MUCH SNOW WE'VE GOTTEN THIS YEAR.

TO FIND OUT JUST EXACTLY HOW MUCH SNOW WE'VE GOTTEN THIS YEAR, WE HAVE COME TO ROCK CREEK IN MONO COUNTY AT THE INVITATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER.

GOOD MORNING, HUELL HOWSER.

>> RON TAYLOR.

HUELL>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> MIKE DODGEN, HI.

HUELL>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> JERRY VANWAY.

HUELL>> NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW, WE'VE BEEN INVITED UP HERE BY DWP TO GET A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE SNOW UP HERE, HOW MUCH SNOW WE'VE GOTTEN.

HOW MUCH SNOW HAVE WE GOTTEN THIS YEAR?

I DON'T THINK THOSE OF US WHO LIVE DOWN SOUTH IN LOS ANGELES QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE THIS WINTER?

>> WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE UP HERE, TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE HAVE.

THE OTHER STATIONS THAT WE'VE RUN ALREADY THIS YEAR, WE'RE RIGHT AROUND 200 PERCENT OF A NORMAL YEAR.

HUELL>> 200 PERCENT OF A NORMAL YEAR?

THAT'S A LOT OF SNOW.

>> THAT'S A GREAT YEAR.

HUELL>> OKAY, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TODAY?

>> WELL, WE HAVE THREE COURSES HERE, SNOW COURSES UP HERE IN THE ROCK CREEK DRAINAGE.

AND WE'LL START AT THE UPPER ONE AND BE TAKING SNOW SAMPLES AND WEIGHING THEM TO DETERMINE THE WATER CONTENT.

AND THEN, THAT'S TAKEN DOWN AND PUT IN THE COMPUTER TO GET AN EXACT FIGURE ON EXACTLY WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO BE.

WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREEN SUMMER.

HUELL>> A GREEN SUMMER?

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF RUNOFF, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

>> IF IT GETS HOT RIGHT AWAY, IT COULD BE REALLY EXCITING.

HUELL>> WHAT IS THE NAME FOR WHAT YA'LL DO?

YOU HAVE A LONG TITLE?

>> WE'RE HYDROGRAPHERS.

HUELL>> HYDROGRAPHERS?

>> HYDROGRAPHERS.

HUELL>> I'LL LEARN THAT WORD BEFORE THE DAY IS OVER.

AND WHAT IS THIS WE'RE GOING UP IN OVER HERE?

>> THIS IS AN "LMC SNOW CAT."

AND IT'S THE BEST WAY TOW GOING?

>> SIX MILES TO THE UPPER COURSE.

HUELL>> HOW LONG IS THIS TRIP GONNA TAKE US?

>> PROBABLY ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO GET TO THE UPPER COURSE.

HUELL>> SO WE'RE MAKING PRETTY GOOD TIME ON THIS THING?

>> A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN YOU WOULD ON FOOT.

HUELL>> WHAT IS THE SYSTEM HERE?

HOW OFTEN DO YA'LL CHECK OUT SNOW DEPTH?

>> AT THE END OF JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, WE RUN OUR SURVEYS.

ON A GOOD, WET YEAR LIKE THIS, WE'LL PROBABLY RUN ONE AT THE END OF APRIL, BASICALLY TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH WATER IS STILL LEFT OUT AND HOW THE RUNOFF IS COMING SO WE CAN PLAN FOR FLOOD CONTROL OR MAKE SURE THE DITCHES DON'T OVERRUN.

HUELL>> NOW, WHO IS THIS GUY UP HERE ON SKIS?

>> THIS IS A TOURIST FROM THE LOS ANGELES AREA WHO WATCHES YOUR PROGRAMS AND ONE OF YOUR FANS.

HUELL>> HOW COME HE'S NOT RIDING WITH US?

YOU'RE MAKING HIM GO UP ON SKIS?

>> HE'S NOT A GOOD CIVIL SERVANT.

HUELL>> THERE HE IS, LUIS, HE'S OFF TO THE SIDE.

WE GOT A GUY WALKING RIGHT BY US.

THERE HE GOES.

>> HE WON'T RIDE WITH US.

HE'S UP HERE FOR THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.

