Winter is underway...

So as the world continues to spin and as the the winter sets in we find our selves in the Holiday Season! For most that I know this is a fun, family filled time of the year and not only a time of reception but also a time of reflection and thankfulness, a conscious acknowledgment of the gifts and blessing that each one of of us have. This winter is starting off particularly tough for a few that I know and for the ski community with the loss of our friend Jamie Pierre and then his mother, Pam Pierre. I pray that the times get easier and sympathetic for the Pierre family and the blessings just pour into them. They are an incredible family that has endured a lot in a short amount of time. I am thankful for my family and for this life that I have been gifted with. Donations can be made at Wells Fargo Bank to "Jamie Pierre Memorial Fund" for the benefit of his wife Amee and his children Clementine and Royal. The snowpack here in the majority of the Northern Rockies is pretty rough starting as well with a large layer of faceted snow acting as the bonding zone between the snowpack and the ground. What that basically means is that we have a lot of great snow sitting on top of a layer of 6"-8" of Styrofoam packing peanuts. Please be careful out in the backcountry while traveling around. Think avalanche in all conditions and watch and listen for whooomps, cracks, faceted layers, and all other tell tale signs to a suspect slope. There is a lot of "season" to go so we can always ride tomorrow and live today! Go take an avalanche course and save your life as well as your friends! Thanksgiving was good and I hope it was well for all of you as well. Big Sky Resort opened for the season on Thanksgiving morning so I took the fam up to the snow, I skied the groomers for a while then played in the snow with the kids and the sleds for a bit. Turkey dinner was great that night and of course I ate too much! Again thankful for all the blessings and people in my life! Freezers are full of elk and all we need is some snow on these meager snow packs that we have, Christmas is right around the corner and we have a chance to show all how thankful we are for our lives! What are you doing for Christmas Season? New Year's Eve? Have any ski plans? If in this part of Montana then hit me up also I will be in California from Dec 26th - Dec 30th. Looking forward to seeing the family and also some maritime snow love! Don't forget Moonlight Basin is having some great Holidays Specials so don't miss out at www.moonlightbasin.com P.S. Order gifts for your loved ones and yourself from www.corelayers.com and enter code "jturns50" when checking out and get 50% off entire order! Happy Holidays! Ski ya later, Turns