Area skiers are doing their snow dances

What started out as an early, snowy winter has slowed down, leaving skiers and snowboarders from Girdwood to Hatcher Pass wishfully watching the skies for clouds.

"Do your snow dance," said Hap Wurlitzer, owner of Hatcher Pass Lodge. "It's not a good year . . . so far."

Wurlitzer said the Hatcher Pass area received a couple of feet of snow in the beginning of the season.

"But that was over a month ago, and we've gotten nothing since," he said.

The National Weather Service was predicting some light flurries for Southcentral Alaska by the end of this week, and in the meantime, people are making do with what they have.

Despite the scant snow, Wurlitzer said they are grooming trails for cross-country skiers at higher elevations. Until more of the white stuff accumulates, however, it doesn't look good for downhill skiers, snowboarders or snowmachiners. Alaska State Parks won't open the area to snowmachines until there is adequate snow to protect the underlying vegetation.

What little snow the area has received has proven to be deadly, with an avalanche claiming the life of an Anchorage snowshoer earlier this month.

"They tell me that because the snow has no place to cling to . . . it was powdery and cold when it came down . . . it has created bad conditions out there," Wurlitzer said. "I'm just telling people to be careful."

On the up side, Wurlitzer reports that the road to Hatcher Pass is in the best shape it has ever been. Although the road project was not completed this summer, the straightening and widening has made the drive safer and easier.

And while he waits for more snow, Wurlitzer said he is going ahead as scheduled, welcoming visitors to his cabins and feeding them lunch from his cafŽ.

South in Girdwood, Alyeska Ski Resort is taking a similar approach -- make the best of the situation.

"Unfortunately, the last natural snowfall was just before opening day," said Cella Baker, public relations manager with Alyeska. "Just like everybody else, we're in desperate need of a storm. But looking out my window right now, it's just starting to snow."

And compared to last year, Baker pointed out, this year is fabulous.

"Last year was just miserable. We had a very unusual weather pattern," Baker said. "It was wonderful at the top . . . but as you were driving into the resort, it was all rain."

This year, however, an early October snow allowed the resort to open the entire mountain on the first day, Nov. 17.

"It was the first time since 1983 that we've been able to open from top to bottom on opening day," she said.

With the snowmakers on earlier this week, the resort was reporting 13 inches at the base, 38 at mid-way and 42 at the top.

"Most main trails on the upper and lower mountain are groomed," the Alyeska ski hotline reported. "But there is limited coverage in some areas off-trail. So please continue to be on the lookout for early-season terrain hazards like rocks and twigs that may be exposed."

In Anchorage, Hilltop Ski Area described similar conditions, with 12 inches and no new snow except man-made. All the runs were groomed, with surface snow granular.

"Preseason conditions do exist, so ski with caution," the resort reminded its patrons this week.

But closer to the Valley, Alpenglow Ski Resort is working with more challenges than lack of snow. Located at Fort Richardson, the resort has been unable to open because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the United States' resulting military strikes against Afghanistan.

Those who want to ski these slopes not only need to do a snow dance, but also register with the resort using a Social Security number, Alaska driver's license number and full legal name.

"At this point, we're planning to open on Dec. 8," said Levi Nilsson, a member of the resort's board of directors. The Anchorage Ski Club manages the resort.

The military has agreed to allow the ski resort to open, but private citizens will only be allowed in if they have registered 48 hours in advance. Nilsson said skiers and snowboarders can do this via the resort's Web site at www.skialpenglow.com.

Patrons will be escorted to the slopes via caravans several times a day, Nilsson said.

"It will be interesting," he added. Despite the difficulties, Nilsson said the group is relieved the resort will be able to open, even with limitations. A winter-long closure could have jeopardized the group's lease of the slopes from Chugach State Park, Nilsson said.

With an agreement with the military in place, however, Nilsson joins the many other Alaskans who are hoping for more snow.

"Right now it is pretty decent, but we haven't had much snow. I know things are thinning out a little bit," Nilsson said.