In the event of a snowstorm, a shortage of proper snow supplies can result in a run on trash can lids.
Snow survival supplies — such as chips, dip, sleds and toboggans — quickly sold out at Forks Outfitters this week, store director Dave Gedlund said.
“We sold a lot of snow toys,” Gedlund said.
When the sleds sold out, enterprising residents made inroads on the store’s supply of trash can lids, he said.
The store was resupplied late Tuesday, Gedlund said.
Forks wasn’t the only place where people were taking advantage of the longer-than-anticipated storm.
Residents across Clallam County appeared to be taking advantage of the powder, making a long weekend even longer by taking snow days and turning virtually any hill into their own downhill course.
Here are some of their stories:
Daman Harrell, PA
Harrell’s family members were among the 50 people who gathered Wednesday afternoon to sled on a hill just north of the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles.
“The kids are loving it,” said Harrell, who was joined by his wife, two children and two dogs.
“We don’t get to use them [the sleds] very often.”
Christine Loewe, PA
A perennial puddle or shallow pond on the Port Angeles waterfront became an impromptu ice-skating rink for a mother and her 2-year-old son Thursday morning.
Michigan native Christine Loewe, 35, said she had been waiting for 10 years, since accidentally discovering the puddle in a frozen state during a cold snap a decade ago.
Loewe, who grew up skating on outdoor ponds and creeks, skated the puddle then, and when the temperatures dropped into the 20s this week, she waited for her chance.
“I’ve been watching every day for it to freeze up enough,” she said.
Thursday was finally that day, she and strapped on her long-unused ice skates.
“It’s just barely skateable,” Loewe said, gliding around the snow-dusted ice.
Loewe and her son didn’t just skate; they skied from their home on Georgiana Street.
“It’s like a dream to be able to cross-country ski on the waterfront trail,” Loewe said.
“This weather is pretty amazing,” she said.
Carin Hirsch, Forks
Hirsch is a paraeducator at Quillayute Valley School District and has had the week off because of snow days.
“My 6-year-old granddaughter is here, and we’ve been sledding and playing,” Hirsch said.
June Williams, Neah Bay
“The kids are having a great time,” Williams said.
Williams said she feels that the snowstorm is a message.
“We’ve had so many deaths in the last few months, maybe this is God’s way of telling us to take some time off,” Williams said.
Williams has been making soup to take to those in the area who need a little help.
“We’re shoveling walks and checking on our elders. Neighbors are helping neighbors,” she said.
Marie Davenport, Dungeness
Buying goods at Pane d’Amore bake shop on South Fifth Avenue in Sequim, Davenport was taking the weather in stride Thursday, since she has a Chevy Suburban to cruise into town stress-free for errands as usual.
Driving in snow, she said, “is a state of mind.”
The only snow shoveling she had done so far at home was for her short-legged West Highland terrier, “so he can do his business.”
Hailie Hanlon, Sequim
Hanlon, a Peninsula College student, made the most out of one of her snow days by sledding and snowboarding with family and friends at The Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course.
“I was kind of hoping we didn’t have to go to school,” Hanlon, 24, said, adding that she had a test scheduled earlier in the week.
Joann Allen, Forks
Allen said she had plenty of book work to catch up on and keep her busy.
“I don’t like driving on” the snow, she said.
“I’m mostly staying home.”
Karen Pierce, Blyn
Pierce, co-owner of Pierce, Jones & Associates of Sequim, which coaches and supports developmentally challenged people in the workplace, said many clients had canceled, so she and her staff were taking a snow day at home where they could still hang by their computers.
Heeding the weather warnings last Friday, the Blyn resident drove her sport utility vehicle down to Les Schwab Tires in Sequim for a new set of all-weather radials.
“I have four-wheel-drive with chains and have had them on since Tuesday,” said Pierce, who has lived in Alaska and knows the safe snow-driving drill: Have proper tires and drive 40 mph or below on U.S. Highway 101 to Sequim.
“My main concern is the power staying on,” she said.
“It’s inconvenient, it’s a lot of things, but when [the power’s] not on, it’s dangerous.”
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew contributed to this report.
