Things To Do During A RIDGE

[Joel Wright]

Well, after a few days of chasing we decided to forego the marginal setups and go check out some places we've never been before. As much as we loved to chase, seeing some of these places for the first time was a bit of a thrill in it's own way. To each their own I guess.

 

[Terry Tyler]

i have only been chasing marginal this year except for the 2/24/07 set-up...ive chased 2 out of the past 4 days on marginal, and i havent drove more than 30 miles a day...

IMO...theres nothing wrong with a little bit of --->

but you cant judge a chaser by the kind of storms he or she does or doesnt chase...

if it were up to me...id be chasing all those big high-risks in the panhandles...but it isnt, so i chase these little ones...

 

[SteveCarter]

I decide THIS year to just show Mother Nature I EXPECTED this to happen. We booked a cruise to the Bahamas..leaving Friday for 6 days. When my wife first booked it, I was a little concerned, but then realized that the "best PREDICTED" times have lately turned out to be the worst times, so.....the money saved on gas during this 'cone of silence' is going for something fun. Next year we're HOPING to go to Europe for three weeks...in MAY. These Mays have been a total letdown lately. Seems like the end of Feb. - April has been a lot better, and then around May 25th or so until mid June has really picked up. Let's hope it does again this year! If you planned your vacation already, try going to Yellowstone...beautiful this time of the year...or go up to Canada, around Kenora, Ontario, and do some GREAT fishing...just watch out for the bears.

 

[Shane Adams]

or go up to Canada, around Kenora, Ontario, and do some GREAT fishing...just watch out for the bears.

(really laughing)

Any activity which includes the possibility of being mauled/eaten by a bear, IMO, disallows the use of the term "GREAT" to describe it.

 

[SteveCarter]

Any activity which includes the possibility of being mauled/eaten by a bear, IMO, disallows the use of the term "GREAT" to describe it.

LOL.....We learned you NEVER clean fish within 200 yds of your campsite....unless you're looking for trouble. The last time we were up there, we were woke up at 3AM with this growling, thumping noise, and when we shot the spotlight out of one of the tents, there was this massive bear......standing up, about 20 feet tall. He was between us and the car. I don't know if a bear sh*ts in the woods, but WE DID. I called some friends in the other tent with the walkie-talkie, and told them what was going on, and they freaked. The girl screamed, and took off out of the tent, tripped over the stake, and wiped out. Her husband screamed, and went after HER, picked her up, and she thought he was trying to stop her, so she belted him, and darted for the car. The bear just stood there...laughing most likely. The guy was stunned, and his wife (we called her Junebug) got to the car, found it was locked, and panicked even more, and ran into the woods. Mike started to holler for Junebug, I was screaming for him to grab the gun by the fire, my wife was praying for salvation, and the bear ran off into the woods...in the direction of Junebug. Total confusion. About 15 minutes later, the three of us...all moving one step at a time like we were velcro'ed together...with the gun, found Junebug about 20 feet up a tree. No idea how she GOT there, but she did, and we all spent the night in the car.

It's kinda comical NOW, but wasn't that night. BTW...we know the bear really wasn't 20 feet tall, just seemed like. But.....to some, a tornado would be a LOT more scarier than this. If I can't go chasing, I REALLY DO want something that is an adrenaline rush, or something exciting and/or different to do.

 

[John Farley]

Several people have mentioned going to the mountains, which I highly recommend if you are on a pre-planned chase vacation somewhere in the western Plains and there is no prospect for storms. However, there is another reason that others have not mentioned - there is a good chance that you will see storms there, even if there are none on the Plains. Now, don't get me wrong - you won't see supercells - but you may see some interesting and unusual weather - including hail (usually small, but sometimes prolific), intense outflow winds, and maybe even thundersnow. Storms often occur in the mountains because, when surface winds hit the mountains, they are forced upward, creating updrafts. And in the clear air of the mountains, whatever storms occur you will likely see well, as long as you can get to a spot with a clear view. Northern New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and if you are really northwest, Montana are all good places to see mountain storms.

For a few examples, see my "thunderslush" post from yesterday in W&C, or the following from my Web pages:

http://www.siue.edu/~jfarley/obs61406.htm

http://www.siue.edu/~jfarley/obs60606.htm

http://www.johnefarley.com/IMG_3066.jpg

I might also mention that, even with all my chasing, the only time I have seen thunderstorm wind take down a large tree (I mean it actually happening, not the aftermath) was in the mid-1990s on a trip to Yellowstone with my daughter - there was strong outflow wind from an approaching thunderstorm; we heard a loud CRACK and down came a 60 foot pine tree at the edge of the road (not into it, luckily).

