Hello Everyone –
Someone please wake me up because I know I’m dreaming. Better yet if I am dreaming, don’t wake me up because I am having too much fun. Unless you have been hiding under a rock somewhere, you know by now that the current conditions are awesome for the second week of December. There was some product evaluation completed this past weekend by yours truly and may I dare say, it doesn’t get much better than this. I say again, it’s only the second week of December not January or February. Heck there have been seasons when the conditions weren’t this good the second week of January.
While riding on the lift this weekend I overheard two folks talking about being disappointed that more trails weren’t available. If I could, I would’ve reached down and snapped their bindings and left them just going around the lift in circles. They didn’t deserve being on the slopes and having fun. Resorts are not just opening up with a couple of trails to play on with a less then average base, but opening up with double digit trail numbers on mid-season bases. Anyone out there that isn’t satisfied with what is available right now should not be allowed to make any, and I mean any, turns this season. If I could, I would nominate the complainers for the “Just Shut Up Award”, given every Tuesday morning on ESPN radio.
If you haven’t checked out the various pictures that have been sent in to this website, skisoutheast.com, you are missing out. If the pictures don’t make you want to head to your favorite winter resort, well may I say you don’t have a heartbeat? If you haven’t noticed, there is a whole bunch of snow on every trail that’s available to slide on. The recent natural snow is also helping the touring centers with natural snow for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
For those out there who think more terrain should be open, go talk to your local snowmaker or groomer. Invite yourself to go and deal with the job of covering the slopes. Maybe, just maybe the doubters will come back with a true understanding that these are the best, without a doubt, December conditions in the last decade, maybe the last two decades. I say it’s just time to have some December fun and if you haven’t made those first turns, don’t you think it’s time!
Even those responsible for providing accurate snow reports, seem to be playing by the honesty rules this season. But as it has been said in this space in prior columns, good weather and conditions make for good and easy reporting. Average bases are even staying steady, growing in amounts that are believable. The calendar may show that Christmas comes in under two weeks, but if you ask any sensible skier or snowboarder (in their right mind) these days, they would all probably agree that Mother Nature has hooked up with Santa Claus and helped make Christmas come early.
Just get out there and have some fun! Just remember though, 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!