HUELL>> BOY, THIS IS-- I HOPE YA'LL REALIZE, YOU DON'T TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED, THIS SCENERY THAT YOU GET TO SEE EVERY DAY AS PART OF YOUR JOB.

>> SOMETIMES IT'S INCREDIBLE TO BELIEVE YOU GET PAID FOR THIS.

HUELL>> YEAH.

DO YOU THINK MOST OF US DOWN SOUTH KNOW WHERE WATER COMES FROM?

>> WHEN I WAS IN LOS ANGELES, WATER CAME FROM THE FAUCET.

I CAME UP HERE IN '75, AND I WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE CITY.

I CAME FROM THE COUNTRY, AND I HAD TO HAVE A MAP WORKING FOR THE CITY FOR FIVE YEARS TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET UP HERE MYSELF.

SO I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE REALIZE WHERE THE WATER ACTUALLY COMES FROM.

HUELL>> NOW, HOW DOES THIS SNOW TRANSLATE INTO WATER FOR US IN LOS ANGELES?

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR WATER COMES FROM THIS SNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW?

>> OKAY.

IN THE PAST, WHEN WE HAD ALL THE WATER COMING FROM MONO BASIN, ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY WAS COMING FROM THIS EASTERN WATERSHED IN THE SIERRAS UP HERE.

WITH THE DROUGHT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, THAT PERCENTAGE HAS DROPPED WAY DOWN.

PROBABLY RON'S A BETTER EXPERT.

BUT AROUND 30 OR 40 PERCENT.

HOWEVER, I'M SURE WITH THE RECORD SNOW WE'VE GOT THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE WAY UP AGAIN.

HUELL>> YOU WERE UP HERE LAST YEAR.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE UP HERE LAST YEAR?

>> WELL, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER.

BUT AS I RECALL, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE PAVEMENT.

HUELL>> REALLY?

>> YEAH, THE SNOW WAS MUCH LESS AND THEN, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK UP, YOU'D SEE A LOT MORE ROCKS UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.

A LOT OF ROCKS AND BARE AREAS.

IT WAS PRETTY SLIM LAST YEAR.

EVERYBODY'S HAPPY.

HUELL>> OKAY; OUT WE GO.

NOW, WE HAVE STOPPED HERE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE.

HERE'S THE PHONE BOOTH.

THAT'S AMAZING!

HOW MUCH SNOW IS THERE RIGHT OVER HERE?

>> WELL, FROM THE TOP UP HERE DOWN TO THE GROUND, WE GOT ABOUT PROBABLY SEVEN FEET, I GUESS.

HUELL>> SEVEN FEET RIGHT HERE?

DOES THAT PHONE WORK?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MAKING CALLS.

HUELL>> SO I COULD GO DOWN IN HERE... >> SURE.

HUELL>> ...AND MAKE A PHONE CALL AND SIT DOWN LIKE THIS AND DIAL THE OFFICE... HUGH>> IT'S-- IT WORKS.

>> TELL THEM TO SEND MONEY; WE HAVE YOU CAPTIVE.

HUELL>> OKAY; WE'RE OFF.

UP THE MOUNTAIN.

HUELL>> ON A ROAD THAT'S COVERED WITH SEVEN FEET OF SNOW.

NOW, WE'VE STOPPED AGAIN TO TAKE A LOOK AT?

>> ROCK CREEK LAKE AND ITS ELEVATION OF JUST UNDER 10,000 FEET.

THIS IS WHAT YOUR LAKES LOOK LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.

HUELL>> WOW, YOU'D NEVER EVEN KNOW IT WAS A LAKE?

>> NO, YOU DON'T.

I HAD BEEN WORKING HERE FOR 10 OR 12 YEARS BEFORE I EVER SAW COTTONWOOD LAKES, AND I FINALLY WENT UP ONE SUMMER AND MANAGED TO SEE THE LAKES; THE REST OF THE TIME IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

I WAS ONLY THERE IN THE WINTER.

HUELL>> WOW.

NOW, SOMEBODY HAS GONE OUT ACROSS THERE.

I SEE A TRACK OUT THERE?

>> YEAH, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS.

THERE'S A CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LODGE IN THIS CANYON.

THAT'S WHY THIS ROAD'S GROOMED.

