I Hate Spring

My least favorite season of the year? Spring. Oh, spring riding is great. Shed some layers, enjoy the sunshine, and be thankful for snowmaking that makes a base that carries the season a bit longer, and be thankful for grooming that can smooth out snow that gets to be unrideable when it’s chopped up and then served frozen.

But after the ideal time for snow sports comes the decline, and with it, a temporary fit of misanthropy. I snarl when people talk about the “nice weather” coming upon us. I wonder, “Nice for what?” Too warm for snowboarding, too cold for riding a bike, taking a boat ride, or playing golf. The ground turns soft, mushy, and brown, unsuitable for walks.

The opening of the flowers? The woods coming to life? Pleasant, but not offering the same enjoyment as a good  trip down the slopes.

The problem with spring, in addition to signaling the end of the snow season, is that it is cold, windy, and wet.

Cold is good if it’s not wet. Windy is good if it’s not cold. Spring combines all three qualities into one unpleasant package. It’s wet, windy, and cold, and often, overcast.

Sometimes, the weather takes a cruel turn, dropping some snow long after the local ski areas have closed. It can leave too much snow for ordinary life (as people quickly forget how to drive in snow), too little for the hills (which require a good base to operate) and too late (a short warm up tends to distract the attention of would-be customers, drying up ticket sales and the incentive for ski hills to keep the wheels turning.)

So how long is the “bleah” time of year? Too long. The National Weather Service keeps records of recorded temperatures. For the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, the average daily high exceeds 34 starting on March 4. After that, you’re snowboarding on borrowed time; in my experience, you might have decent conditions through St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), but after that, it’s time to put away the board–or plan a trip to higher elevations.

The average daily high doesn’t hit 60 until April 21. So at least in my part of the world, there are about 5 week of unpleasant weather, filled with cold, damp air, wind, and rain.

Of course, there are about 5 weeks in the fall when the average daily high drops into the 34 to 60 degree range. But at least you’ve got some beauty of the leaves turning color–and anticipation of snow.