I walked my pup this morning to the greatest Valentine’s gift of all, the glorious and majestic view of snow-capped mountains. A sight I love and had missed for many months, and a sign of hope that life-giving rainwater had returned to the Vegas Valley. My relief and joy was palpable. So was Bodie dog’s.
When the rain arrived yesterday after a harrowing 214 straight days without it, it came steady and constant. Yet another gift because an immediate and hard deluge would have run right over the desperately dry desert floor to create flash-flooding conditions. Instead, we got a nice soaking rain for perhaps twelve hours. The extended drizzle would have been merely chilling and definitely depressing if it wasn’t so very wonderful.
This was only the second time in 88 years that Las Vegas has experienced 200 days or more without rain. The last precipitation that fell over the valley was also on the thirteenth of a month, in July of 2024. I recall that my precious pooch didn’t get a walk that day either, which he definitely didn’t like and didn’t understand.
How to explain to a long-haired dog that walking in the pouring rain was problematic? I woke up to poop on the tiled floor this morning because of his thrown-off schedule, but I sure must have snoozed well after falling asleep to the unusual sound of cascading rain, which increased in intensity into the evening. Last night I actually had to towel Bodie off twice after he went out to pee. He didn’t understand why, but at least he liked being rubbed dry.
We left extra early for our walk this morning, breathing in the freshest of cool air as if everything in the valley had been cleansed of dust and grime and worry. Snow blanketing the tallest and lowest of mountains that should have begun back in November. Gleaming white caps glistening as the sun broke through scattered clouds.
Our winter storm left Mt. Charleston in whiteout conditions yesterday, but skiers and recreationalists will no doubt be flocking there for the long President’s Day weekend. I will be flocking to Valley of Fire State Park as soon as I can, because this is the time of year to go, just after a rainfall. That’s when one is most likely to see big horn sheep grazing on newly sprung plant life.
I’d been so worried about my favorite creatures of this desert valley, because our extended drought was threatening their very existence here in Nevada. Without winter snow accumulation on mountaintops bringing precious water to the valley from spring snow melt, both flora and fauna are in danger.
I’ve always coveted seeing those snow-capped mountains in my vicinity, though I’ve never felt the need to climb mountains or ski down them. Something I’ve come to realize might be of vital importance when contemplating where next to reside…and also when deciding where my Other Worldly novels’ protagonist Rowan Layne might also settle next, along with a change of venue for Red Orbiter headquarters, nestled into remote red boulders at Valley of Fire. Not because of lack of rain, but that’s not the only issue plaguing the Vegas Valley these days…
For now, at least we had some much-needed rain, and the snowy view in the distance is lovely.