Into each life a little #@*& must fall.

In the ski world - at least at Okemo - we refer to it as the "r" word. and it is most certainly a four-letter word. On most days, it's an easy job to extol the virtues of Okemo's weather and conditions (in fact, the readers of SKI Magazine rated Okemo in the Top Ten in the East for snow, grooming and weather, plus seven other categories) in our snow report but there is the occasional day when we just have to acquiesce to Longfellow ...

Be still sad heart and cease repining;
Behind the clouds the sun is shining,
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life a little rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

My second day on skis, ever, (30 years ago) was spent wearing a black plastic garbage bag at Sugarbush North, and it is still one of my most memorable days on snow. Hard-core skiers and riders know that gray-weather days generally offer up sumptuously soft snow, short or nonexistent lift lines, and wide open trails. It's all about dressing for the weather. Okay, so maybe a snorkel and swimming goggles is a little over the top, but breathable waterproof clothing - or a garbage bag - is amazing on a damp day.

I absolutely delight in the creative writing artistry of snow reporting that fills the blogosphere on days filled with precipitation.

My friend Karen says, "When I worked at [undisclosed ski area] I couldn't tell people it was raining -- I had to say there was "moisture in the air."

What's your favorite euphemism for the "r" word? Have you ever worked as a snow reporter? If so, what was your company line? How would you handle it if you were a snow reporter on a rainy (there, I said it!) day? Cheers.

'Twas a Coupla Days After Christmas...

Many years ago, when I was but a little OkeMoppet, this was my absolute favorite time of the year. Not just for Christmas Day, but for the entire Christmas season, which in my family meant our annual trip up from the wild, untamed wilderness of New Jersey (youse gotta problem wit dat?) to the beautiful, picturesque mountains of Vermont.

Opening the presents on Christmas Day was a blast, but the REAL fun came a couple of days later when we all packed into the ol' Subaru station wagon (color: "yellow creme") and made the drive northward to Okemo, complete with the obligatory "roll down the windows and smell the clean air" pantomime upon crossing the Vermont state border.

Well, I live up here now, and after all these years, I now work for the same resort I used to dream about when I was a kid. (I also still do the "rolling down the windows" thing. People tend to look at me funny.) Trust me -- there's still no better place to be at this time of year.

This year, we've got a brand-new Family New Year's Eve party and a fancy-schmancy adults-only New Year's Eve dinner-and-dancing celebration at the Coleman Brook Tavern. And did I mention the four feet of snow we've gotten this December?

So come on up for the holidays and make your own lifelong memories. It's worth the trip -- even if you don't own a yellow creme Subaru.

What to do on New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a challenge for me. Staying up until midnight? Not a chance. So in my house, if you're brave enough to stay up all by yourself until midnight - go for it. Grab a blanket and make a nest in front of the tv to watch the ball because there is definitely no mommy service after 10 pm. That's why I'm excited to find out that this year Okemo has planned a whole night full of fun activities for the whole family - and the New Year officially rings in at 10 pm. Perfect.

So, if you are looking for the ultimate compromise (and something a little new) - how about ice skating, snow tubing, cookie decorating, wagon rides, marshmallow roasting, a DJ dance party, pizza, and a good old fashioned count-down at 10 pm complete with noisemakers and balloons. Your kids will think you rock and you'll be in bed long before midnight (if you're lucky)!

Their website has all the details - definitely check it out.

100 PERCENT OPEN MONDAY!

We're going to have to go back into the record books to see if we've ever done this before - 100 percent open before Christmas! That includes our two new trails, White Lightning and Rolling Thunder!
The past two days here have felt a little like life in a snow globe. By the time this two-day dump is done, we'll have two feet of champagne powder on the ground ... and that's on top of all the snow we've been making.
Don't think for a single moment that our snowmakers are sitting by the fire eating bon bons. They're hard at work continuing their efforts to make more of the white stuff - even while Mother Nature does her part.
I can already hear the squeak of the packed powder beneath my skis as I envision what this is going to look like once the groomers add their part to the mix.

Happy Birthday Jackson Gore Inn!

It was exactly five years ago today, that Okemo Mountain Resort's Jackson Gore Inn opened for business and welcomed its first guests.

Inn General Manager Charlie Dickerman remembers those early days when construction was still wrapping up and eager owners insisted on being the first visitors. I asked Charlie what he thought was the biggest change in the last five years. He thought about it for a minute and noted that with the addition of the Spring House fitness and aquatic center, the Ice House skating pavillion, plus all the scheduled events and activities, guests enjoy the luxury of parking their cars and leaving them parked for the duration of their stay.

Happy birthday, Jackson Gore Inn! Many happy returns.

Cheers.

I am NOT a Root Vegetable!

That's right, I am a tuber. I am not a potato or other rhizome-type of plant product. I happen to enjoy alternative types of snowsports as well as skiing. On certain days, I am proud to say that I am a tuber. I love the thrill of flopping down on an inflatable inner tube-type snow sled and sliding downhill in a specially prepared lane with other like-minded snow tube enthusiasts.

Okemo started to offer afternoon tubing a couple of winters ago and it was received with an inflated sense of enthusiasm. We're gearing up again and tubing operations will begin on the day after Christmas and run through Dec. 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Jackson Gore base area. Then on New Year's Eve, you can almost tube your way into the new year with hours from 3 to 8 p.m. Then on Jan. 1 through 3, it's back to 3 to 6 p.m. Still haven't had enough inflatable fun? Okemo will round out the holiday week with tubing on Sunday, Jan. 4 with tubing from 3 to 5 p.m.

Look for more tubing on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the winter season.

Tubing rates and times, as well as information about other alpine alternatives, are posted online.

Deck the Bus with Boards of Holly (title © Gravity Hound)

Wow, it's been a while since the last post in here. I guess everyone (including myself) has been a little preoccupied with all the great skiing and riding we've had lately and all the events happening. With today's little coating on top of the 4-6'' from yesterday, Okemo is prime right now and looking great going into the holidays.

Last weekend, we unveiled the new Pepsi Amp Bus at the base of Nor'Easter. It's amazing that what began as someone's delusional nightmare is now a feature in our SoBe Superpark, but I guess that's innovation for ya. I've gotta hand it to them though, they did a great job with it and now it looks all dreamy sitting there burried in the snow.


Speaking of being burried in the snow, have you seen the weather forecast lately?! Al Roker and friends have us expecting several inches of snow tomorrow (Friday) with a chance of snow almost every day after that. A coworker and I were just saying the other day that we could't wait until you know what was out of the question. Well, I think we made it to that point! Winter is definitely here! Happy Holidays everyone!