Like many of us, I have dreamed about doing something great for as long as I can remember. Getting caught daydreaming in high school math wasn’t always the most acceptable practice. But for me, daydreaming about skiing big mountains and deep snow helped me get by. From time to time, it even lead to my old friend Dave and I figuring out the best way to bail from the school cafeteria and head straight for Blue Mountain. I knew I wasn’t going to be a mathematician because I dreamed about being a skier, and in my dreams skiers skied. That’s just what I was going to do.

The summer after I received my diploma for daydreaming, I took action and moved to Vermont. Skiing the east treated me very well, and after living in Killington for seven years, I became very settled. I had a great job on the mountain and fantastic friends. But as the bitter, grey winter days passed, my mind wandered and I realized I still wanted something more. I dreamed of a place where bluebird days were the norm and it snowed until June, a place where if you couldn’t ski with the big dogs and put back a few pints you should just stay on the porch. I was dreaming about Tahoe.

Just as actors flock to Hollywood, skiers find a way to make it to Tahoe. Telemark skiers, well they move to the Tahoe backcountry, and that’s just what I had in mind. With just a few pennies to my name, I packed my gear, threw a friend in the front seat and set of on the 2,600 mile journey that started years ago as nothing more than a dream in math class.

After a monster year with over 800 inches of snow in Tahoe, and above average snowfall almost everywhere else, I was sure my first season in Tahoe would be nothing short of epic. After a weeklong trek across the country I finally made it to the Tahoe basin, and to my surprise what did I find? Maybe I should ask what I didn’t find. Snow. There was no snow. I don’t mean a little snow; I mean no snow — none, nothing, zero. To say the least, I was a disappointed. But I did as I always do, and I stayed positive. It was early; we were sure to get some good snow by turkey day, and if that didn’t pan out, surely Christmas would bring some powder. I mean, it was an entire month away. There’s no way we would have to go through the Holiday on man-made snow. I drove for days and spent every penny I had chasing my dreams of big-mountain pow in large part to escape snow forecasts that read “hardpack” and “loose granular.”

 As the entire ski community keeps an eye on the weather, many of you are aware of the record drought in the Tahoe basin. With that in mind, you might be wondering if I think my dream has come true. My answer is that it will. It’s certainly not the start skiers saw just a year ago; however, I, along with many others, continue to be optimistic about the situation. Whether you are in Tahoe or the hills of Pennsylvania, continue to do your part. Sacrifice another pair of boards, do a snow dance or throw a pray for snow party. Remember, winter will get here.

Whether you’re carving turns in the East and dream of tackling the big mountains of the West or you were born in the Wasatch and dream of being scared on the spines of Alaska, stop talking yourself out of making your dreams come true. Pack up all your responsibilities, great and small, bring them along and get yourself to the place you dream about. The storms will not wait, and you’ll want to be there when they hit. When they do, it will be a dream come true.

-Bruce Welton