It's that time of year again, where we transition from flip-flops to socks and shoes, lawn mowers to snow blowers, baseball to football. The checking of weather apps goes from hopes for high temperatures to the anticipation of snow in the forecast, and there's a last big push by area mountains to generate season pass sales. For some, this transition is harder than for others, though for all skiers and snowboarders — no matter how much love they have for the summer months — the arrival of skiing and snowboarding publications, and social media posts of the first snow falling on their favorite mountain resort, always brings a stoke like the anticipation a kid feels on Christmas morning. The weather has quickly transitioned from hot summer temperatures to almost winter-like conditions seemingly overnight, making that switch a little more harsh than usual.
While it's too early for Inland Northwest resorts to be able to announce opening days, all are busy, working on getting ready for that big day when Mother Nature decides to lay down her first big blanket of snow. There's a lot of buzz about the forecast for the upcoming season, with the anticipation of a La Niña year and a lot of snow; ski and snowboard enthusiasts couldn't be more excited about that prediction.
At Inlander headquarters, work has been going on for months in anticipation of the 2017 Winter Party, which includes the Snowlander Expo and the PowderKeg Brew Festival, promising to be the biggest and best celebration yet. Save the dates: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18. There will be plenty of live music, great brews and many vendors, who'll be there to help get you ready for this much-anticipated season.
The countdown to Opening Day has begun! Until then, keep dreaming of powder days and doing your lunges, so you're ready to hit the slopes when that day comes; it'll be here before you know it!
JEN FORSYTH, Snowlander editor
