Spring Skiing

Now that the days are beginning to lengthen and we are sliding toward spring, it's time to think about Spring Break and Spring Skiing.

No, I'm not talking about the "late season" conditions that involve plowing through a foot of mashed-potato snow. Powder hounds shouldn't despair: March is statistically the snowiest month in Colorado. But that snow frequently gives way to eye-popping blue skies that frame the snow-covered mountains so starkly you'd think God took a black magic marker to outline them.

Winter Park doesn't close until the third week of April, so you have plenty of time to get in some skiing during what traditionally have been the best conditions of the year.

And don't forget April--the second snowiest month! Admittedly, people from lower elevations find their thoughts turning toward golf and putting in a garden; in the high country, however, it's still a time for playing in the snow.

We hope you'll join us before it all starts to melt.

Early Snows Promise Good Early Skiing

Don't let her "Poor Little Match Girl" look distract you. Murphy, the Lodge Dog, loves her some snow.

It started snowing for real up at the High Mountain Lodge in October. We have had five significant snowstorm (more than 6 inches) since then.

All indications point toward an amazing early ski season for Winter Park.

Generally, this time of year, skiers can expect--at best--one or perhaps two runs of man-made snow at the resort. However, if the trend we experienced in October continues (always a gamble), we may have some pretty decent skiing by Opening Day in just a couple of weeks.

And there's nothing to suggest that skiers and snowboarders who choose to upgrade that classic winter song to "I'm dreaming of a White Thanksgiving" will be disappointed.

Come join us for some early-season snow sports, and plan to spend Thanksgiving with us. Julie is making a traditional feast with all the trimmings (thank God for the three ovens in the High Mountain Lodge's kitchen). Details on our website.

Winter

All the Denver media have been commenting recently on how cold it is, and how early the cold came.

I suppose in an urban environment, where cold and snow can indeed make life miserable for so many people, it's not surprising that the TV and radio stations--and even the paper--will utter Cassandra-like cries when the snow begins to fly.

But up here, when the snow flies, it's good news. The skiing gets better and people start to think about winter sports.

Even the cold doesn't seem so severe up here as it does down in the Big City.

This morning, the sun rose into a partly-cloudy sky, and light gradually crawled down the side of Sheep Mountain and over the meadow down below the lodge. It's stunningly beautiful here right now, and as the winter deepens, it only promises to become more so.