Sweet Home

We're on our way back into town today and can't believe what's in store. Nothing like leaving the powdery West to come home to the powdery East.

We say farewell to 2007 with fond fuzzies. From late January, into February, March and April then picking up again in November and December, the year was a skier's dream. The folks at bestskiweather.com took the occasion of turning the page to 2008 to break down the Vermont ski season so far.

Their analysis validates what we've all been experiencing. Snowfall since the start of November has been between 120 and 140 percent of average. Jay Peak is already over 200 inches for the season, more than halfway to their average annual of 385. The same is true on and around Mount Mansfield, where both Smugglers' Notch and Stowe have hit the 150-inch mark. That's more than half of Smuggs' annual average (288) and almost half of Stowe's (333). As a reminder, two-thirds of the season is still to come.

Of course, a picture trumps all stats, so here's a brief tour of the very white Green Mountains:

The bigger the snow, the bigger they go at Mad River Glen.

The pros at Killington know how to do it.

New Year's Evening at Bolton Valley.

Great overhead shot of The Face Chutes at Jay (be sure to check the Dec. 30 pictures)

We love our storms to coincide with holidays, right? Last year brought us the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and the St. Patty's Day Dumper. Already in 2008 we have the New Year's Day Nightmare. It will be a tough act to follow, 2007. But the new year is off to a smashing start.