Toms: What's the weather like there in New York now. The reason I ask is, I haven't heard from that Nephew of mine in almost 4 months now. He might have took me to hart, when I told him not to do anything I wouldn't do. Might have to have you step over there, slap him across the side of his head and tell him to write home. Don't even remember the name of that fort he's in now. The little s--t never sent me his address.<P>Phil

Hi Phil.Right at the moment its snowing so hard i could only see about 20 feet.We got about a foot of snow left here after the last couple of days of warmer ? weather.It got up to 40 degrees two days ago.Thats the first time over freezing since early last november.As far as the base in question,the only one still open that i know about is Fort Drum up north of me a couple hours drive.Your nephew has been busy hunting and then after the season he's been snowmobiling.He ain't got time to do any writin.Sounds almost like my youngest son who moved to southern Ca.Just like a youngin to forget you,huh.~~~~~Stay warm.~~tom

Toms: Fort Drum, that's the one. Didn't realize it was still so cold back there, and still snowing to boot. It's that darned ground hog. He says today you still got six more weeks of winter. As far as the youngins go, you got that right. They remember just fine when they-----. Oh well you know what I mean. Jeff that's my Nephew never seen snow I don't think till enlisting. The little s--t's probably having a ball.<P>Phil

Phil,you nephew couldn't have picked a better place for snow than Fort Drum.Its east(down wind)from the great lakes and they usually get plenty of lake effects snows.A couple of years ago they got 96" of snow in 48 hours.How would you like that much?I say -NO THANKS.Lots of snow and lots of woods up there.~~~~~~~tom

Still winter out.Dern ground hog.~~tom

96 inches? So, thats where the weather went! We have only about two-three feet of it. When I was a kid, back in the seventies, the snow banks went as high as most houses, sometimes higher, nowadays its a mere two to three feet, sometimes four. It appears to be backwards, the south getting more snow then us up here. ~~~Suluuq

Well one thing I will say. The Military is going to be the best thing that ever happened to this kid. He'll learn much more there, than down here in the valleys of Southern California. He wanted to be in the Airborne, as me. But didn't pass the physical. They sent him to a mountain team as radioman. And gave him the option to re-apply next year. Heck there in them-their mountains. He's liable to get some hunting and sking experiance he wouldn't get anywhere else. That is if he doesn't Freeeeeze first.<P>You all stay warm now!<P>Phil

Funny thing.Most people think the only thing to climb in NY is to take a elevator to the top of a building.Maybe down in the city.Upstate theres some pretty good mountain ranges and lots of woods.Alot of people have gotten lost up in the mountains and have died of exposure.The adirondack mts can have some real nasty weather.In some areas a person could wander for many days before coming across a road.I know its not Alaska but you still have to be careful.I remember back in the 80's when the winter olympics were going on, quite a few "city slickers" come up and the winter wasn't too nice to them because they didn't dress for the weather.Frostbite can be nasty.~~~~tom