Dear Oscar, While we know you not to be a resort traveler, we were wondering if you could answer a snowmaking question for us...

... Why is it that on very cold days, fine, low-lying clouds form near snowmaking guns? Can you explain this? Your friends at the Stowe Adventure Center


Dear AC Friends,

First, let me set the record straight. I have been known to frequent ski resorts... after lifts stop running for the season! In fact, just last spring, I hiked up the trails of your very own Stowe Mountain Resort and joined my human in skiing from the top of the Chin. In fact, I have even visited the Adventure Center! Of course, I would never do that when you were open for business; that place is too crazy for me during business times.

As for the thin, blanket-like clouds that you get on snowmaking mornings, here's the deal. The phenomenon you refer to is known as "ice fog." In nature, you don't get ice fog until temperatures reach minus-40 Fahrenheit or colder. When it is extremely cold, there is generally high relative humidity too. A cold air mass can't carry much vapor. So when it gets really cold, the slightest amount of moisture causes ice fog. On the South Pole, for example, exhaust from aircraft or from the power plant at the South Pole Station cause plumes of fog because they saturate the cold, cold air with moisture.

On Mt. Mansfield where temperatures aren't nearly so cold, the ice fog you are experiencing is the result of the super-cooled water droplets introduced to the air by your snowmaking guns. A lot of energy goes into cooling these droplets as they come out of the guns. And, the water from the guns speeds the process of saturating the air with moisture, increasing the relative humidity. The result is the low-lying grey blanket that covers the mountain on cold, clear mornings after long snowmaking nights.

You may wonder how I know so much about snowmaking, the South Pole, and ice fog. The answer: I know snowmakers, South "Polies," and my brain is sometimes foggy. (Also, thanks to weather-expert John Gallagher for his input.)

And last thing: my apologies for taking so long answering this question. I was busy with my Christmas shopping.

Think snow, Oscar

Dear Oscar, I am going to be celebrating my first Christmas. I'm putting the finishing touches on my list for Santa and was wondering...

...what some of your favorite presents have been. Merry Christmas, Gracie

PS My owners won't even let me in the room with the Christmas tree. I know it smells good - but how does it taste?

Dear Gracie,

As you will learn, the holidays are a wonderful time of year... mostly because of the food opportunities that arise! In my case, for example, my humans don't feed me any human food. But they prepare a lot of food at this time of year. And when they cook, food falls on the floor. It's inevitable.

Two presents stand out for me. One wasn't exactly a Christmas present; it was a Thanksgiving present. But doesn't the "holiday" season officially begin with Thanksgiving? Anyway, last year for Thanksgiving (which happened to fall on my birthday), I got a kitten! My little brother Waffle first joined our household then. What a gift! Also, closer to Christmas last year, you won't believe the present Alison gave me. She made home-made dog biscuits! Wow! But there's more. She didn't just make me dog biscuits; she made biscuits for every dog she knows. She put them on the counter to cool, forgot about them, and then went out for the evening. Can you believe it? Obviously, it was good karma that befell me for being such a good dog all year!

Yes, I ate every cookie off the counter. What a night.

As for the question about the tree, I have one piece of advice before you start really checking it out: blame any damage on the cat.

Happy Holidays -- and best wishes for a good haul on your first Christmas!
Oscar

Snow!

As a dog, I don't watch the news or read the weather in the paper. But I am quite aware of the turn of events of the last week... it's winter!

Don't get me wrong; I haven't been complaining about the sunny 50-degree days we've been enjoying. There are lots of interesting smells out there when it's like this. My main complaint is that, during hunting season, my humans restrict some of my walks, I rarely get to run around in the woods, and I have to wear that silly orange vest.

But hunting season is mostly over, and we have woken up to fresh new snow pretty much every day this week! I may be 3 years old (and wise beyond my years, if I do say so myself), but you better believe I've been showing off my best puppy-prance everytime I stick my nose in the fluff. This dog's tail is wagging!

I just can't wait to start hiking the mountains and skiing the backcountry. I know that's a ways off (we'll need more snow), but I'm still excited. I am a dog that loves winter. I remember my first hike in the snow. I had just arrived from my birthplace of Virginia, my pads were soft and tender, and the March corn snow cut my pads. But I'm a little more grown up now... and tougher. So let's celebrate everyone... it's winter!

Happy Birthday...

...to me!!!

It was three years ago that a stray yellow lab-hound mix gave birth to four puppies and me in Virginia! Then 4 months later I moved to Vermont! Let the celebration begin!

New Artwork on Display

There is an exquisite new artistic offering on display here at my house in Richmond, Vermont -- a beautiful rug with an amazing design: me!

The rug is really incredible, with amazing detail. Ever since Ali got it hung in our TV room, I keep thinking I'm looking in the mirror whenever I see it. The rug was hooked by master artist Jill Aiken. She made it as an anniversary gift for my humans, but I think we all know she really meant it as a tribute to me, 2009's Most Valuable Yellow Dog.

It's quite an honor to be preserved for eternity on a rug. But I think I deserve it. Thanks Jill!

Dear Oscar, Should Bill Belichick have gone for it on 4th and 2? -- A Diehard New England Fan

Dear Fan, Why are you asking me? I don't know anything about football! I'm a dog, for goodness sakes!

However, I did happen to be in a room with a TV that had the game on when the now-infamous 4th-and-2 situation arose. My human stood on the couch with his entire fist in his mouth. After the play -- and the remaining few plays of the game -- he went into a state of semi-shock and denial... similar to what I witnessed in the first week of February 2008.

As for whether the coach should have gone for it, I have only this to say: Sometimes my humans leave me alone in the house. Sometimes -- not often, but sometimes -- they leave food out. Like Mark will leave his lunch box within my reach and in it, there will be a granola bar that he didn't finish. Or other times, I'll find a ziploc bag of dog cookies in a jacket or backpack pocket on the mudroom bench.

I know there will be consequences for my actions. Sometimes I even regret it later, like when my humans come home, find the remains of the granola bar wrapper, and I hang my head and tail.

But every instinct in my body told me to do it, and you have to listen to your instincts. So that's all I have to say: listen to your instincts. Coach B and the rest of your team, keep doing what you're doing. Don't listen to all those critics. Your instincts are almost always right.

Thinking about becoming an NFL analyst,
Oscar

Full Moon

Every month, my humans get a message from their friend Heather. "It's time," the message will say, "for a FULL MOON party."

The parties have become legend. Always outdoors, always around a fire, they also always incorporate fun, friends, and good people. Usually food, too. By the way, I'm not just talking about friends for the humans, either. I'm talking dogs and lots of them!

And when the message came for last night's party, I was extra excited. When my humans went away last weekend to follow some rock 'n' roll band, my friend Berkley brought Heather over for the weekend. Here it was, only a few days later, and I got to see them again! I should mention that I had a fabulous weekend, and it was also a great Full Moon party. Although I admit that I got a little distracted last night and didn't play and romp quite like I usually do. Yes, I couldn't help myself; I kept trying to eat everyone's chips and hot dogs. Not exactly behavior that I'm proud of, looking back, but I guess I was hungry at the time!

At the end of the night, rather than get into my human's car, I jumped into Heather and Berkley's Subaru! What can I say? I had fun last weekend! Thanks again Heather!