February 18-19, 2017

What amazing weather we've had recently! This week's snowfall will definitely be a highlight of the winter. Sunday afternoon into Monday, almost 30 cm fell, and then on Wednesday and Thursday we were gifted another 10+ cm. The Laurentians received slightly less, and places like Quebec City got close to 50 cm. All in all, great snow is to be found wherever you choose to go. In Montreal this year we hadn't yet had a good old-fashioned blizzard; most forecasted snowfalls ended up being followed by rain, or fell as freezing rain. This snowfall certainly made things feel like winter, and hopefully will remind people about our favourite winter pastime, and get them out onto the slopes.

For those who skied this week, the drive to the ski hill was difficult, but conditions were unforgettable - tons of fresh powder and not-so-cold temperatures. If you're stuck skiing only on weekends, try to start early tomorrow morning. Temperatures look like they will soar to above-freezing tomorrow afternoon, with the chance of rain showers, and this will ruin all the fresh snow we were granted. Sunday looks warm as well, with possibly some rain showers but also some sun. Temperatures look warm into next week, so expect hard and icy conditions in the morning, with spring conditions in the afternoon. It will inevitably get colder again, so once that happens, expect hard-packed conditions for a few days until the groomers pass enough times, or until we receive more snow.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of the mountain guides at Mont Sainte-Anne. What, you might be asking yourself? While popular at western ski resorts and in the United States, this concept has never really caught on in Eastern Canada. Mountain guides at Mont Sainte-Anne are positioned at the bottom and top of the mountain, and are available to answer questions, provide guidance, or simply give information about the skiing and services. Furthermore, they give tours of the mountain, tailored specifically to a particular skill level or preference (such as moguls). What a great way to find an amazing hidden trail you might not have found otherwise! These mountain guides are volunteers, and their services are offered free of charge to all visitors. While most ski hills in Eastern Canada aren't big enough to justify such a service, having a group of volunteers to act as intermediaries between the ski hill and customers is a great initiative. It benefits paying customers, and also the hill's management, because these volunteers act as ambassadors, while providing information and augmenting the customer experience. It would be great if this idea came to fruition at other ski resorts.

Planning your summer vacation yet? Trying to think of an interesting and memorable itinerary, or not sure where to go? This is just in - Mammoth Mountain in California ends their ski season on July 4. Yes, July 4, 2017! After 35 feet of snow this season to date, they're confident they can be open until the Fourth of July. Skiing in July, that would be an unforgettable experience!