Good news out of Andalusia, Ill., if you look at the news the right way.
Ski Snowstar announced today that it will close at 4 p.m. this afternoon and remain closed until noon on Thursday.
Bad news: The hill's closed.
Good News: A snowstorm good enough to close a ski hill (even in Illinois) is certainbly something to look forward to.
For those who like to explore new places on skis, SE Iowa will look good at the end of this week. Lake Darling near Brighton will be very nice, I'm sure. Lacey-Keosaqua down on the Des Moines River might be awesome, too. These are places that are almost impossible to ski in normal years, I've been lead to believe. I've skied Darling in decent conditions. It's a peach. Keosaqua's got superb hiking trails that I've never skied, but that I've dreamed of skiing.
All of Washington County's parks should be good to go after tomorrow. I've skied every trail in this county and can vouch for all of them. They are nicer than Johnson County's parks. Brinton Timber, Clemons Creek, and Sockum Ridge are all great, but might be too steep or too tight for some. The Kewash Nature Trail is great for mostly flat skiing. You can ski 13 miles from Washington to Keota and have a beer at The Roost Tavern before your return trip or to wait for a pick-up from your driver. Or go halfway and turn around in West Chester after a warm-up at the gas station there. None of these trails or parks listed in this post are groomed to my knowledge.
Yeah, blizzard!
