Yes, it is upon us now. The longest season. That season between Fall and Winter when it really isn’t either one. I know, I know, it’s fall until December 20th and then it magically becomes winter. At least that is what the calendar says. However for skiers and boarders, we can’t imagine winter waiting until mid-December to arrive; we’ve been without it for a good 6 six months already and it should be here right – NOW!
The leaves have past their peak colors and are now in the process of falling from the trees. For most of us our favorite college football teams are out of the hunt for conference and national championships. The World Series is over, and we’ve already seen frost on the ground, below freezing temperatures, and some of us have even already seen a few snow flakes flying.
No, this isn’t Fall anymore; it’s that season right before ski season. The one that teases us with an occasional night where snowmaking temperatures are in the forecast; intermingled with occasional days in the seventies. It is the season where we all watch the 10 day forecast looking for a prolonged cold front to come through that might mean an early start to the season. It is the season where on that odd night when the temperatures drop low enough the ski areas test out their snowmaking operations and lay down just a bit of snow – you know, enough to tease us into thinking that maybe they are going to open soon.
We all know that ski season is just around the corner, we just don’t know exactly how far away that corner is. Could it be next weekend? Two weeks from now? Just before Thanksgiving? The first weekend in December? Not the first weekend in December. No, that’s too far away. The weekend before Thanksgiving, maybe two weeks before Thanksgiving. That would be better.
Yea! Two weeks before Thanksgiving! Why that’s just around the corner! Where did I put my gloves at the end of last season? I need to wax my skis, get my gear bag together, when is the last date I can pay the discounted price for my season pass? Hmmm, I wonder what the earliest date any of the North Carolina resorts have opened is? It’s almost here, and I have so many things to take care of before it gets here. Right after I check the 10 day forecast for the mountains for the 37th time today. You know there COULD be a cold front coming in you know.
It’s almost here. I know it, you know it, the ski resorts know it. Would somebody just let Mother Nature know it! We are ready to say goodbye to this longest season and HELLO to ski season 2006/2007! It’s gonna be a good one, I can feel it. Can you?
See you the slopes! (Soon)
Dave
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