Hot times in Gothic.

Gothic is unusually hot in early June. Most years when I move to Gothic with my family we are hunkered down in multiple layers of clothing. My wife starts a fire in our cabin first thing in the morning. My boys huddle around it trying to get warm. We run to the dining hall both to warm ourselves up and because it’s a warm destination. It’s quite common for it to snow when the students arrive.

Not this year. It has been getting into the mid-70s (remember, this is early June at almost 2 miles above sea level). Everybody is walking around in shorts and flip flops. Students from warmer climes are shivering, but they have no idea how good they have it. It is supposed to be this warm all week.

We are seeing other changes. While it was only an average year for snowfall, the combination of hot temperatures and dust on snow (which accelerates snowmelt) has caused Copper Creek to jump its banks. Luckily the flooding hasn’t been serious. But I worry whether we can look forward to severe flooding (e.g., I worry about Willey Cabin) if warmer temperatures and dust on snow become a regular feature of the environment. Throw those things together with a big winter and life will be interesting for both Gothic residents and people downstream.

The biology seems different to me, too. I’ve already seen a gentian flowering—gentians are known for late summer flowering. A lower elevation mammal, the Wyoming Ground Squirrel has started to make regular appearances. And the packrats went crazy this winter—establishing strongholds in five cabins. Usually we just see one or two every summer or two.

Every year is different. It’s been hot before—according to billy’s records in 1996 we had a similar warm spell at the same time in June. It’ll be interesting to see if these changes are permanent, or just a regular part of the crazy things you see if you live in the mountains long enough. Time will tell.