For those of you unfamiliar with the mountains, be aware that often there are storms with little or no precipitation that nonetheless throw down CG lightning, so even if you are not in rain and don't see rain shafts, beware of lightning if you are in an area where convection is occuring. As to bears, well all I can see is that in the time I have spent in the mountains, I have seen many more thunderstorms than bears, despite many efforts over the years aimed at seeing bears, LOL!

 

[Stan Rose]

Don't get me wrong, i'm not suggesting one should revel in endless garbage storms, and i'm not criticizing one's personal decision to check out the sights rather than hoping for a lightning strike or two. I am saying that you've gotta be in it to win it (Mike's point) and that since poor->marginal days are always gonna outnumber high risks, that's part of the game, and if you don't enjoy that aspect (the uncertainty, plus the simple joy of being out on the road), then IMO you're a glutton for punishment. And, while i don't think it was intentional, some of you are starting to sound like you can't enjoy chasing unless its being 100 yds from an EF-4. That's kinda depressing.

EDIT: Today is a perfect example of my point: this is a thread about a supposed "death ridge" that is going to "ruin" May chasing.
I see real nice shear and plenty of instability in a slight risk area to the north (MT/WY), even the outside shot at a brief tornado. Heck, there could even be a severe storm over CO this afternoon. I cannot fathom how anyone who is out chasing would pass up a day like today. Is it really that boring?

 

[SteveCarter]

Seems like an EXTENDED vacation might be in order here. What's with these 'Mays" lately?? If you like entertainment...go to Branson, MO. Always something to do, and Silver Dollar City is close by. Personally didn't care for SDC, but a lot of others did. Liked Mammoth Caves tho...awesome. What better time to work in the yard, and get all that crap done than May? Not the best idea, but....I'll tell ya...this really sux. For those of you having to schedule your chasecations far in advance, I'd very seriously consider April from now on. Having said THAT...next May will rock, but.....this is the problem with the weather, and what makes it so exciting...it's unpredictability. Damn, I wish SOMETHING would happen tho. I can't believe the chase season is winding down already, and here we SIT...waiting....and waiting...and waiting.

 

[Jeff Miller]

I think a few people are looking for "outbreak" scenarios because they are easy. Many May chases are composed of slight risks or imperfect scenarios. Some of the best catches in May have been on days that have not gathered much attention at first.

There's usually some opportunities - it'll just take some hard work finding them.

 

[Aaron Kennedy]

Winding down heh. I'm patiently awaiting for the N plains season too start. Until then, I've been paddling alot.

http://nodak.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2132235&l=23fd2&id=9612126

 

[Robert Dewey]

I know what I'm doing during a ridge... waiting for tomorrow's squall line under a SLGT

 

[Robert Edmonds]

I've decided to get more into amateur astronomy. That way I have something to do with all the clear skies. By the way I have to be on a plane out of the US by the 8th of june so expect the season to pick up right after that. You'd think setting aside 3 1/2 weeks would be good enough. Well atleast there may be something by then, hopefully. Anyway here is a pic of me and my telescope.

With all the clear skies M51 and the Sombrero were just amazing the other night. I might go out camping again tonight, instead of looking at some rain clouds, and am going to play around with the telescope on a wedge that way I might get some better astrophotos out of it.

Clear Skies,

Bobby

 

[Laura Duchesne]

Some places I hope to check out this year on down days are...

Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo TX
Carlsbad Caverns
World's Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, KS

 

[bill mudd]

I decided on the April chase this year - so far glad I did (so far).

I feel May isn't even done yet and June will offer some opportunties as it always does.

Lucky I'm retired/ Unlucky to have to travel from CA to get there!

.......love ghost town photography when not looking UP!

 

[Linda Kitchen]

If your in South Dakota, of course go see Mt. Rushmore, I loved it. Also, nearby is Deadwood, it's got great casinos. Kathy and I stopped there last year and decided that if one of us won, the money would go to pay for gas. Kathy won $350.00! There is also a great little town called Hot Springs. We dined there with several deer. Nearby, in Wyoming, is Devil's Tower, it was featured in Close Encounters. It is unreal. Linda