Hello Everyone –
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if skiers and snowboarders will ever realize that despite the green grass in their backyards, there are tons upon tons of snow in the Appalachian Mountains this type of year. Case in point, last week I left my office in downtown Charleston, West Virginia with temperatures in the 50s with beautiful blue skies. Then I traveled to the north and three hours later in the Allegheny Mountains the temperature was in the 20s and a foot of snow was on the ground. That’s a perfect case of the difference between perception and reality.
Then I turn on the local television station to find the local weather forecast and the station’s so-called weather expert doesn’t even mention the nearby snowfall and to make matters worse, says the upcoming warm temperatures means the skiing season will soon be coming to an end in West Virginia. This wasn’t even a case of perception and reality; this was just a case of someone not doing their homework. Just look out the door, shame, shame.
Skiers and snowboarders this time of the season need to throw out just about everything they hear and go on their gut instincts. Right now throughout the Allegheny Mountains there is enough snow to last easily into April. Let’s just hope there are going to be enough skiers and snowboarders relying on their guts and decide to purchase one of those discounted lift tickets that are available during the spring season. A lot of the resorts in the region are trying to make up some of the numbers they lost to the warm temperatures in December and January and are planning to stay open a bit longer than normal this season. But if the numbers dwindle under the break even point, you can bet the lifts will stop running, pretty darn quickly.
So it’s not over until the resorts say so, that’s not being fatheaded, but another dose of reality. If the resort closest to you has decided or will be deciding soon to call it quits for the season, why not try somewhere new to ski and snowboard this season. There is always apprehension on ones part not to divert from the ordinary, but this season is different. And we repeat, while the temperatures are on the rise in most places, prices are going down. That’s also the direction everyone should be headed this month, down, like down the mountain. Have I made myself clear and by no means don’t consider the weather professional’s final word final.
It’s March Madness time again, a favorite time of mine as I prepare my bracket sheet. Two years ago my wife actually came in second by choosing teams by their colors (it is not an Urban Legend) and I am considering going that route this year because the field is wide open. Then maybe not, I’ll pull out all my facts and figures, make my choices and again finish behind my wife, who this year going to use my three-year old son’s picks or points. That’s why they call it March MADNESS. Have fun choosing your teams and remember to pick with your back pocket and not your heart.
That’s it for this week, more to come as the season continues, just remember whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll whether the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! See you on the slopes.
You can write comments or suggestions to Joe Stevens at [email protected]