Cold Temps, Old-timers and Great Skiing Conditions!

I must admit there is something to be said about old-timers and their connection with nature, especially when it comes to predicting the weather. Back in September and October when fall arrived in Pocahontas County, Mother Nature evidently provided several signals indicating that this would be a colder than normal winter season. Perhaps it was a crisper than usual feeling in the air, or perhaps it was the larger than normal caterpillers or bigger and more abundant acrons - whatever it truely was this "urbanite" will never know. I do know that back in the fall old-timers in the area began to see these signals of nature and started to proclaim that we were in for a cold one this winter season.

Now that we are moving through the season it's clear that their predictions are ringing true. An earlier than normal snowfall in October was all that it took to convince me these proclamations may have some substance to them. Almost a foot of snow blanketed Mountain Valley Retreat at the end of October as a result of this snowfall. Guests who were staying with us at the time told us it was an absolutely beautiful sight to see snow in October. Though this first snowfall quickly melted, it was soon replaced with a series of two or three significant snowfalls in November that resulted in Snowshoe Ski Resort opening a week before Thanksgiving. Temps have been rather cool this year allowing the ski resort to maintain an absolutely awesome base. In addition, natural snow is falling almost everyday making for some beautiful sights throughout the county. There is even a nice amount of snow blanketing our property this year. Though I haven't had the time to get out there yet this winter, I'm hoping that I can carve out a few days to visit sometime in February. There will be nothing more awesome than sitting by the fire and enjoying the snow!