Winter has been tough on Oregon so far and perhaps nowhere has it been tougher than the Columbia River Gorge.

The Gorge has seen a seemingly unending parade of snow, sleet and freezing rain. While those in Portland thoroughly lamented the foot of snow that stuck around for a week in January, those in Hood River County have suffered through far worse, for far longer, with fewer complaints.

But a region can only take so much.

That might be what led the Hood River County Sheriff's Office to issue a veiled threat to Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog back east who many look to for how long the winter is going to last.

The sheriff's office had some advice for the Pennsylvania rodent.

"As you may or may not be aware, we in the PNW have been the recipients of a heavier than normal winter. Some have expressed that they are "over it," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook. "I overheard a conversation yesterday, wherein one young fellow asked his friend if he knew what groundhog tasted like."

"Now, I don't want to tell you how to do your job," the sheriff's note continued, "but you should consider adding some security. That or just, maybe, I don't know, "lose" your shadow. Like, Peter Pan style. But hey, whatever you feel is best. You're the prognosticator.

"Just a little friendly advice from the Hood."

It appears that advice went unheeded, however, as Phil emerged from whatever hole he spends the other 364 days in Thursday morning and predicted another six weeks of winter. As if on cue, the National Weather Service called for up to 7 inches of new snow for the Gorge in the coming days and up to a quarter inch of ice.

Better luck next year sheriff.

--   Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

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