Alan - I do understand that everyone makes different life tradeoffs and that therefore the weather causes more impact on some than on others. I also understand that on top of that, I'm lucky - I have working legs, I don't have to work 2 jobs to make ends meet, and I have managed to live in an amazing part of the world. Due to my own tradeoffs, the weather has ineed prevented me from getting out as much this season as I did last year, but I know if I changed my tradeoffs a bit, I could be getting even more untracked powder this year than I did last. I accept my tradeoffs - it's my own choice. I guess it's in part knowing that that keeps me from the "woe is us" attitude this year. I still feel we're all incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such bounty, even this year. <br><br>I think you may have missed my New England point - when I lived there, I didn't drive out here - I drove from near Boston to northern NH, ME, and VT - a drive that is at least as long as my drive to Baker ski area. And often, all that got me was a chance to crampon up a few inches of ice over dirt, or to slide on man-made ribbons of white.
