The New Year has started off in great shape for winter sports enthusiasts. Two storms combined have already surpassed the total accumulation in Midcoast Maine for all of 2012.

According to Sugarloaf Resort, this is the most snow they have had in the month of December in the last 17 years! Nice beginning; let’s hope it keeps up. 

Our family enjoyed the snow over the holidays by doing multi-generational sledding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. 

Our driveway, which strikes fear into the hearts of most delivery people, had recently been plowed but provided an excellent surface for sliding down until the gravel started to poke through.

Then it was off to the meadow to slide down the hill until the late afternoon darkness forced us out of the cold and back inside. 

Multiple snowshoeings with various combinations of people but always including at least one dog have created trails that can be enjoyed now with just boots on. The deer are quite happy with the newly flattened surfaces too. 

The brisk temperatures did not keep us from enjoying a pleasant ski with friends this week. We are fortunate on Westport Island to have access to trails that are beautifully groomed by islander Jay Abbott. 

Whether through the pine woods, down the old road or along side the Sheepscot River, the scene was true winter bliss. 

After last year’s dearth of snow it is particularly wonderful to have a good snow base to play in. Hope you get out there and have some fun.