Skiing in the Rain Appeases the Weather Gods

Monday only reinforced our belief that skiing in the rain appeases the weather gods. What started as a potentially sopping wet ski tour gradually developed into a fine late-afternoon of fresh tracks and floating flakes. And this time we weren’t in the southern Andes – where a 2-foot snowfall once commenced just hours after we skied through a deluge alongside mighty Volcan Puyehue; nor were we on a remote island off the coast of East Greenland – where a 7-day streak of blue skies and sunshine set in just hours after we went crawling from our tents in a state of absolute boredom, and went skiing in the grey, sopping rain…

Rather, we were close to home in the northeast on Monday, heading to Vermont’s Bolton Valley after running a few long-neglected errands in the big city of Burlington, VT. Along the way, we alerted some friends of our ski plans, thinking some of them would like to join us. None of them responded. Understandably, too. Puddles were slowing traffic on the highway. There was water running across the access road to Bolton Valley. Still, we had a feeling it was going to be worth it.

By approx. 5pm, while skiing up the mountain, the rain ceased. A fresh breeze gave our moistened jackets and pants a chance to dry, and by the time we reached top of the ski area, snow filled the air. We soaked up a little summit time. And we let the snow accumulate.

Combined with the layer of rain-soaked snow leftover from the night before, the fresh flakes produced a creamy 1-2″ coat of untracked snow that kept us skiing til dark – utterly convinced that the weather gods were looking out for us.

Enjoy the rain!
-Brian