Hello Everyone –
Let me first say if any of you hear about a four-legged, brown rodent turning up missing, you may as well as look this way. For everyone that was celebrating when Phil didn’t see his shadow a couple of weeks ago, may the next snow snake reach up and snatch your skis or snowboard. I am going to be posting some “wanted” posters for every true blue skier and snowboarder still wanting to make some turns.
Now let’s turn to the weather. Well it didn’t take long for the doubting Thomases to make the scene. I was actually stopped on the street this past Friday in Charleston, West Virginia by a friend to ask me if there was still enough snow on the mountain to go skiing. That so called friend should feel lucky he isn’t eating dinner through a straw tonight. Just kidding, but yes I am very tired of having to answer the same question, year in – year out. My goodness wouldn’t you think these people would learn? Who am I trying to kid?
Up until now (the last week), you could count the freeze thaw cycles on one hand for the majority of the resorts in the region. That means the eight feet of natural snow and the tons of manmade snow hasn’t gone anywhere and I mean nowhere. Okay the weather has turned a bit milder, but not enough to melt much of the snow on the trails. If all that snow would melt, well we would have an inland tsunami and I hope you know that is not going to happen.
Please let me assure you that there is plenty of snow at all of the resorts right now to take them through, let’s just say May. Honestly, I expect to see snow at the peaks of some resorts through the beginning of May. With that said, do not, listen to me now, do not cancel any plans that you had to go spring skiing or riding. This is shaping up to be one of the best spring skiing seasons in a long time. Just make sure you take your sun block.
Seriously as I have said in the past and your friendly skisoutheast.com editor Mike Doble has joined the parade, just how much snow under your skis or snowboards do you really need. Do you need eight feet or a solid two foot base? Either way with the groomers we have in the southeast, you will have enough fun to put you into dreamland early that night. So don’t let the doubting Thomases affect your decision to go skiing and snowboarding right now or in the weeks to come. The snow is there, don’t miss out.
That’s it for this week, just remember whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! See you on the slopes sometime soon, I hope.
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Joe Stevens, a member of the southeast ski industry since 1990 is a regular columnist for skisoutheast.com and serves as the Communications Director for the West Virginia Ski Areas Association.