HUELL>> NOW, COULD WE WALK OUT HERE?

WHOA!

>> THIS TIME OF YEAR, PROBABLY.

HUELL>> BUT, I MEAN, THIS LOOKS REALLY DEEP HERE?

>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY DEEP, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SINK TOO FAR.

HUELL>> COME OUT HERE WITH ME BECAUSE THIS IS AN AMAZING-- HOW MUCH SNOW IS DOWN THERE ON THAT LAKE?

>> IT WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME AS UP HERE, SIX OR SEVEN FEET ON TOP OF THE ICE.

AND THIS TIME OF YEAR, ESPECIALLY AS WARM AS IT HAS BEEN BEFORE THIS LAST WEEK, IT'S REALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO WALK ON THESE LAKES.

HUELL>> REALLY?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> THE ICE WOULD BREAK AND YOU'LL PROBABLY DIE OUT THERE.

HUELL>> WHY WOULD THE ICE BREAK?

IT'S STILL FROZEN, ISN'T IT?

>> THERE'S WARM SPRINGS UP INSIDE THE LAKE, AND THEY WILL MAKE SOFT SPOTS IN THE ICE.

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THEY HAD SEVEN PEOPLE DIE AT CONVICT LAKE THAT WERE OUT PLAYING ON THE SNOW, ON THE LAKE.

HUELL>> JUST ASSUMING THAT IT WAS FROZEN OVER?

>> YEAH; AND YOU KNOW THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS: A COUPLE OF PEOPLE BREAK THROUGH AND PEOPLE GO OUT TO HELP THEM AND THEN THEY BREAK THROUGH.

THE WATER'S SO COLD, YOU ONLY GOT FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE YOU CAN'T MOVE ANYMORE.

IT'S A REAL TRAGEDY.

IN THE MORG AND I WALK TO WORK.

AND YOU LOOK UP AT THE SIERRAS AND THE SNOW ON 'EM AND THEN, YOU CAN'T BUY THAT.

YOU CAN'T BUY IT.

HUELL>> NOW, THIS GUY'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

THIS DOESN'T IMPRESS HIM AT ALL?

>> NO; HE'S OLDER THAN DIRT.

HE'S BEEN HERE.

>> IT STILL IMPRESSES ME.

HUELL>> DOES IT?

>> YOU NEVER GET USED TO IT.

HUELL>> YEAH.

>> EVERY DAY'S ANOTHER ADVENTURE WHEN YOU COME BACK HERE.

BEST JOB IN THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER.

HUELL>> WE'RE HERE.

>> WE'RE AT THE UPPER COURSE.

HUELL>> SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

WE START WALKING?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT AND WE PUT THE EQUIPMENT TOGETHER, THE TUBES.

AND THEN THE GUYS WILL BE CUTTING TEN CORES, RUNNING TO THE EAST DOWN HERE.

HUELL>> WHOA!

HUELL>> WE'RE OUT OF THE CAT.

OKAY, WE'RE HEADING OUT, ACROSS THE SNOW.

AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW?

>> WELL, AS WE COME UP THE 10 INDIVIDUAL SURVEY POINTS.

AND WE'LL GO HEAD AND MEASURE THE DEPTH OF THE SNOW, AND WE'LL TAKE THAT WHEN HE FIRST PUT THE TUBES IN.

THAT JUST GIVES YOU HOW MANY INCHES OF SNOW THERE IS.

IT'S ALL CLEAR.

AFTER HE TAKES AND WE GET THE DEPTH OF IT, THEN WE'LL PULL IT BACK UP; AND THE SLOTS IN THE SIDE OF THE TUBE WILL TELL US HOW DEEP OUR CORE IS.

HUELL>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, IT'S NOT JUST THE DEPTH; IT'S WHAT'S IN THE SNOW.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

HOW MUCH WATER'S IN THE SNOW.

>> THE CUT ON THIS IS SET UP SO THAT ONE INCH OF WATER, IF THIS DIDN'T HAVE SLOTS IN THE SIDE OF IT, WOULD WEIGH ONE OUNCE.

