By Mike Brookins
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 at 9:33 p.m.
Read more: Weather, Outdoors, Ski Central
Last week I left you hoping for a bright sunny day for Groundhog Day Monday. Our positive thoughts paid off with Phil predicting another 6 weeks of winter. Even with the one hundred twenty something inches of snow already this winter, this sits just fine with me. Before you know it ski surfaces will be getting thin and skis will be thrown in the basement to be replaced with bikes and gold clubs. There is some debate between my wife and me over this year’s event. She is a fan of summertime and noticed it was overcast early that morning in Pennsylvania. So how could they have seen his shadow? I say all the television cameras spotlighting him likely did the deed. Either way, sun or cameras, we have more snow ahead. Heck this is Central New York and it’s only early February.
I trekked back to my shed the other day to get something and noticed how deep the snow pack is. It’s even deeper on the mountains with a machine groomed, packed powder surface. I’m talking at the ski reports, not my backyard. With nearly all the terrain open and plenty of things going on this weekend, let’s going skiing Central New York, I am!
This week at a ski area near you….Woods Valley will fire up the chicken barbeque this Sunday for their ski patrol family fun day. You can put on a costume and head to the 12th annual Mardi Gras Day this Saturday at Song Mountain. Enjoy live music, hot air balloon rides, a torch light parade and over $10,000 in prizes. Snow Ridge has another $99 family day on Sunday as well as a military day this coming Wednesday. It’s winter carnival weekend up at McCauley in Old Forge. Look for a bigger than normal celebration as they ring in year number 50 on the mountain. A ton of fun races, games and even fireworks to enjoy. Labrador has a $20 lift ticket this Saturday night. First you have to head to the Ski Company in Syracuse for a voucher that will hook you up with the deal. The 2009 New York State Winter Special Olympic games will be held Saturday at Bristol. Also the Scott Delforte Memorial Park Jam, same day and location. Lastly, Brantling has a family sun night this Saturday from 5-10pm. It will only set you back a low $18 per lift ticket, up to an immediate family max of $80.
If you are looking to learn to ski around central and western Onondaga County, give the Camillus Ski Association a try. It’s a non-profit organization which runs the hill and ski school. They are open Wednesday through Friday evenings from 6-9pm, and weekends from 10am-4pm.
Happy trails…
