Get posts by email
Wasn't quite ready for this ~ The first snow
November 15, 2013
It snowed this week. Last year's first significant dump of snow in our woods happened in December, seems we're about three weeks ahead of snow schedule this year.
It always snows earlier in the "mountain" mountains where we hike and ski. I'm happy the snow is accumulating already in the mountains. We have a Christmas break backcountry ski trip planned with good friends.
It will be our first backcountry ski trip since moving here. The mountains of the Gaspe Peninsula - the Chic Chocs - are really popular for backcountry skiing. The Chic Chocs boast a lot of snow in the winter and there are huts for rustic accommodation.
As for snow at home, I'm more ambivalent. Canadians love to kvetch about the snow. A completely useless past time, if you ask me, but one that unites a very diverse population of people, and for that reason alone I see a small measure of value in such a hobby.
When it comes to grumbling about snow I am outnumbered in my family. I am the only member of my family who does not embrace each and every snowflake with exaltation. I like snow more than the average Canadian, mostly because I don't have to commute and we have lots of fun in the snow, but living with snow until mid April gets old. And I can't help but carry memories of "when will this winter end?" into the first early snowfall of the season.
Last year we wanted snow and lots of it in our own backyard. The sooner the better. We live at a ski hill and last year we purchased a family pass so we could have unlimited access to the ski hill all season.
We skied every week, two or three times a week (more for Damien who "skins" up the mountain on off days and then skis down before starting his work day). I learned to telemark. That was actually pretty amazing. We live in a small community, and the ski hill crowd is smaller still. I am "the beginner telemark woman" on the hill, no doubt, in my style and form, but I ended the season better than I started. I'm proud of this.
This year however, there is no family ski pass dangling off our jackets. The AT is pretty much "sucking up" all available resources and we simply can't spend the money on a season's pass this winter.
And so an early snow feels a bit like Murphy's Law. I'm wondering if this will be one of the best snow seasons, the year we live at the ski hill but don't have a pass.
We're not getting a pass but we are preparing for ski season, in the mountains, backcountry style. We saw our first mountain ski movie of the season this past week, Into the Mind, hosted by the local Centre d'Avalanche. We didn't like this movie as much as All.I.Can (for the record). But it does get us in a "mountain skiing" frame of mind.
I smiled this week when I got a comment from someone with happy autumn written in greeting. Autumn on the calendar yes. But winter has arrived in my backyard, time to get ready for it.
Filed Under
-
Sarah Mast on Nov. 15, 2013, 6:24 p.m.
The mountains just need snow on them. At least, that's how I grew up. Our family took off for Denver, CO every Christmas, and then back again for summer off-roading/jeeping in those same mountains in the summer. My family weren't skiers, so I've only been skiing once (I felt very awkward) and snowboarding once (one of the worst weekends in memory). The mountains in the summer are fun, and I can be out there for hours, but mountains with snow are looming and majestic, and dangerous. They remind me of my smallness.
I can understand the mid-April thing, that's very much Nebraska. Often we would say our two GOOD months (when it's not too humid + high temps) are May and October, the rest of the year it's extremes. Too hot for 4-5 months, too cold for at least 5. I never mind the cold, I mind the heat. It's unbearable. I can always put more layers on, and add more blankets, but I can't peel my skin off! :)
Sarah M
-
Jill Foley on Nov. 15, 2013, 6:50 p.m.
Snow is beautiful and I like to play in it, but I like living in an area where it doesn't accumulate outside my front door. I have to drive an hour to get to it, which is just about perfect in my opinion. When we lived in the UP, we had so much and it was CRAZY.
-
renee on Nov. 17, 2013, 2:21 p.m.
I think you have it nearly perfect Jill. My family wouldn't like that so much. Damien loves skiing from out the door (I do too, I just don't like the length of winter, too long).
-
-
Alaina on Nov. 15, 2013, 7:34 p.m.
