March 12, 2013

After weeks of overcast weather and constant snow showers (which made for great cross country skiing), the sun finally broke through last week and we got our first glimpses of blue sky in a long time. It marked the beginning of spring skiing conditions across the region as warm temperatures softened our white powder.

Temperatures pushed fifty degrees this past weekend – too warm for my taste – but it has been fun to ski in the sun. And, while the beginning of this week has unfortunately brought with it R-A-I-N, the most profane four letter word a skier can utter, we will hopefully survive this warm up with enough snow to continue our ski season through March. After all, temperatures are predicted to drop in the next few days, meaning much of our remaining base will be icy, but hopefully skiable. And a March snow storm is certainly not out of the question, so skiers will continue to watch the weather radar and hope.

Cascade Kendra
Kendra enjoys some spring skiing at Cascade Cross Country Ski Center.

Spring skiing is a very different experience than skiing through the heart of winter. For one thing, you can wear fewer layers, which has a way of making you feel less encumbered. This sense of being free and unencumbered is strengthened by warmth and sun which compels many of us outside to enjoy the day. Couple that with the increased activity and sounds of birds, and it's hard not to enjoy a spring cross country skiing outing.

The skiing itself is generally slower on soft, wet snow which often compacts unevenly beneath your feet, but these conditions can change considerably if you ski in the morning or in the late afternoon. It is then when a slick glaze sits on the snow surface, making for fast skiing. I enjoyed a very fast ski at Cascade Cross Country Ski Center one afternoon at the end of last week, but found both Cascade and the Bloomingdale Bog Trail soft and slow at the start of this week when I was out with temperatures in the mid-40s. All that is to say that spring skiing conditions are extremely variable with slow, sun-drenched slopes and fast shadowed lanes, and skiers would be wise to pay close attention to the snow as they ski – abrupt changes in conditions can make for easy falls.

Cascade Sign
Ski centers will remain open as long as there is snow, so there is no time to waste in enjoying a chance to get out.

But if falls do occur, they are a small price to pay for the chance to lengthen the ski season. After all spring skiing often feels a bit like you are stealing a few more outings from the returning sun before it melts the snow away completely, and so each time out must be savored. It is how I transition my mind and body to new activities and a snowless landscape.

Hopefully we will have a chance to ski for a few more weeks before spring officially arrives. And, now that we have changed the clocks, we skiers have an additional – and welcome – hour of daylight after the work day to enjoy. And with the uncertainty of how long the final stretch of the ski season will last, it is time to enjoy it while we can.

Cascade Kendra
Kendra enjoys some spring skiing at Cascade Cross Country Ski Center.
Cascade Sign
Ski centers will remain open as long as there is snow, so there is no time to waste in enjoying a chance to get out.

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