Over the weekend, all the snow around my house melted. The snow markers are down from the highway, and the rapid melting up on the pass is leaving piles of mud and rocks across the road. People are digging out their funny old school ski suits and thinking more about the apres scene party that stetches on for the last few weeks of spring sking than actually skiing.
Not everyone is only interested in partying, but the pickings are getting thin in alot of spots for serious skiing, with punchy snow, melted take offs, and the outs are getting a little bit difficult. Skiing is still really fun, since skiing is always fun, and of course while the melt happens every spring and makes me sad, this year seems pretty harsh. I mean it is HOT! so hot out there, people can barely wear ski clothes. It is taking away the snow so rapidly, and while we are not the only hill in this boat since most of the US ski resorts are cooking and losing what little snow they had, it doesn't make it any better. What is the spring touring going to be like around here this year? Are we even going to have any?
Some guys I rode the lift with today were talking about the last time they remember a season like this, which was apparently seventeen years ago. I never remember one like this, although I have a lot less seasons to remember, I guess. It is also pretty interesting how many times I have heard people reminisce about the season everyone had to download from Tower 3 because there was so little snow. Youknow it is not so grat when everyone is inspired to bring out their 'remember how bad it was when...' stories.
A less than perfect winter never stops anyone from having fun, though, and the village is still tons of amusement, but you'll be alot happier if you get the warmest wax you can afford on your skis. And of course, the PBR party that began early on in the year when it stopped snowing, has just moved outside where you can find it for the restof the season, spread out all over the base area.
Skier: Pope, having fun not skiing
Photo: Tyler Horne