, and then started dragging it unaware of his circumstances. Other cars tried alerting this driver of his newfound luggage, but the driver was uninterested in any stranger’s aid. This went on all the way to I-25 when we had to part ways with the driver and his deer friend.

Another time, when I was younger, my family and I were driving to visit family in Laramie, Wyoming (a windy city in a windy state). I-80 got closed between Cheyenne and Laramie due to the snow and wind blowing more than a few semis off the road. Our family, always up for an adventure, tried to take the “back way” into Laramie which we learned once we were on the side of a reasonably pitchy mountain pass, wasn’t really a viable option either. After shoving a water bottle under a tire to regain traction, we carefully put the car in reverse and returned to Cheyenne waiting for WYDOT to give the all clear that the interstate was open again.

While our winters can seem eternal, especially by mid-February, at least we have good stories to tell. Thanks for listening to mine.

Ruth Wiseman is a Woodland Park native and a dual-enrolled high school student attending Pikes Peak State College

RUTH WISEMAN