Welcome winter! On Monday, December 21st, winter officially arrives with the solstice at 12:47 PM. This is when the direct rays of the sun are at their southern most point on the surface of the earth. This makes short skiing days in the sun, when we have sunshine. On the flip side, there is likely a kicking night skiing scene under the lights.

Here is hoping for some snow to fly here in Central New York now that winter will be here. At least it has been colder than normal of late, allowing for plenty of snow making at local ski areas. If you want to ski powder, you have to travel to eastern Long Island to Cape Cod where over two feet of the white stuff fell with this past weekend’s nor’easter. Taking a look at our snowfall statistics for the city of Syracuse, to date for this winter season we have received 7.0” of snow. Normally we would have seen about 25” with a lot more last year at this time. Back a year ago we had already received a whopping 42.9”.

With the Christmas holiday coming up Friday, take note that some ski areas close up shop for the day. I know I’ll be up to my ears putting together my kid’s gifts like many other parents. Hopefully Santa Claus will be good to all the boys and girls out there. A couple of ski areas are giving us a gift for Thursday, Christmas Eve day. A free lift ticket goes out to anyone who donates canned and non-perishable food that day at both Greek Peak and Toggenburg. It’s a win-win deal as you can make someone else’s holiday a little brighter and shed some pounds before heading to some parties. A nice touch done by those two resorts!

Now that I am out numbered four to one by females in my family with my youngest just turning one, my number of ski days seems to be dropping with every season. I can remember getting over fifty per year back in my ski club/youth days. I’m jumping in head first to this year’s, maybe not getting out until a trip to Utah planned for early January. More on that trip coming in a couple of weeks.

Let me know how your recent trip to a local ski area has gone. Just post a comment right below this blog about your outing so other readers can hear about it. Better yet, take a digital picture and shoot it my way via email at mbrookins@CNYcentral.com.  I might show it on the Action News ski report next week! Happy trails and happy holidays….