What a taste of springtime we’ve been getting here at Brundage Mountain the past few days!

We’ve had sunshine, warm temperatures, and ideal ‘springlike’ snow conditions. Not the mushy, slushy stuff, but those fun spring conditions that remind you that good things come to those who wait.

Our slopes have been going from downright firm and crunchy first thing…to sun-kissed, smooth, carvable corduroy…to soft, creamy, forgiving frosting by afternoon.

Along with all that comes the springtime attitude.

Hats come off, sunglasses break out, pitchers of beer are enjoyed on the deck and visitors pause to enjoy the view from the summit and the peace of the mountains.

For those who don’t ‘get it’, here are some tips on how to get the most out of these springtime conditions. (Please note, that entry was written in mid-APRIL last season).

That said, there’s been lots of chat about the mountain folk being ‘ready for spring’. We’ve been watching our snow banks shrink, our walkways emerge from a crust of white and the vestiges of our lawns play peek-a-boo for a moment. While it is a nice treat to smell the dirt and feel the sun’s warm rays on our faces, I have second thoughts about fully embracing spring.

And they look like this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

For all who are claiming to be ‘ready for spring’, I have to ask, “How long until you are ‘ready for winter’ again, dreaming of that next powder day and longing for the gravitational pull of the mountain’s snow-covered slopes?”

I say, be careful what you wish for.

It may be true that variety is the spice of life.

I has been envigorating to see the daily transformation of the world from cold and hard in the morning…

…to warm, soft and forgiving in the afternoon.

However, to every thing there IS a season. And while I’ve enjoyed this little taste of springtime and all that comes with it, I’m decidedly NOT ready for things to turn, turn, turn…

That’s why it was so nice to see this special weather statement issued today by the National Weather Service. I guess spring will have to wait its turn. And hopefully that will mean more cold, powdery turns for us in the meantime.
–    April

A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

…A BIG CHANGE IN THE WEATHER COMING THIS WEEK…

AFTER A MILD AND DRY STRETCH OF EARLY SPRING LIKE WEATHER…CONDITIONS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE. A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION MONDAY AFTERNOON IN OREGON AND MONDAY EVENING IN IDAHO. THIS FRONT WILL BRING A SHARP DROP IN TEMPERATURES BY AS MUCH AS 10 TO 15 DEGREES FROM THE MILD READINGS OF THE PAST WEEK.