Friday, March 2, 2012

Where's the Snow

Everyone seems to wonder what happened to winter this year. My own yard in Bozeman, MT is free of snow and there are buds on trees that I usually don't see for a month or two.

But less than 3 hours away at the oldest ski hill in Montana, age 75, it is a winter wonderland. Last weekend, we made the trek to Showdown, formerly Kings Hill which is about 70 miles south of the nearest airport in Great Falls with relatively few services, no cell service, no high speed lifts (only 3 to speak of) and the runs aren't all that long. But, this throwback experience is second to none in terms of powder - 60 inches in ONE week meaning that they received more of a base than the majority of western resorts have received all year.

We skied all day (well, actually I rode my BRAND new K2 board with upgraded Flow bindings that made my double board friends happier) despite low visibility due to yet another blizzard. When we hopped the last chair, I was sad the day was over because we had to return to the "un-winter".

I love Big Sky, Jackson, Park City and Aspen but this winter when you ask "Where's the snow"? I'll say it's at Showdown. Rent a little cabin, decompress, leave the cell phone at home, enjoy the family, play cards at night around the fire, cook a pot of chili, get a good night's sleep and in the day SKI YOUR HEARTS OUT.