Pray for Snow

There is a small tradition seen rather frequently in the Rocky Mountain West. Around mid-November until the first big "dump" (large snowfall that actually sticks on the ground), you will find people gathering in fields and backyards (legally and not so legally) burning things - they are often referred to as "Pray for Snow" parties. Often times the items burned are old skis, downed wood, and misc. anything. This is meant to be a tribute to the snow gods and bring lots of white fluffy stuff to the mountains- as soon as possible- so we can SKI!!!Saturday night our friend Chuck had a fun Pray for Snow party at their house in Bozeman - affectionately called "Rancho Relaxo." While there were no skis at this particular sacrifice, we managed to find plenty of junk to burn. The fire was BIG, burned most of the night, and we had no "incidents" (the neighbors were thankful).
There is something very nostalgic this time of year in the mountains. People start bundling up, wearing hats, digging their gloves out of the boxes, and they are all signs that reminds us all that skiing is just around the corner. We find conversations center around the latest snow at certain altitudes, who got new skis, tallying who has bought their season passes to Bridger Bowl, who bought snowmobiles for the backcountry, and what trips are already planned for the search for snow.So many people wonder how people can live "in Montana in the winter?" They have horrific visions of 6 foot snow drifts, bitter cold and biting wind. The only response I really have to that is... they must not ski.

We are eagerly waiting for this heat wave (40-50 degrees) to end and welcome that beautiful white stuff. We have done our part to call in the snow, welcome the winter and pray for an early and loooonnnngggg ski season.