It’s hard to believe that the Holidays are already upon us this year. It seems as if each year they arrive quicker. It also seems that winter has caught up to us as well. We had a very nice fall this year (almost too nice when you think about all the snow we need for winter activities), but it seems as if the last round of storms has done the trick. The Red River Ski Area has almost 100% of the mountain open with unbelievable conditions. The Silver Chair and Green Chair opened this weekend as well, so all the lifts are open with only a run or two that have yet to open. 
Our family went skiing yesterday and we had a great time! The crowds were minimal and the conditions were great. My son Josh and I took a trip back to the Silver Chair and were among some of the first to ski the terrain. The amount of powder was simply amazing. It’s hard to describe that feeling but those of you who have experienced it know what I mean. It is so quiet, you have the whole run to yourself and all you hear is a gentle swish as your skis carve through the powder. It really makes you feel like one of the guys on Warren Miller’s famous ski films.
With the snow falling, the ski area open daily, and the holiday lights everywhere, it really makes it feel like Christmas.
Red River is one of the best places to spend Christmas, especially during a great snow year, and I imagine that is why so many people visit this time of year. For those of you who have been here during the Holidays, I guess it’s easy to see the attraction. You can spend the day playing in the snow, skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, or just having a good old fashioned snowball fight or making a snowman. If snow is not your thing, then you can always sit by the fire and watch the snow drift down. With a few choices of Christmas Eve services here in town, and of course the torch light parade to top off the evening, Christmas Eve is truly a magical day.
The Holidays are great days for Family Tradition. My family typically starts the day by opening our stockings to see what Santa brought this year. After going through our stockings we usually take a short break to eat some breakfast and maybe a piece of Christmas toffee. Then come the presents! We always pass out all the presents, and then takes turns opening them. Of course the kids always have a much larger pile so they usually take a little longer. After the presents are open we usually take some time for assembly or putting things together and playing for a while. After some time we usually go make our rounds around the cabins picking up trash and towels and talking to the folks who are staying with us. We appreciate our guests allowing us to be “closed” for the day so we and our staff can spend time with our families on Christmas as well. After the presents and all the wrappings are put away we usually bundle up grab some sleds and hit the sledding hill for a while before Christmas dinner. Then when we get back from sledding we start on our Christmas afternoon dinner. Our Christmas tradition over the years has been to have an untraditional Christmas Dinner. Instead of the ham and turkey we usually opt for seafood, shrimp, steaks, lobster tails, and the occasional smoked prime rib courtesy of my friend Wes. Sometimes we have family and friends visit and join us for our Christmas activities and sometimes we are on our own, but either way Christmas is always one of my favorite times of year. 
So whatever your Christmas traditions may be and whether you spend your Christmas with us or elsewhere, we hope that the Joy of Christmas surrounds you and your family. We hope that you enjoy your friends and family on this special day, and maybe one Christmas you will visit and share in the magic of a Red River Christmas. So from my family to yours, we wish you a Very Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Brian, Tawnya, Joshua, and Zachary Waltz