We’ve had over a week of snow with Squaw Valley reporting a storm total of between 65 and 85 inches. That’s 7 feet of new snow, with possibly 1-2 more feet on the way today and tonight. There’s a Winter Storm Warning for the west slopes of the Sierra and a Winter Weather Advisory for the eastern slopes until 4am Tuesday. Snow levels should be around 5000 feet so drive carefully. It’s everything we’ve wished for. Remember, it wasn’t too long ago when we were complaining about the conditions with thin, wet snow or too much ice. What a difference a little over a week’s made. I know some of you go out even when the weather’s bad. Good for you! You’re probably not suffering from cabin fever like the rest of us. After tonight, the weather’s going to clear up and be beautiful and sunny for a couple of days, perfect to get out and enjoy the new snow and the outdoors. We need the sun to avoid that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)! There’s always skiing, but Olympic Village Inn also offers a snowshoe tour on Wednesday, between 10am and 12pm. Wednesday should be clear so, if you’ve never tried snowshoeing, make this your day to discover a new way to explore the Olympic Valley in winter. It’s a very different experience from skiing, quiet and serene. Don’t miss it.
It’s hard to be at Olympic Village Inn next to Squaw Valley without thinking about the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics that start Feb. 12th. Check out the Vancouver 2010 Olympics website. They’re almost here, and they have a big problem. No snow. All the storms have been diverted south to our area and Southern California. While we’ve been lucky enough to get the benefits of the moisture plume, it’s left them with virtually no snow and temperatures too warm to make it. They’ve had to transport snow from higher elevations with snow moving equipment, dump trucks, even possibly helicopters! They plan on using wooden forms and straw, covered with a layer of snow, for some of the events. It just doesn’t feel right when you see Olympic skiers on a thin band of snow with dirt all around. It reminds me of some past winters trying to ski in the Sierras. You can read about it here.
We’re so lucky not to have those problems this year. Be grateful for what we have and get out and enjoy the snow, sun, and blue sky this week. We deserve it.
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