24 February 2017 — Good times in the Rockies, snow finally returns to Colorado leaving 10″ fresh at Steamboat, a few inches at Arapahoe Basin, generally conditions freshening up all around the state. Temps are down, winter is good…meanwhile over in Utah, Snowbird enjoying its third straight powder day; Powder Mountain serving up 18″ of fresh…Pac NW enjoying stellar conditions at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, wondering when the snow was going to stop…not so much in the east; temps are soaring and snow is getting mushy. Naturally the ski resorts are boasting about spring conditions, but honestly, except for a narrow percentage of experts who enjoy spring conditions, it’s terrible for most people. Personally I tolerate spring conditions, but not my fave by any means. Ligament problems, uneven movement, slush, overheating, it all adds up to what is generally less than an ideal experience, particularly for newbies…Mad River Mountain Ohio closed yesterday, they’re back today but who know what the soaring temps…Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota got an inch of fresh snow, they’re avoiding much of the mercury troubles due to latitude…Taos NM shut down yesterday due to nasty weather, they’re back in biz today…and in World Cup News, bad news is past champ Anna Veith forced to shelve the rest of the season due to issues with her other knee — not the one she had operated on — well it turns out she needs some surgery on that as well. Probably explains why most of her runs this season looked a bit tentative.

Above: Sunset at Blue Mountain PA with temps hovering around 60 degrees. Bill O’Hara photo.