It is time to try out that new gear from Santa with super conditions on the slopes. After the big northeast snowstorm, then an arctic intrusion with tons of lake effect snow and cold weather making for great snowmaking conditions, some areas are already fully open. Not bad for the arrival of the big ski and snowboard week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

With the holiday break for students on hand, resorts are trying to capitalize on this good start to the season. If you are between seven and seventeen years old, hurry up and get signed up for camps running through the next week. You’ll be on the slopes for several hours during the day and often include a lunch. Much more fun here than band camp. In addition you’ll find some areas have extended hours for the week, most noticeably on mid-week days. 

A few other industry notes: Snow Ridge begins their night operations starting Friday, December 26^th. Make sure to use a pair of non-tinted goggles after sundown so you can see well. Toggenburg has their first snowmobile hill climb of the season on Sunday night, December 28^th.  I want to check one of these out someday. Racers climb a 235 foot vertical rise on a 900 foot long course.  It’s another nice way here for ski areas to make some money outside of skiing. This event is run in association with the Lafayette Trail Riders. Heck, the snow is there, why not share the wealth? And lastly Labrador has a few things going on. That includes a demo day on Saturday, December 27^th. It’s always nice to check out the latest technology on the mountain before buying. And Lab also will have 'college nights' every Tuesday evening through the season. Get a lift ticket after 4:00 pm for only fifteen bucks!

Hopefully by the time you read this I will have my first day on the slopes for this winter. It has been a slow start for me, but one I hope to speed up. I have a good reason for not making it out this past week, the birth to our child. My wife and I had a baby girl, our third. Pretty soon I will be bringing the older ones out the some Central New York resorts to learn to ski.

Have a happy holidays and happy trails!