Its hump day folks! 

Its not pretty out there today, but we have certainly had worse.  Intermittent rain is forecasted for the next couple of days, so not a complete wash out.  Although skiing in the rain certainly has its disadvantages, it can also be pretty darn fun too.  The snow is spring like and soft and offers playful turns. Its warm out, so you don’t have to layer up as much as you normally would on typical Mt. Mansfield day.  Its also totally uncrowded, so no need to worry about holiday lift lines.

The key is staying dry, so Gore-Tex is a must from head to toe.  (Rain gear also works or rock the trash bag) Your other challenge is making sure you keep those goggles cleared, so bringing extra goggle cloths and goggle bags to keep that vision clear. Skiing in the rain is a rite of passage for every New England skier. It is what you make of it and your stoke can be just as high on rainy day as it can on a powder day.  It also helps to ski with friends and just be goofy.

Although the natural sow trails, woods and low angle BC are all done for now, its still early. We are just coming off an unbelievable 2-week early December run that was truly magical. Winter will be back, it always does.  New England skiers are a hearty bunch that will always stay optimistic during a ski season.  Start doing those snow dances, its time to start building a base, again. And, it always rains during Christmas week.

Photo: Dave Sautter