SO IF YOU TAKE THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE TUBES, WE'LL WEIGH THEM BEFORE WE TAKE A CORE, WE'LL SINK THEM BACK IN, AND THEN FOR EVERY OUNCE OVER THE TEAR WEIGHT OF THEM WILL TELL YOU HOW MANY INCHES OF WATER ARE ACTUALLY IN THE SNOW.

TAKE THE ACTUAL INCHES OF WATER IN THE SNOW, COMPARE THAT WITH THE DEPTH OF THE SNOW, AND THAT'S HOW YOU COME BACK WITH WHAT YOUR DENSITY IS.

HUELL>> WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO US, DOWN IN LOS ANGELES?

>> BECAUSE AS LONG AS THE DENSITY IS 30 PERCENT, NOTHING COMES OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS.

AS THE DENSITIES INCREASE, THEN THE SNOW BECOMES SATURATED, AND THEN THE WATER WILL START RUNNING OFF THE MOUNTAIN AND COMING DOWN THE HILL.

HUELL>> I GOTCHA.

>> OKAY.

GET THAT ON CAMERA.

THIS MAN KNOWS HOW TO OPERATE SNOWSHOES.

HUELL>> LISTEN, LOOK, I JUST GAVE WAY.

>> WE TOLD YOU, YOU DON'T BACK UP.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING UP, TOO.

>> I CAN'T-- HE'S 220.

HUELL>> THAT'S EMBARRASSING!

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THIS IS NONCOMPACTED SNOW.

HUELL>> THIS IS EMBARRASSING.

>> WE GO ONE DIRECTION, STRAIGHT AHEAD.

DO NOT BACK UP.

HUELL>> NOW, THE KEY IS GOING TO BE WHETHER I'M MAN ENOUGH TO AIR THAT BIT WHERE I FELL BACKWARDS ON MY SNOWSHOES.

>> OH, THERE'S NO DOUBT YOU'RE MAN ENOUGH.

IF YOU EVEN BROUGHT THE SUBJECT UP, IT MEANS YOU'RE MAN ENOUGH.

OTHERWISE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY QUIET, "LET'S DON'T TALK ABOUT IT."

HUELL>> WELL, YOU HAVE SEEN PEOPLE FALL ON SNOWSHOES BEFORE, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DO CARTWHEELS ON SNOWSHOES BEFORE.

YOU CATCH THE TIP OF THESE GOING DOWNHILL, AND IF YOU CATCH THE TIP, YOU WILL LITERALLY JUST ROLL OFF A STEEP HILL.

HUELL>> OKAY; I DON'T FEEL SO BADLY ANYMORE.

I THOUGHT MAYBE YA'LL WERE MAKING FUN OF ME.

I'M NOT THAT MUCH OF A MAN.

PUT IT BACK OVER.

>> WE'RE NOT LAUGHING AT YOU.

WE'RE LAUGHING WITH YOU.

HUELL>> LUIS IS LAUGHING.

OH, MY GOD.

OH, MAN.

THIS IS TOO MUCH.

THIS IS TOO MUCH.

>> YOU'RE GETTING BETTER AT GETTING UP.

HUELL>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

IF I FALL AGAIN, WE'RE NOT USING THIS.

NOW, DID YOU LEARN THIS FROM YOUR DAD?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T NECESSARILY LEARN IT, BUT I WAS CERTAINLY EXPOSED TO IT AND BECAME INTERESTED IN IT WHEN MY DAD WAS DOING IT.

SNOW SURVEYS WERE THE BIG ITEM AROUND THE HOUSE.

IF YOU ASK THESE GUYS NOW, HOW WELL DID THEY SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING INTO BIG PINE IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, I THINK THEY'D TELL YOU THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T SLEEP REAL WELL LAST NIGHT.

HUELL>> NOW, WHY WOULD-- WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING BEFORE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> ANTICIPATION OF A LONG, HARD DAY.

YOU ARE SEEING THE EASY PART, BELIEVE ME.

HUELL>> WHAT DID YOU SAY?

>> IT'S CALLED NERVES.

HUELL>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN "NERVES"?

>> HE'S TALKING ABOUT GOING INTO BIG PINE.

ONE OF THE FIRST SURVEYS I MADE IN BIG PINE WAS AFTER A STORM.

