Unusually warm and dry, but Deadman anyway

Deadfall pokes its head through the relatively scant snow on the ridge line

The best snow of the trip, although tough to break trail in

On the way out

 We've had an exceptionally warm and dry December in town.

Thank goodness what little moisture we've had has fallen in the mountains, with enough to open Showdown Ski Area.

We've been out five times and found decent enough snow.

This past week we were able to do the 7-mile Deadman run in the Little Belts and the next day follow it with several miles of pretty good skiing on a groomed Silver Crest cross country ski area.

We had to strip down to sweatshirts on both days because of the warmth.

But the warmth had its downside:  wind that put a wind crust on the ridgeline and a relatively base-less snow that was tough to plow through.

If the past 10 years is any indication, climate change is taking its toll on an ever late ski season.