Buzzing Thoughts

Hey there! So, today, I spotted the first convoy of commercial bees making a beeline westward.

Can you believe it’s almost two months earlier than the usual buzz around here?

It’s been a pretty peculiar year, with semi loads of bees buzzing their way to the Dakotas all through mid-summer. And now, guess what? They’re making a speedy getaway!

This is totally new to me. I’m not quite sure what it all means. Unfortunately, without any commercial contacts, I might never find out. But my hunch is that this virus situation is causing a real buzz among beekeepers. Funny how even when I’m out of the commercial bee game, I can’t help but think about the challenges those guys must be facing. It’s like trying to remove a stubborn propolis stain from a pristine white beesuit – not the easiest task!

Oh, by the way, there’s a dusting of snow on Casper mountain, just a couple of miles south of here. According to the county’s webcam, it’s about 6 inches deep at 8000 feet above sea level. And there’s more snow on the way before this weather system clears out. This marks the first proper snowfall of the season. However, here, it’s only a third of what they’re predicting for the mountains to the west. They’re expecting a whopping 10 to 12 inches there!

The basins are in for a light dusting, which will probably vanish by mid-day tomorrow. Don’t expect snow until the usual Halloween blizzard – ah, Wyoming weather! Just two days ago, we were enjoying 85-degree weather. Nothing out of the ordinary if you’ve been in Wyoming for a while. But I bet those who came for a hunting trip are in for more adventure than they bargained for.

Winds are going to whip through the basins at over 65mph, and at higher elevations, it’s going to be a real roar. If you’re into backcountry climbing, you should’ve descended from the peaks at least three days ago, and be well below timberline by yesterday.

It’s been a bit of a tragic climbing season in the backcountry, and my heart goes out to everyone out there. Here’s hoping for safe adventures and that everyone makes it back in one piece.

Sending sunny vibes your way! ✨

-Cheers, D 🍂🐝