Snow Love

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And now a tremendously humble nod of respect to Khione, goddess of snow, and the unimagineable amount of snowfall she's brought to the western states this season.

As of June 1st, chairs are still spinning at Aspen, Mammoth and Snowbird. 4th of July ski weekends are being promoted by Sugarbowl and Squaw. Alta got a 2 foot dump right before it's closing day, Little Cottonwood canyon was shut down a week later for another storm and there seems to be no immediate end in sight to the storms rolling through Tahoe. I mean they had chain control on I-80 just last weekend?

You'd think I'd be up there getting my crazy on but as much as I hate to admit it, I haven't. The biggest snow season I've seen since I came West some twenty years ago and I haven't been back since late April. Granted, I had a killer winter hitting sweet snow right and left from Utah to Canada to California so I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not. I'm just a little chagrined that my overwhelming sense of ski-steria and "go, go, go" attitude seem to have...mellowed?

Good grief, is this aging? No. NO. It's just the conflict of interests that crops up every spring when running trails call, the water beckons and I have to pull back on my microscopic tunnel vision towards SKI. ALL. OUT. to encompass other things. Painful and sometimes shaming, as that may be.

Some of my favorite UnofficialSquaw twitter feeds of late:

Whoever is still praying for snow...Please stop!!
Vanessa Aadland skis Mt. Superior Naked

Snow in Forecast EVERYDAY this Week (May 31)
12" Overnight at Squaw. Memorial Day Weekend Powder
9" of Snow Tonight at Squaw. The Year There Was No Spring
Owners of Squaw & Alpine sign Letter of Intent. Fights Break Out Between Squaw & Alpine Skiers.

Maybe I'll make it back up before the end of June. I know that girl is still in there, twitching a little at the prospect of strapping on skis and heading out into the cold to make some turns at the edge of summer. My friend Ben just loaded his car for a week-long roadtrip in southern Colorado - bike, skis, sneaks and a kayak. Drop in outrigger paddle for kayak and I could have my own multi-event northern California adventure! Hmmm, takers? Anyone? Anyone?

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