Jet Stix, Powder Cuffs and Whiteface Mountain

December 7, 2008 - A date that lives in "infamy" but today's 12/7 meant the first day of skiing for the year at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY. The skiing was probably the best I have seen in years for early December. The cold weather that has hung around since Thanksgiving has been an advantage for the the snow makers. They are cranking up the snow guns to the max and opening new trails almost daily. They even opened Mountain Run, a perennial favorite for locals, on Saturday. Due to "Lake Effect" we had constant snow showers all day. It would be nice to see the sun but this time of the year all everyone wants is snow, snow and more snow. The long range forecast bodes well for holiday skiers. There should be plenty of snow and many trails to ski at Whiteface.



The eagerly awaited new addition to Whiteface this year is the much anticipated new Lookout Mountain area and the new chair to service 4 new trails. I can report that the chair is ready to go. They are making snow in the core area and then will focus snow making on Lookout Mountain.. Opening is expected during the holiday or the 1st of January. It looks spectacular.

Thirty-eight years ago, after 3 years of Army life, I was back in Colorado with an old pair of Head GS skis, Marker turntable bindings and some beat up Scott ski poles. The equipment was way out of date including the old black Lange boots. Everyone was into "Avalement", thanks to JC Killy and a guy named Wayne Wong. I hardly had 2 nickels to rub together but I managed to update my gear with a $12.00 investment in a pair of "Jet Stix" and a pair of flowered powder cuffs (to hide the Jet Stix). Who was I fooling? Now I could ski with the big boys, sitback as I sucked in the moguls at Arapahoe Basin. It was the first day of skiing in 3 years. You don't forget.

The excitement of skiing after a long summer and fall never changes. The skiers at Whiteface today were enthusiastic, excited about the snow, the skiing and just darn happy to be able to dust off their skiis and return to the sport they love. It's hard to even think about the economy, auto company bailouts, and your investments going downhill faster than your skis. It proves the point that if it snows and the skiing is good, there will be skiers. For a few hours of fresh mountain air with your best friends, you can concentrate on skiing and forget, for just a moment, life's hassles. Isn't that the reason people love to ski?

The Ski Traveler