Nostradamus

The Buchanan Range from Treble Cone on June 21, 2011

The volcanic ash in the lower atmosphere over New Zealand will act like cloud seeding and result in an exceptionally snowy winter here.  The large-scale earthquakes in the Pacific Rim have caused a two degree shift in the earth’s axis affecting weather patterns in a way that will dramatically increase our snowfall. Every year in which Western Canada has had a banner ski season, the South Island resorts have oddly similar storm and snowpack patterns. Nostradamus predicted that 2011 will bring a record amount of snow storms to the Southern Lakes region, leaving Treble Cone’s famously devoted Coneheads grinning from ear to ear (not that will see their smiles through the snow-snorkels necessary in the chin-deep powder). I feel in my gut that it’ll be a great year at Treble Cone. We’re just due. I can smell it.

There’s an old joke at home in Vermont that the two most optimistic types of people in the world are alcoholics and ski instructors. That may or may not be true, but those of us who have been living and working in the mountains for a long time know one thing for certain: it is going to snow, we are going to ski and ride at Treble Cone, and it’s going to be great. In seasons like this one that begin dry and unseasonably warm, when our colleagues and our guests become agitated about the lack of snow, we spend lots of time reassuring them: we’ve been through this before, and it is going to snow.

While working hard to get our resort ship-shape for the season, we’ve all been looking anxiously at the forecast as our brown mountain looms over Lake Wanaka. After much agonizing and consternation, our opening has been delayed pending a change in the weather that brings snowmaking temperatures, a good sized storm, or both. Some among us are putting their faith in explanations that verify our confidence about the upcoming banner year – some explanations have an apparent scientific basis and some are a bit, err, further out the spectrum. I prefer to rely on the tried and true snow dance, described in detail by me in this space before: pajamas, helmet, goggles, ski or snowboard boots, living room, ski/ride movie. For the desperate, strapping on skis or board and doing 180’s on the bed is particularly satisfying. I’m not sure that my snow dance actually affects the weather, but it is pretty funny, it’s a good distraction, and it helps keep us focused and positive as we look to the horizon for some sign, some good news. It will snow on Treble Cone’s legendary terrain, it’ll snow a lot, and I for one will be there and will be ready to enjoy every minute, each and every flake. I just know it. In my gut. And Nostradamus said so. And there’s that whole volcano cloud-seeding thing. And Canada had a great year. And we’re due …