Cold school

When I look out the window at a fresh pile of snow, with memories of 100 degree days not six months ago, I consider us fairly lucky to experience the stark contrasts of our four-season town. It beats the monotony of, say, Southern California’s perpetual summer, in my opinion, and I always find the cold oddly refreshing. But I’ve seen enough Sierra winters at this point to know that the magic of the holiday season can sometimes come with more than a few hardships.

You’ll find our usual directory of local ski resorts on page 16, our proximity to which I consider the high point of Northern Nevada winters. But the solemn winter nights can seem especially long when you’re cooped up indoors, so I’ve included a brief synopsis of the area’s night-skiing opportunities on page 17.

If your taste for winter recreation is a little more laid-back, our contributor Andrea Heerdt spells out the directions to some of the area’s local hot springs on page 15. The combination of a secluded, peaceful setting and a warm soak can be especially rejuvenating when the cold begins to take its toll.

Finally, sometimes the stresses of the season can manifest in more ways than just the physical. I sat down with Dr. Stephanie Dillon, a licensed psychologist, to talk about how to spot the signs of seasonal affective disorder and ways to address a drop in mood as the thermometer dips. That story is on page 14.

Winter should be a time for reflection on both the good and the bad of the previous year. And I think we do probably appreciate the sun a little more after spending a few months in the cold. Writing this guide gave me plenty to think about heading into the new year, and I hope it does the same for you. Thanks for reading,

Matt Bieker

Special Projects Editor