Lack of Snow Near and Far

Many Washingtonians look forward to recreating in cold and snowy wonderlands during the holidays, myself included. This anticipation is being thwarted this year by a grumpy Old Man Winter hell-bent on ruining vacations across North America, including the normally reliable venue where I am at present, Canaan Valley, W.Va.

The fire and hot cocoa are here, but outside lies just a paltry inch of the white, fluffy stuff, and even this modest amount is punctuated by areas of bare ground. Canaan Valley, unfortunately, is not the exception. From Lake Tahoe to the woods of New England, and  from Missouri to Minnesota, there is precious little snow.This regrettable deficit hurts many and helps few.

Children with newly-received sleds are hurt the most—solidifying that disagreeable truth that the innocent bear the highest burden. They are followed in misery by down-hill skiers, cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, snowshoers, and dog mushers. The commercial victims follow the recreationists, including industrialists and entrepreneurs and their employees. Hoteliers, resortiers, bed-and-breakfast operators, ski instructors, and that nice person who serves you hot chocolate in the ski lodge, among others, all suffer in the wallet when the snow ceases to fall.

Not surprisingly, those who stand to benefit from these circumstances are applauding this unexpected shift in Mother Nature's affections. Cash-strapped local and state governments, for example, will spend less on the salt and overtime pay needed to keep our impressive infrastructure clear and functioning. Golfers and golf club owners alike will delight as they drive, wedge and putt along fairways and greens in a normally forbidding season.

But some winners may in turn see their fortunes reverse. At least one local government in Minnesota has seen its fire fighters mobilized to battle blazes ignited by freeze-dried grasses and brush; the area lost 750 precious acres of timber.

And imagine how irked the animal control officials may become if they need to contend with awakened and angry bears who are normally hibernating the winter away. Their dens are being soaked as a result of close proximity to melting marshes (this is really happening in Finland).

Back in Canaan Valley, it's just about time to turn in at the, uh, Black Bear Resort. We may dream of cross-country skiing tomorrow, but a quick glance at the White Grass website confirms our predicament: 50km of trails will be open for hiking tomorrow, while they are feverishly working on packing and setting 5km for skiing.

Want to know more? The Weather Channel's has its own take on the mild winter.