WE HAD SHOES LIKE THE ONES JERRY'S WEARING HERE, AND WE HAD ABOUT FOUR FEET OF FRESH POWDER.

THE ADVANTAGE TO THE BEAR PAWS, LIKE YOU'VE GOT THERE, ARE EASIER TO TURN AROUND IN-- ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE IT.

BUT THESE-- SEE HOW HIGH THE NOSE COMES UP?

WHEN YOU GET INTO DEEP POWDER-- WELL, I WAS COMING UP AS HIGH AS I COULD, AND YOU COULDN'T GET TO THE TOP OF THE SNOW.

AND WE WENT LIKE THAT ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, OR UP TO THE UPPER PORTION WHERE WE HAD THE CABIN.

IT TOOK US 12-1/2 HOURS OF STRAIGHT WALKING TO GET IN.

HUELL>> OF WALKING LIKE THIS?

>> OF WALKING LIKE THIS, IT TOOK 12-1/2 HOURS.

AFTER 12-1/2 HOURS OF THIS, WE WERE SO TIRED, WE DIDN'T EAT DINNER.

WE WENT INSIDE; THE FACT IS IT TOOK US AN HOUR AND-A-HALF TO DIG INTO THE CABIN, BECAUSE THE CABIN IS BUILT INTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN UP THERE.

AND THE SNOW HAD COME OVER IT.

AND WE HAD TO DIG DOWN ABOUT 12 FEET, AND THEN WE HAD TO DIG OUT ABOUT 25 OR 30 FEET WITH SHOVELS; AND THE SNOW WAS SO DEEP, WE WOULD TAKE THE SHOVELS AND PUT THEM IN THE TREES.

THE SNOW WAS SO HIGH THAT YEAR THAT IT HAD COVERED UP THE SHOVELS, AND WE HAD TO DIG DOWN INTO THE TREES THAT ARE USUALLY OVER YOUR HEAD TO GET THE SHOVEL.

THEN DIG DOWN TO THE CABIN, OR ELSE TURN AROUND AND WALK BACK OUT AGAIN.

AND THERE WASN'T ANY OF US READY TO WALK OUT AGAIN.

HUELL>> ANOTHER 12-1/2 HOURS?

>> WELL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORTER GOING DOWN, BUT IT WOULD HAVE FELT WORSE.

HUELL>> HOW DO YOUR LEGS-- HOW CAN YOU DO THAT FOR 12-1/2 HOURS?

>> VERY SLOWLY.

YOU START OFF A LOT QUICKER IN THE MORNING.

>> YOU REALLY HAVE NO CHOICE.

HUELL>> YEAH.

>> IT'S THAT OR SLEEP IN THE SNOW.

SO YOU KEEP GOING.

YOU PACE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT WILL BE A LONG DAY, SO YOU TRY NOT TO GET TIRED OR SWEATY.

HUELL>> BUT YOU WEREN'T ANXIOUS TODAY, WERE YOU?

>> OH, NO, NO.

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A RIDING SURVEY.

OKAY; WE DO ROCK CREEK AND LONG VALLEY, AND WHITMORE HOT SPRINGS, AND THE MAMMOTH AREA.

AND THOSE ARE ALL SURVEYS THAT YOU GET INTO THE SNOW CAT, YOU DRIVE UP TO THE COURSE AND YOU GET OUT.

I USUALLY GO INTO COTTONWOOD.

THAT'S WHY I SAY I WORK THE SOUTHERN END.

FROM THERE, YOU TAKE THE SNOW CAT INTO THE TRAIL HEAD, AND THEN IT'S SIX MILES FROM THERE THAT YOU GO IN ON SKIS TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, WHICH IS A LITTLE OVER 11,000 FEET; AND THEN YOU SKI BACK TO THE CABIN, WHICH IS ANOTHER THREE MILES.

SO YOU GOT NINE MILES IN THE FIRST DAY, AND YOU USUALLY RUN TWO COURSES.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING TO YOU ABOUT EARLIER.

WE STARTED AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING, AND WE GOT BACK TO THE CABIN BECAUSE OF EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS AT 8:00 THAT EVENING.

THAT'S WHY YOU LOSE SLEEP BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ONE OF THOSE TRIPS.

