Now the excitement starts. Social media is starting to fill up with pictures of the first dusting of snow at regional mountains. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers and BBQs are being swapped out for snow blowers. Summer apparel is quickly transitioning to cold weather gear. There's always a bittersweet feeling when the temperatures start to drop, and I'm not quite used to wearing anything else on my feet but flip-flops. It's usually a harsh but short transition to finding my boots and sweaters, and making sure to bring a coat for that "out of nowhere" storm. Knowing that ski season and opening day announcements are right around the corner makes the transition easier. With the sudden drop in the temperatures and our region's mountains starting to make snow, it's finally starting to feel like winter is at our doorsteps! With ski swaps and movie premieres in full swing, the Snowlander Expo, PowderKeg Inlander Brew Festival and Washington Trust Rail Jam just days away, it's only a matter of time before we'll be testing out our new gear on the slopes.
After last season's bust, area resorts are ready to get back to the forecasted average season; in this area, average can be epic. This year's Snowlander Expo promises to be bigger and better, with a ton of prizes to give away on our prize wheel. We've loaded the schedule with educational seminars from our vendors, including safe backcountry travel, getting and staying fit for the ski and boarding season, waxing and tuning demos and much more. The first thousand people through the door will receive a lift ticket to 49 Degrees North; the second thousand will receive a buy one, get one free ticket to Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana.
We hope to see you at the Spokane Convention Center on Nov. 20 & 21 for a fun-filled Snowlander Expo weekend!
Think snow!
— Jen Forsyth
Snowlander Editor
