This is getting crazy ... Wednesday, December 24, 2008

As you probably know by now, Portland is experiencing its snowiest December in 40 years. The temperature hasn't been especially cold—in the 20s and low 30s—but it's stayed that way for more than a week now, and we've had quite a bit of precipitation to go with it.

Several times over the week I've seen cross-country skiers go past on the street below my window. If I knew where my ski boots were, I might join them. But just a few minutes ago, I witnessed something I never expected to see on the streets of Portland: dog sleds.

That's right: a pair of honest-to-goodness dog sleds turned onto NW 22nd Ave. off of Flanders.

It's kind of a bad picture—I just happened to look up from my desk and see them, so I grabbed my camera, threw open the window and fired a frame just before the second one got out of site. I had my wide-angle lens on there (not the ideal) but at least the exposure was set pretty close.

Unbelievable. I wonder if the polar bears are far behind?

[update: No polar bears yet, but I just saw a snowmobile drive down NW 22nd.]