17 February 2017 — For New Englanders, Michiganders, even Ohioans, and especially Wyomingites, it’s now or never — best conditions you’re gonna find in years. Right now in fact friends and family in Colorado are bemoaning the lack of fresh snow in some parts; Utahans around the Canyons Cottonwood used to being spoiled are describing “ice.” They don’t know ice — just ask a Mainer. Fear not, snow headed their way next, as the east quiets down a bit…nationwide we’re seeing a lot of trails that aren’t usually open, open…photo above shows what it looks like when you’re putting 110% effort into getting another lift up and running for a holiday weekend; this is happening today at Magic Mountain VT. If you’re new to this news feed/blog whatever and/or unfamiliar with it, Magic is one of those hidden gem type places that fell on hard times, uh, shortly after it opened over half a century ago. Point is now they have new ownership doing their darnedest to get a second summit lift up and running, and we wish them every success — for very selfish reasons, I like to ski there…speaking of Wyomingites, Hogadon Ski Area near Casper is having one of its best seasons in recent memory, both lifts and all but two trails open…Ladies GS World Championship competition in the books at St. Moritz, Tessa Worley of France grabbed gold, Mikaela Shiffrin silver, and Sofia Goggia of Italy took bronze. The silver kind of puts Shiffrin out of reach in the overall, now that Lara Gut is out of action. Men’s GS has Austrians Marcel Hirscher and Roland Leitinger 1-2, with Norseman Leif Kristian Haugen taking bronze. Same deal for Hirscher, nobody’s going to catch him for the overall at this point. Action wraps up in St. Moritz with Ladies slalom tomorrow, Men on Sunday…New Yorkers buzzing about Governor Andrew Cuomo’s newly announced plans to install a top-to-bottom gondola at Belleayre; about 99.9% of the skiing community thinks the idea is nuts…Cannon Mountain NH got 3″ more overnight, that’s 26″ since Wednesday night…almost a foot of fresh at Mt Bachelor OR…speaking of Wyomingites, pleased to report that Jackson Hole Mountain Resort seems back on track 100% after last weekend’s power outtages and what have you. Go get it…