OR YOU COME OUT HERE AND IT'S BRIGHT AND SUNNY AND NO WIND AND IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

HUELL>> SO WE GOTTA GOOD DAY?

>> OH, YES!

HUELL>> AND IT'S NICE SEEING THAT LITTLE CAT OVER THERE?

>> OH, YES, IT'S VERY NICE SEEING THAT CAT.

ARE YOU GETTING USED TO THE SNOWSHOES YET?

HUELL>> ARE YOU RUBBING THIS IN?

>> I WOULD NEVER RUB ANYTHING IN.

LIKE I ALWAYS SAID, I NEVER GET MAD; I ALWAYS GET EVEN.

HUELL>> BUT I MEAN, THE IDEA OF THE SHOW WAS TO COME UP AND LOOK AT THE SNOW PACK, NOT TO SEE ME FALL ON SNOWSHOES OVER AND OVER AGAIN?

>> I KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR PLEASURES WHEREVER YOU CAN GET THEM; AND YOU HAVE GIVEN ME SEVERAL TODAY.

HUELL>> WELL, IT'S-- THIS IS ABOUT AS BASIC A WAY OF TRANSPORT AS YOU CAN GET IN THE SNOW, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

YEAH, THIS IS-- BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY TO TRAVEL IN THE BACK COUNTRY, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU PICK UP PRETTY QUICKLY, THE GATE.

BASICALLY, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS DON'T STEP ON YOURSELF.

STEP FAR ENOUGH SO THAT YOUR SNOWSHOES WON'T CROSS EACH OTHER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN; MAKE VERY SMALL, GRADUAL TURNS.

AS YOU NOTICE, WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN AROUND IS WHEN YOU GET IN TROUBLE, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WEIGHS MUCH, BUT THE EQUIPMENT YOU GOT ON AND THE ALTITUDE YOU'RE AT, IF YOU STEP ON YOUR FOOT AND TRY TO RAISE THE OTHER ONE, YOU'RE INSTANTLY OFF BALANCE AND IF YOU LEAN OVER, YOU'RE GONE.

HUELL>> OR GO BACKWARDS.

THAT'S WHAT I DID.

>> WELL, DO IT WITH A PACK.

HUELL>> YEAH.

>> PUT 35 POUNDS ON YOUR BACK.

LEAN BACK ONE TIME AND YOU'LL NEVER GET UP.

HUELL>> THAT BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.

YA'LL HAD TO HELP ME GET UP?

WHAT IF YOU WERE OUT THERE BY YOURSELF?

HOW WOULD YOU EVER GET UP OUT OF A BANK OF SNOW LIKE THAT?

>> YOU KIND OF DO A POLAR BEAR ROLL.

IF YOU HAVE DONE ANY DOWNHILL OR CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO ROLL OVER AND GET YOUR SKIES DOWNHILL.

IF YOU HAVE A PACK ON IN THIS CONDITION, BASICALLY, YOU'RE GONNA DO THE SAME THING, ROLL OVER; GET YOUR SNOWSHOES DOWN BELOW YOU.

IF YOU HAVE ON A HEAVY PACK, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PULL THE PACK OFF, PUSH AGAINST THE PACK TO GET UP.

OTHERWISE, WHAT I TRY TO DO IS JUST ALMOST CRAWL UP ON MY HANDS AND KNEES AND CRAWL UP AND GET THE PACK OVER ME.

THEN, ONCE I GET IT OVER ME, I CAN STAND UP AND GET GOING AGAIN.

HUELL>> I THINK I GOT THE HANG OF IT NOW.

>> IT'S MUCH NICER OUT HERE.

IF YOU STAY OUT OF THIS, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH TROUBLE.

BUT YOU GET OUT HERE AND AS YOU SAW, IT'S SOFT, IT'S GOT HOLES IN IT.

YOU'LL STEP IN ONE SPOT AND THE TOE WILL HOLD AND THE BACK END WILL FALL OUT FROM UNDER YOU.

YOU TAKE ANOTHER STEP AND THE FRONT END WILL DIP ON YOU.

YOU GO TO TAKE A STEP, WHERE, THIS IS FRESH SNOW SO IT'S NICE, BUT IT WILL GET AN ICE LAYER ON THE VERY TOP OF IT.

