Good-bye, snow drought.
Almost halfway through the winter, Alyeska Ski Resort swung back into action this week.
The Girdwood forests surrounding the ski area might still look more like fall than winter, but the mountain is finally open from top to bottom.
The resort warns that early season conditions exist from midway down despite the January date on the calendar, but life in Girdwood looks a lot better now than it did only weeks ago. Cold weather that finally allowed for snow-making was followed by a couple of inches of fresh snow Thursday, allowing groomers to get the Race Trail and a few other routes down to the base of the mountain in good shape.
Night skiing was underway Friday, and the prospects look good for the weekend with even more snow in the forecast.
Get it quick. The weatherman says the Seattle-style weather that has plagued the region for most of this winter could turn arctic by the middle of next week, with temperatures plunging below zero.