18
|
WINTER
2015
OurEscarpmenthasa longhistoryofproduc-
ing talented skiers and riders.
Is it because of all
our deep snow?Clearly, it’s just theopposite. This is the land
of boiler-plate andglaze ice. Freezing rain and sleet are not
unexpected, windgusts over 50 kmh are often the normand
fresh, natural snowcanbe scarce.
Winter 2014however, stood in stark contrast.Wewere lam-
bastedwith snow storms. It tookabrave soul tochallenge the
Arctic conditions —awinterwarrior if youwill. But thosewho
didslug itout in thesubzero temperatureswere rewardedwith
some of the best skiing conditionswe’ve seen on the Escarp-
ment for years. Toput it intoperspective, during thewinter of
2013manyof the ski clubs hada hard timeopeningall their
terrain due to lack of cold temperatures for snowmaking. By
the first of January2014, almost every runon theEscarpment
was open and snow banks were piled to the sky along our
streets. Children rejoicedas “snowdays” accumulated faster
thenparentscould shoveloffwalkways.Even theannual Janu-
ary thawwas short lived, givingway toanother blast of cold
and snow…deepdeep snow.
The chilly, wet autumnhadprovidedwarning signs that abig
winterwas on itsway. As temperatures plummeted, thenorth-
westwindshowledacross theGreat Lakes,bringingwith them
lake-effect snow.Mid-Decemberwas looking likemid-season,
night skiingwas in full swingandwith thesnowpilingup, itwas
time tohit the secret powder stashes.
☛
ESCARPMENT
®
FEATURE
Louis Florjancicmaxing out a rare snow day!
