It's a good thing we got all that snow and cold weather earlier in the season!

While the Sierra Mountains in Northern California and Nevada continue to get pounded with snowstorm after snowstorm, we here in the northeast have taken a step back. After nearly a record-breaking December for most of the region, 2008 has started out warm and wet, forcing many ski resorts to go from 100% open to half that or less. While resorts with a lot of snowmaking can handle the warm weather and recover in a matter of days, some of the smaller areas have a much more difficult time.
This leads me to bring up something I overheard the other evening while racing in the 40 degree weather at Shawnee Peak near the border of Maine and New Hampshire. An individual look at some of the bare patches on the mountain brought about by the accumulation of that ugly "R" word and went on to talk about how it was going to be just like last winter. Really? a week of warm weather that happens every year and the end is near? Come on! I guess I just don't get how people can always be so negative. The fact of the matter is that it's going to get cold, more snow will fall, and the season will continue to be great because people who ski and snowboard share a passion that allows us the freedom to be outside and to slide on snow. How much can be a factor, but as long as there is some, I'll remain happy and upbeat!