DIARY OF GEORGIA MY LIFE MY LOVE 6

DIARY OF GEORGIA MY LIFE MY LOVE 6

Georgia and her two friends, Art and Allen, planned a three day skiing trip up at Georgia and Fredrick’s mountain cabin. The cabin was a very sturdy building with four bedrooms and a bath and a half. Georgia and the guys were out cross country skiing all day when a sudden, severe storm blows into the area. The three friends made it back to the cabin, but after unexpected piles of snow began to gather up outside, making travel impossible, they decided to hunker in and stay warm and safe.

Since it was too late in the evening with too many snow drifts on the road to leave they decided to stay in the cabin.

While the two men made sure there was plenty of wood inside the cabin they put up three red flags on the side of the door to let others know there were people inside just in case an emergency search was needed. The car was backed into the garage so that it pointed out towards the road.

Georgia left a message on Fredrick’s cell, work phone and just in case on their home phone letting him know where the trio were and the conditions of the unexpected storm. The majority of people killed after being trapped in snowstorms are those who have wandered from shelter. She then turned her phone off to conserve the battery even tho she had an extra charged battery in her duffel bag.

The doors and windows had all been sealed with storm windows and storm doors to preserve heat. She also closed off and sealed any drafts under the doors of the two back bedrooms. Georgia had stocked the four bedrooms with plenty of blankets and extra clothing for men, women and children just in case someone ever did ever get caught up there in a storm.

The pantry was well stocked with canned and dry foods and plenty of gallon jugs of water were on hand. Flashlights, batteries, candles and medical needs were also stocked in the cabin. All around the outside of the four bedroom windows the shutters were closed with the backs of these shutters being painted a bright red. The bright red was to call attention to people in the town that if there were an emergency storm people were inside.

The trio decided it was time to keep a small fire going to prevent the chimney from clogging up with snow and ice and blocking the air flow. That would be a disaster if smoke blocked up as they could all die. They also decided to take turns sleeping in four hour shifts so that two would always be awake to keep the fire a low dancing flames instead of a roaring fire.

There was always a pot of water warm next to the heat for instant coffee, tea or drinks for the two that were awake playing games or talking. When the four hour sleeper was wakened the three of them would turn on the emergency short wave radio on to listen to five or ten minutes of news.

The first night went well and everyone was warm and well fed. A small breakfast was made then Art quickly crawled up into the attic space to look out the small upstairs window. He took his digital camera with him and got shots of how high the snow had piled during the night.

Downstairs he showed the others how high the snow had piled and they determined it was way above the door. It was still snowing outside but not as much as the night before. They decided to go up to the window every hour to see if it was possible for them to go out one of the side doors and start shoveling out.

Soon a rumbling went on outside, what a horrific sound just like a freight train going over the roof. All three huddled together and waited. The silence came. The all knew there had been an avalanche.

Georgia screamed “ The chimney, the chimney, we have to keep it open for the smoke to escape!”

They all sat at the table to collect their thoughts and make a plan.

They knew they were trapped but they had to be calm and plan a solution to make a space for the air to come into the cabin.

Together they made a list of things to do. First was to make sure there was fresh air then check the structure of the cabin.

Allen went into the garage and saw that there were downspouts up in the rafters and a bunch of two by fours. There were many tools and a sledge hammer. He was very happy to see this assortment.

Art had crawled back up into the attic and to his happiness there was a thin crack of the blue sky streaming through the window.

Georgia kept watch on the small fire noting that the smoke was still flowing upwards.

The trio now sat at the candle lit table, each with a cup of soup and reported to each other what they had found and observed. A prayer was said that they were happy to be alive and then they started their plan to make themselves safe until they were found.

©Julia A Knaake