Hello Everyone –
Do you ever just get tired of waiting? Like waiting for the pot to boil, or waiting to win the lottery or waiting for payday or better yet waiting for Mother Nature to make up her mind and decide that the calendar says it’s winter! So where are the conditions to indicate as such. It’s not unusual for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions to experience a January thaw. But this might be taking it a little too far. Recently, just when you think the temperatures have turned cold again and the sounds of snowguns can be heard throughout the region, up and comes a couple of days that resemble spring like conditions. All of the skiers and snowboarders that I know just continue to wait.
One thing that skiers and snowboarders in this region don’t have to wait for are pretty good slope conditions. I was out for product evaluation this past weekend at the most northern resort in the Southeast Ski Areas Association and the coverage, though a little on the soft side, was just fine. When I say just fine I am taking into consideration the above normal temperatures the region has been experiencing and some underdeveloped snow. How would you like to be a snowmaker in this region right now waiting for the temperatures to drop? If it wasn’t for those same hard working snowmakers, we would be waiting for the resorts to reopen, instead waiting for the cold weather to return.
After waiting for Herb Stevens, The Skiing Weatherman, to arrive at a designated lift this past Saturday, I decided to pose the question to the man I consider an expert to weather forecasting. He told me “just WAIT a little bit and winter will be returning”. It seems that there is some cold air just hanging around up in Canada and will be headed this way in very short notice. We just have to wait. As long as I see some white stuff falling from the sky, I won’t mind waiting just a bit longer.
Back in early November everyone was waiting for the temperatures to drop and they did and the snowguns were heard around the clock. Let’s not forget about just how much snow was put down during those November and December weeks. The snowmakers and groomers are the only reason why there is still the amount of coverage on the slopes that allow skiers and snowboarders to have fun right now. Seriously if you ever get a chance to hang around a snowmakers and groomers lounge when the temperatures are right around freezing, you will understand the waiting drives them crazy.
Most resorts received some snow last week or were able to make some so that will allow us to wait a little longer for Mother Nature to turn the air conditioner back on. Just be careful what you ask for, because you just might be waiting for it to stop. Remember though, whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! I can’t wait to see you on the slopes!