When snow comes late

As it finally arrived “en masse” yesterday, January 20, snow has taught us – once more – to be extremely patient and that it doesn't automatically blanket our slopes on November 1.

This reminded me of my first ski season as an instructor at Avoriaz, France during the infamous 1969-1970 winter season.

The season started with very little snow (there was no snow-making at all in these days in the Alps) and as a junior instructor, there was no business for me, so I got a job insulating a mid-mountain restaurant called “Le Petit Pin”, to earn a few Francs.

The snow only came in quantity on January 16 that year, and when it began falling, it never stopped until it accumulated to some 20 feet early May, after wreaking havoc, including a terrible avalanche in Val d'Isère.

Will this be the same season? Who knows? Hope is eternal.