About this time of the year, we usually get warm spells here in Virginia and everyone thinks that winter is over. You see photographs of spring flowers posted on social media, i.e., Daffodils, Crocus, and the like. The snow on the slops of Wintergreen Resort where I teach skiing starts to recede, and my snow sport instructor colleagues and I curse the warm weather. Don't get me wrong, I like the four seasons, but I don't want spring weather in winter, fall weather in summer, or other odd types of weather. Spring should be moderate, summer should be warm to hot, autumn should be cooler, but damn it, winter should be cold. None of this warm weather in February crap, even if it is the end of February.

When I see photographs of flowers posted on social media before ski season is over, it makes me want to throw up. You see, I love skiing, I love putting on my ski boots, I love getting dressed for the cold weather, and most of all I love the cold wind in my face as I carve turns down my favorite trails. I also love to teach skiing. I love everything about the winter. Yes, my heating bill goes up, and yes, I have to be watchful for black ice, falling icicles, and frostbite. But I don't care. I am willing to do all this in order to do my fulfill my one of my passions. Warm weather turns the snow to "crud" or "mashed potatoes" and it can be very difficult to ski in. One could argue that crappy snow makes you a better skier because you it forces you to be on form, and you have to be able to carve, medium and long radius turns. Those who skid their skis when they turn will have a difficult time on this type of terrain.

This is nothing like carving turns on groomers in cold weather. You create "railroad tracks" in the show as you carve through the turns. Powdery conditions, for the most part, do not often happen here in the mid-Atlantic. In New England you get more powder, but nothing compares to skiing out west where there has been so much snow they will not be finished digging out until mid-July.

So we can have warm weather in February, and everyone sings the praises of the warm weather. But I get my revenge in March. When March comes around Winter realizes that he still has cold weather left over and he must get rid of it before spring. So in March, we can get some of the best skiing of the season. We can get massive snow storms and the snow conditions are fantastic. Yeah the snow may not last as long, but I can sill ski in "good snow".

Once the resort closes, typically in the latter part of March, then I will look forward to spring. I await the Red Bud, Forsythia, and the other spring flowers. But until that time comes, pray for now. Looking down Lower Dobie at Wintergreen Resort. This is the beautiful view of Humpback Mountain at Wintergreen Resort in Roseland, Virginia