Let It Snow!
Let It Snow!
Let It Snow!

It wasn’t a blizzard! Not even a heavy snow! But it was winter, a stranger to the High Country since the change of seasons back in December.
As far as the weather has been concerned it has been more like late autumn or early spring than winter, with temperatures tickling the sixties and leaving regional ski operations with left overs - remnants from the last time temperatures dipped low enough to make snow.
While Denver and the west have so much snow skiers can’t even get to the slopes, here in the Appalachians flakes have been scarce and temperatures more for picnicking than skiing or sledding.
The early year trend began to change the first of this week, as plans for Blowing Rock’s January celebration of winter began to look and feel more like a Winterfest(ival).
Tuesday morning dawned with not a cloud in the sky, cool but with sunshine replacing the rain from the two days before. By noon clouds began to move in, temperatures dropped, and snow began to fall.
And there were smiles on the faces of skiers, and even bigger grins on the faces of ski resort operators. Winter was here, at least for a while and the forecast for a good ski weekend was promising.
While only several inches fell, the temperature was cold, and that, as far as ski resorts are concerned, was more important than the natural snow, although they admit natural snow is more desirable to set the mood for skiing and other winter sports activities.
Life is good again in the High Country!