Snow! It's here!
Nothing puts a smile on the face of a Tahoe local like a foot of fresh snow…especially if it comes after several years that were pretty dang feeble when it came to snow production. Now after the first good storm of the season on December 11th, Facebook was full of happy status postings of Tahoe folks enjoying the fresh powder. We love skiing in the fluffy white stuff, and also realize it creates an economic benefit that allows our community to thrive.
After a foot of snow, Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area was able to pull out the big grooming machines for the first time in two years this past week and the skiing was excellent. But what was even better, were the looks on the faces of all those cross-country skiing fanatics that were so excited to not only be skiing, but to be skiing in the deep snow. When the next wave arrived yesterday, I headed out onto the trails and enjoyed that remarkable experience of quietly sliding along in the utter silence of a storm that was piling up so fast the groomers couldn’t keep up with it.
Perhaps we were forced to endure the last few years of well below average snowfall so we would be truly thankful when the good stuff finally arrived. Now, every time we see a fir tree shrouded in deep piles of the fluffy white stuff, or marvel at the gleaming mountains of white across the deep dark blue of Lake Tahoe, we feel lucky and appreciative to have what we have. Even all that snow shoveling and the challenges of driving on slippery roads can’t keep us from being full of gratitude.
So snow gods, keep bringing it on. Pile it up deep throughout the Sierra so that in springtime it will replenish California’s desperately dry water reserves. Pound the mountains around Tahoe with foot after foot so the lake will begin the process of returning its water level to the brim. Let it snow and we promise to express joy and gratitude for the power and beauty of nature.