Spring Snow

We had a beautiful 6-8 inches of fresh snow this week, to make for dream skiing conditions, and as you can see from these pictures of East End Road, it is beautiful too! It was powder, and it made me realize how lucky we are to have such awesome spring skiing (snowshoing, sledding, etc.). I've been reading about high level downhill and cross-country skiers really looking forward to spring skiing in Alaska, and I didn't understand why, but with 3 feet of snow on the ground at elevation (more in other places), a crust to keep from sinking in, and warm days when it is sunny, now I understand. My kids can finally spend hours playing outside before it gets dark (the sun setting at almost 9:00 now), and if it is sunny it is warm. The difference between sunny and cloudy is startling, though, as I discovered yesterday. I was out sledding with the kids in the sunshine with only a light jacket on and I was hot. An hour later when I went for a walk the sun was behind clouds, I had my winter jacket on, and I was cold.

Cross-country ski club at McNeil Canyon School is still going strong, and continues to until the snow is gone. Never mind that I was planting my garden in Michigan at this time!!
(I have to eat my words. I picked up the kids from ski practice today and they said, "Today is the last time." Even though there's lots of snow, they're ready for the snow to be gone. Maybe if we stop skiing the snow will go away?!)