STEPHENVILLE, N.L. — While the calendar officially marked spring on Wednesday, it still looks a lot like winter.
That’s just fine with at least one skier, but others just want to say goodbye to the snow.
Noreen Dwyer, an avid skier with the Whaleback Nordic Ski Club, said she embraces winter and with nearly 80 times out on the trails as of the first day of spring, wouldn’t mind getting more ski time in.
“It’s real bliss,” she said of getting out on the trails since the first snow arrived in November.
She said Whaleback’s 21 kilometres of trails are in excellent condition because of the work by groomer operator Kenny Young.
Dwyer said the trails are conducive to a provincial marathon and she thinks even more people should be out availing of them.
“Getting out on the trails is therapy, it’s excellent and in addition to the physical benefits there’s also mental and emotional benefits,’ she said. “I love winter because I can get out there.”
Jamie Buffett, general manager of M & F Motorsports, said there has been a little less activity at their business this year and he believes it could be because of less work in Alberta.
Storms in February affected business as people didn’t want to go out much.
Buffett said while this is a better time of year for snowmobiling, sales will likely be limited to some used machines, along with maintenance work.
He’s now looking forward to spring and sales in other areas.
Thomas Chubb, a private snow clearing contractor in Kippens, said winter started well for his business, but once it wore on it was tougher.
He said the way their contract works is that whether there is an inch of snow or a foot they must go out and plow. With the variance in temperatures this winter they used up more sand and salt but managed to get through it.
“I’ll be glad to see the snow gone. Hopefully the milder weather is coming, although it didn’t warm up until late last year,” he said.
Patrick Lannon of Precision Enterprises said this winter was one that you could put in the books as unpredictable.
“It was an unordinary winter with days it would be raining and a temperature of six degrees above at 7 p.m. in the evening and by 3 a.m. next morning down to minus 12 degrees,” he said.
Lannon said there would be 2-4 cm of snow forecasted at times and you’d get a foot of it instead.
“I’m hoping for a thaw but not holding my breath. It’s been a long five months so far and it would be nice to see it go the other way,” he said.
