Hello Everyone –
Just when the “Doubting Thomases” started sending up smoke signals that the season’s weather was turning south, up and comes a late February snow storm that stretched from Maryland into North Carolina. The conditions, with spring skiing and riding right around the corner, remain in tip top shape. In recent years, some resorts started mentioning closing dates around this time of the season. Unless I have missed something, I haven’t heard a whisper of any closing dates yet, so don’t stop now if you are planning to hit the slopes, the snow is cold.
So last week I mentioned that a Charleston, West Virginia news talk show host couldn’t believe there was still snow on the slopes when the temperature which nearly 70 degrees in the capital city. This week it was a sports talk show host from Columbus, Ohio turn with the same question. This time less than 12 hours after another foot of snow had fallen in the Allegheny Mountains.
With spring skiing and riding right around the corner make sure you keep an eye on the various resort websites as the March discounts will soon be headed your way. As we (that’s Mike Doble and me) have said in the past, most resorts in the region don’t end the season because of a lack of snow but because of a lack of skiers and riders. With the conditions as good as they are this season, it will be worth robbing the piggy bank for another trip to your favorite resort, and it is going to be worth it.
While we are on the subject of spring skiing and riding, this would be a great time to introduce a friend to the sport. Instead of learning to play in the snow when the temperature could freeze your “wigglies,” learning in March most of the time means clear days and mild temperatures. But I also remember that the biggest snow storm I have ever seen during my years in the industry came in March 1993, when over three-feet of snow dropped in less than 24-hours.
That’s it for this week, more to come as winter continues to roll on. 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.
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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