YOU SAW US CUTTING THROUGH AND HITTING THOSE LAYERS?

HUELL>> YEAH.

>> YOU GO TO TAKE A STEP, AND THE FRONT OF THE SNOWSHOES WILL CATCH THAT LAYER OF ICE AND FLIP THE SHOE UP THIS WAY, AND YOU'RE BACK IN IT AGAIN.

YOU CAN BE IN IT SO QUICK YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S COMING.

HUELL>> EVEN FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN IN IT AS MANY YEARS AS YOU HAVE?

>> OH, YEAH.

I DON'T CARE HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN AT IT, YOU'RE GONNA FALL, AND YOU'RE GONNA FALL AND YOU'RE GONNA FALL.

HUELL>> NOW, DO YOUR CO-WORKERS LAUGH AT YOU WHEN YOU FALL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF OUR RULES IS THAT WE ALWAYS STAY CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE THE GOOD FALLS.

A FALL IS WASTED IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T CATCH IT.

HUELL>> AND TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE WAY BACK HOME?

>> OH, YEAH.

HUELL>> AND LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS MOUNTAIN RIGHT UP AHEAD OF US HERE.

IT'S A BEAUT, ISN'T IT?

>> OH, IT'S GORGEOUS BACK UP IN HERE.

IT IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL BACK UP IN HERE; AND LOTS OF WATER, LOTS OF WATER.

WE LOVE THE WATER.

IF THEY HAD 200 PERCENT YEARS EVERY YEAR, I WOULD BE TICKLED TO DEATH.

HUELL>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THOSE YEARS THAT COMES EVERY 10 OR 20 YEARS?

>> OH, NO; THIS IS WAY OUT OF AVERAGE.

WAY OUT OF AVERAGE.

OBVIOUSLY, MY JOB BEING WATER, I LISTEN TO A LOT OF WHAT'S ON THE NEWS, AND WE GO TO SOME SEMINARS.

AND I WAS BACK UP AT THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, THEY HAD ALL THE SURVEYORS TOGETHER LAST YEAR AND FORECASTERS, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT STUDIES ON LAKE TAHOE SHOWING THAT TREES THAT WERE 150 YEARS OLD THAT WERE 20 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE HAVE HAD LONG, EXTENDED DROUGHTS THAT THEY'VE GONE BACK ON THAT ACTUALLY, IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS, WE HAVE HAD WETTER THAN NORMAL IS WHAT MOST OF THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING NOW.

HUELL>> BUT A YEAR LIKE THIS, YOUR PREDICTION IS IT'S NOT GOING TO COME ALONG NEXT YEAR?

>> WELL... HUELL>> IF YOU COULD PREDICT?

>> I ALWAYS BET ON THE WINTER.

SO IF THIS YEAR WAS WET, I'LL BET THE NEXT YEAR'S WET; AND IF THIS YEAR'S DRY, I'LL BET NEXT YEAR'S DRY.

SAME ON FOOTBALL.

IF YOUR TEAM WON LAST WEEK, IT'S GOT A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING THIS WEEK THAN IF IT CAME OFF A LOSING SEASON.

HUELL>> WHAT DOES THE FARMER'S ALMANAC SAY?

>> NOT BEING A FARMER, I'M NOT SURE.

HUELL>> WHAT DOES YOUR BIG TOE SAY?

WHAT DOES YOUR INTUITION SAY?

>> MY BIG TOE SAYS EVERYTHING RUNS IN CYCLES; SO IF WE'RE HAVING WET THIS YEAR, WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE FOR WET NEXT YEAR.

I REALLY BELIEVE IN CYCLES.

IT'S GOING TO RUN BY A COUPLE OF YEARS ONE WAY, A COUPLE OF YEARS THE OTHER WAY.

FIVE OR SIX OF ONE, AND FIVE OR SIX ANOTHER.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT JUST GOES UP AND DOWN.

I THINK THAT THE WEATHER OF THE WORLD IS MUCH TOO BIG AND CHANGES MUCH TOO SLOW TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF CHANGES EVERY YEAR.

>> WELL, I THINK WEATHER PREDICTION'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS GOING.

THERE'S CYCLES, 5 YEARS, 7 YEARS, 13 YEARS, 17 YEARS.

