Watch The Snow Guardian, About a Reclusive Data Collector

billy barr (whose name is intentionally lowercase) is known as the "snow guardian." He has lived alone in a cabin in Gothic, Colorado, for more than 40 years. As part of his daily routine in those 40 winters, he has kept detailed snowfall and snowpack records.

His handwritten ledgers are useful for scientists, because they're among the most detailed accounts of snowfall in a single area ever kept. He's still at it, recording data and releasing it online.

Watch this beautiful short film for a look at barr's life in the snow:

If video isn't your thing, this article from The Atlantic is a great alternative.