It is a snow lovers disappointment living southeast of the Allegheny Front. The lake snows usually quit as the air descends off the Allegheny Plateau. Even though it is snowing hard eight or ten miles away and there are a few flakes in the air, it just doesn’t want to accumulate in my backyard. During the holiday break I was able to travel to the snow. Now after work, with no time to travel before dark, I am left with a windswept school playground. All of the fluff we had on December 31 has been blown off the fields and piled up along a tree line. My workout tonight was a 200 meter stretch of snowdrift, where I worked on kick drills. Back and forth, back and forth, and only eight or so miles away there is a powder paradise. I should suck it up and get a head lamp and drive there for my workout. It has been really cold and dry for much of the eastern half of Pennsylvania and we need a storm to recharge the snow. Fortunately, for me it is a short drive, to the snow. For folks living in Philadelphia and Harrisburg it is a much longer drive.

I can’t complain though, I skied everyday during the holiday break. Only the day after Christmas was a challenge as the water-soaked snow turned icy. Other than that it has been an awesome time for cross-country skiing. This weekend should be really good and I plan to travel to the snow on Saturday and Sunday. If we get lucky, we may have some widespread snow for the state on Thursday or Friday. Head to Laurel Ridge State Park, western parts of Clearfield County, Wilderness Lodge near Lake Erie, or the Quehanna Wild Area, if you want huge amounts of snow. Moshannon State Forest locations have ample coverage. Finally the Pennsylvania State Parks Winter Report pages are proving to be valuable as most parks are updating the information on a regular basis. Happy skiing. HP

XC Ski Trail (near Grassflat, PA) January 3, 2010