WE HAVE SUCH A SMALL-- OUTSIDE SOME OF THE TREE BAND INFORMATION, I THINK IT'S PRETTY TOUGH TO PREDICT ANYTHING.

HUELL>> SO YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO PREDICT WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT YEAR OR NOT?

>> NO, NO, NOT AT ALL.

I HAVE SEEN IT GO BOTH WAYS TOO MANY TIMES.

HUELL>> SO WHAT DO WE DO, JUST TAKE A YEAR LIKE THIS AND SAY, "THANK GOODNESS WE'VE GOT IT"?

>> YOU BET.

HUELL>> AND MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT?

>> WE BROKE THE DROUGHT, AND IT'S A BIG BREAK, 200 PERCENT OF NORMAL.

IF NEXT YEAR'S DROUGHT, THERE WILL STILL BE CARRY-OVER, POSSIBLY.

YOU GOT TO TAKE IT ONE YEAR AT A TIME AND THANK GOD HE GIVES US BIG YEARS NOW AND THEN.

IT CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

OUR JOB IS IMPORTANT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

OUR PEOPLE ARE ALREADY MAKING A HOLE DOWN THE SYSTEM TO MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR THE HUGE RUNOFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS YEAR.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS JOB IS ONE OF THE BEST JOBS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

PLUS, IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT GOES OVER INTO THE SUMMER.

AS SOON AS WE MEASURE THE SNOW IN THE WINTER, WE START MEASURING THE WATERS THAT RUN OFF IN THE SUMMER.

HUELL>> YEAH, BECAUSE THIS IS ALL GONNA... WHAT'S THE FORMULA FOR TRANSLATING THIS INTO WATER?

WHAT SHOULD WE?

>> AS WATER USERS AND FORECASTERS, THE DENSITY OF THE SNOW DOESN'T REALLY MEAN A LOT TO US; WE ARE INTERESTED IN WATER CONTENT.

A ROUGH RULE OF THUMB IS THAT EARLY STORMS IN THE YEAR, WHEN IT'S COLDER, IS 10 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW FOR AN INCH OF WATER CONTENT.

HUELL>> 12 INCHES OF SNOW FOR ONE INCH OF WATER LATER ON?

>> RIGHT.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

THEN, OF COURSE, AS YOU GET IN, LIKE THIS LAST STORM, IT'S PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT, MAYBE BY AS MUCH AS HALF EVEN, WHERE SIX INCHES OF SNOW MIGHT BE AN INCH OF WATER.

THIS WAS A VERY WET STORM, THIS LAST ONE WE HAD.

HUELL>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS GONNA TRANSLATE INTO A LOT OF WATER?

>> THIS YEAR IS A GREAT YEAR.

LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE TOP THREE, MAYBE FALL IN AT NUMBER TWO.

HUELL>> FOR ALL RECORDED TIME?

>> YES.

HUELL>> AS LONG AS YOU HAVE BEEN KEEPING RECORDS?

>> AS LONG AS THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER HAS BEEN INVOLVED.

AND OF COURSE, IT VARIES AREA TO AREA.

YOU CAN GO TO TAHOE, AND THEY GOT SOME SNOW UP THERE THAT WE DIDN'T GET DOWN HERE.

SO THEY MIGHT SET A NEW RECORD UP THERE.

IF YOU LIVE IN L.A., YOU KNOW WHAT THE RAIN SITUATION WAS DOWN THERE.

BUT OVERALL FOR CALIFORNIA, THIS IS A GREAT YEAR.

HUELL>> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IF WE HAD A DROUGHT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE WOULD BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED, WOULDN'T WE?

>> TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE WOULD BE BACK PRETTY CLOSE TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE WE WENT INTO THIS YEAR, YES.

THERE WILL BE CARRY-OVER FOR A YEAR; BUT TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WOULD BE VERY LITTLE CARRY-OVER; DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH BELOW NEXT YEAR WOULD BE.

HUELL>> SO WE CAN NEVER REALLY GET TOO COCKY ABOUT THIS, CAN WE?

>> NO, NO.

PARTICULARLY NOT IN PREDICTING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT WEEK OR A MONTH FROM NOW, LET ALONE DOWN THE ROAD.