Since the early 2000s, there’s been a crew of us from Huntington who have trekked to the mountains during the MLK holiday weekend to gather up, celebrate our friendship and mutual love of skiing, winter sports, and exploring the outdoors, with, of course, a side order of music, food and a wee dram of shenanigans.

 This year, this Covid-restricted season, we weren’t sure if the stars would align, but through some thoughtful planning and safety measures we were able to responsibly keep alive our tradition that dates back to when these now Quaranteens were toddlers.

 While we for years hunkered down at slopeside cabins at Timberline in Canaan Valley, this year’s trip was to Snowshoe Mountain (www.snowshoemtn.com) the largest of the state’s five downhill ski resorts, and home to some 60 trails on three distinct ski areas (Snowshoe Basin, Silver Creek and the experts-only Western Terroritory).

 With a Pandemic theme of “Be Safe. Be Kind and Have Fun,” we found good protocols in place on the mountain from a drive-through packet pick-up at the bottom of the mountain at Inn @ Snowshoe on Friday to the staff’s strict adherence to the number of folks allowed inside the dozens of buildings (from rental shops to restaurants) there in the Village.

 Perhaps even more refreshing is that we found visitors to the mountain to be patient and even gracious. And staff even more so. While there was surely a Karen somewhere who needed to see the manager, nary one did I spy.  Or better yet, hear. 

As if Mother Nature knew there was only so much we could face alone, let me bear witness that conditions could hardly be better. As we are soon to make a turn into February, the shortest month of the year, the Mountain State will have nearly 100 percent open terrain for its downhill ski resorts and one of the best seasons in years at Nordic skiing meccas such as the beloved White Grass up on Weiss Knob in Canaan Valley and Elk River Touring in Pocahontas County.

 While we are not sure what the rest of the season holds, we do know that ski season comes and goes with a finger snap. And by St. Patrick’s Day, unless we can bribe French Creek Freddie, it may well be all over but the shouting. With the possibility of the festival season and full crowd concerts maybe not happening until summer, tis’ the season to rethink vacation days and go ahead and peel off some glorious February and early March mid-week moments to carve these marshmallow snow covered mountains with only a handful of folks and a priceless peaceful, easy feeling of getting to experience a little slice of almost heaven, a stolen moment of that Cheat Mountain Magic.  For as your grandma tells you in truth  – this too shall pass.

But for now Jack Frost reigns. It’s a white powder season. And when we look back through the lens of time we will remember the invigorating crisp cold, the breathtaking views, the thigh burns, the hot breath under our masks and traversing that billowing marshmallow snow as part of the fleeting magic that helped pull us through.