At my house we find ourselves saying "winter time weather in the spring" or "winter time weather in the fall" because we get winter in the spring and fall and winter too. It can go on and on and on... I don't feel ready for it this year, but its here. My family loves it. I did more before the days of helping with snowsuits. :) But I am trying to be happy with winter and trying not to "fight" it.
-
renee on Nov. 17, 2013, 4:52 p.m.
I hear you. The snowsuit days are difficult.
-
-
Kim on Nov. 15, 2013, 7:35 p.m.
Just think how awesome April in the Southern Appalachians is gonna be! I've hiked for years on the AT in the springtime. There's nothing like it! Fields in the Smokies so full of Spring Beauties it looks like snow, Trillium everywhere...sigh. I'm jealous.
Looking forward to reading more hiking adventures...
-
renee on Nov. 17, 2013, 4:59 p.m.
Kim, I'm so excited about being in Southern Appalachians for spring. Thoughts of those mountains will be getting me through the work of this winter, preparing for our hike (smile).
-
-
ellen on Nov. 16, 2013, 1:27 a.m.
Amazing photos, Renee!
-
renee on Nov. 17, 2013, 5:21 p.m.
Thanks Ellen!
-
-
Catherine Forest on Nov. 16, 2013, 1:38 a.m.
I have mixed feelings about the first snow too... I just wrote two days ago about how I feel the contraction of winter so much in my body and how I am trying to breath into winter... and I need to remind myself a lot!
-
kerry on Nov. 17, 2013, 4:38 p.m.
That is a very long winter, I would have a hard time in the spring, but you're not missing much of a fall. At least where I am, the leaves and beautiful fall colors are gone and we're left with mostly muddy, cold, colorless and cloudy days. I'd take some early snow just to make the cold more bearable. I look for color everywhere we go (a bit of moss hidden under the leaves) to get me through the late fall blah's until the first real snowfall makes the world sparkle again. Your photos really are beautiful.
I hope you are able to get a few good ski days in this year. We only get one week each year, can't afford season passes or travel expenses to a resort, but it's enough to get us excited about winter.
-
renee on Nov. 17, 2013, 4:57 p.m.
Kerry, we'll be skiing every week, either at the hill (pay as we go) or in the mountains -free.
I'm the same way looking for color in the spring (smile).
-
-
Tiffani on Nov. 17, 2013, 9:17 p.m.
Beautiful picutres! Love your snow! We may get a couple of snow showers this year in TN, but nothing like what you guys have. Thanks for sharing!
-
Shelley R. on Nov. 18, 2013, 7:51 p.m.
I'm mixed about snow and long winters, I actually don't mind shoveling snow at all. And I'm learning to embrace winter activities to keep me active and sane, like skiing. When our first snowfall hit, I was outside on a hike with my kids in mid October, and there's nothing like that sound. It's not the silent soft snow fall of December or gusty hits of a blizzard, it was as if the ground was laughing quiet tinkles as the flakes hit the dried autumn leaves. I'll take those snow days, any day.
Thanks for the tips on the backcountry movies, we watch those for fun as a family to inspire us :)
-
leah on Nov. 19, 2013, 12:10 p.m.
Your pictures make this winter and snow loving girl smile! Here in the south, we had 85 degrees on Sunday.
You can subscribe to comments on this article using this form.
If you have already commented on this article, you do not need to do this, as you were automatically subscribed.
Amanda on Nov. 15, 2013, 5:41 p.m.
It might still be ok to skin up and ski down - the mountains around here allow that - they call it "uphill ski travel" and it's understood you'll be doing it on off hours, staying clear of groomers and so forth. And I'm sure you've got some backcountry planned, right? In my view, there's no point to winter without snow! So for me, the earlier the better, because I can get out and play in it. Otherwise I'm holed up and grumpy!
renee on Nov. 17, 2013, 2:20 p.m.
Amanda, yes absolutely to both. We can skin up the mountain when the lifts aren't running. And we will be doing backcountry or ski hill (buying a day pass every so often) skiing every week.