It usually goes without saying that if you live in the Truckee Meadows, the northern valleys, the southern valleys, or anywhere approaching the Sierra, at least once in your life you'll find yourself at Donner Summit during a snow storm. Even in April, if you find heavy rain in Auburn, the cold front at the higher elevations just might be throwing heavy snow as you attempt the pass.

Even if the moisture doesn't drench our dry soils, the snow in the high mountains melts into the ground sending the river waters our way in summer when beloved plants get thirsty.

By mid April, there's not as much concern about diving over Donner Summit, but it happened again this year. Such weather ends up prompting a celebration, another chance for snow shoes before the warmer weather sets in.