With our recent scant snowfall, it was just the incentive skiers and snowboarders needed to hit the slopes. But then came temperatures close to the 60s followed by below freezing temps on Thursday with temps rising again into the high 50s over the weekend. This seesawing of temperatures makes it difficult to not only make snow, but keep snow on the ground. What's a ski resort to do?

Well a few local ski areas did open with limited trails and limited weekend hours. And all ski areas including those in the Pocono's are hoping that last years abnormally warm weather won't occur this season.

And like many ski resorts in the area, local Blue Mountain Ski Area in Palmerton made few major expenditures or added slopes due to the poor 2011-12 season. Said Heidi Lutz, Blue Mountain Marketing Director, "After warmer temperatures last season, Blue Mountain focused on extensive upgrades to our snowmaking system. During the summer and fall we added ten fully automated TechnoAlpin fan guns and upgraded a number of guns already in our impressive fleet. With these additions, we can make higher quality snow at a faster pace which equates to covering more trails quicker."

Lutz added that they are planning to cut another trail sometime this season. For updated information check www.skibluemt.com.

At Bear Creek Mountain Resort outside Macungie where temperatures are always a few degrees warmer than atop the Blue, they are planning a December opening but it all depends on the weather.

Over the summer Bear Creek added to their already extensive resort accommodations by adding a grab & go café, a fourth (Bear Bites) dining area in the main lodge that will serve a variety of pastries, breakfast foods, specialty coffees and dessert waffles.

And they upgraded 22 snowguns with new spray manifolds and nozzles for improved snowmaking.

According to Ryan Werst, Marketing Assistant, "With these upgrades our snowgun fleet is now 75 percent automated. And by automated we mean the snowguns monitor the changing weather conditions and make constant machine changes, allowing us to produce the best quality snow possible."

Werst added, "All rental equipment has been upgraded as well. Our ski packages include Volkl Rtm skis with Marker bindings and Dalbello boots. Snowboard packages include Flow Verve boards with Flow Flight 2 boots and Flow Vega bindings. This plus seasonal rentals can be purchased in the Tune Shop with prices starting at just $99 per package."

Bear Creek is a true resort with 118 hotel rooms, several dining choices, indoor and outdoor pools, spa and hot tub. All these in addition to skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing winter activities. Check www.skibearcreek.com for additional information.

BEAR SIGHTING

Terry Warmkessel of Neff's, had a nighttime visitor during the light snow we recently had. Upon going outside to fill his bird feeders, he discovered they were empty and wrecked. Seems a marauding bear came through his swimming pool gate and raided the sunflower seeds in the feeders. Warmkessel saw the bears' tracks around the feeders and over his swimming pool cover. And from the size of them, it appeared to be a sizable bear. Guess not all the bears went into hibernation for the winter.