Haven’t tried skiing before? Imagine cold air rushing past your face as your skis glide over snow that sparkles like crushed diamonds. Each turn creates a soft spray that drifts into the sunlight. For a moment, it’s just you and the powder as your mind is at ease. As winter strikes, ski season is a big thing to look forward to! 

 Our very own students at C. Milton Wright enjoy hitting the slopes during winter. Lindsey Dennis, a senior at C. Milton, says “Ski season is my favorite winter activity, giving me the opportunity to hang out with friends and family while enjoying the cold weather!”. If you’re looking for places you can go skiing, some nearby are Roundtop, Whitetail, and Wisp. If you’re willing to make the drive, places in Vermont and New Hampshire are nicer. 

 Ski resorts contain fake and real snow. Fake snow is dense, icy, and consistent. This makes it great for high-speed carving and helps ski resorts stay open during warm winters. On the other hand, real snow is lighter and fluffier. It offers a softer feel that powder skiers prefer, but it is more likely to melt on the East Coast with warmer temperatures. Fake snow is frozen water droplets that form tiny ice balls, which makes it harder and more durable, but is very icy. Real snow is hexagonal crystals that are soft and powdery when they come together. Usually, most skiers prefer real snow since fake snow is slippery when carving. As a skier, I prefer real snow because of how soft it is. A great powder day out west is beautiful. Except for when you get so much snow it’s up to your knees. 

Sadly, Maryland’s 2025-2026 winter forecast is predicted to be warmer and potentially drier than usual. It is influenced by La Niña being weak. Significant snowstorms are still possible specifically in late December and late February, though there is below normal precipitation predicted. But we already got snow this winter which gives us high hopes for more!