Thousands of skiers took to the slopes of Sierra Nevada ski resorts over last year's Thanksgiving holiday as Mother Nature barreled into the region with relentless storms and wonderful snow.
What a difference a year can make.With daytime temperatures holding well above normal, not even technological coaxing can bring white stuff to the barren ski runs.
But ski resort operators said it is too early to panic. After all, last year was exceptional. This year is, well, normal.
"In the Sierra, this is the time when if you get it, it's a gift. If you don't get it by Christmas, you start crying," said Mike Pierce, spokesman for Mount Rose Ski area southwest of Reno.
Last year, Mount Rose received 53 feet of snow over the course of the season.
"We figure moisture is on the way. It's just got to be," Pierce said.
As of Tuesday, moisture is something the Reno area hasn't seen in 126 days, marking the region's longest dry spell since record keeping began in 1888.
Boreal Ski Area, along Interstate 80, was open Nov. 6-11 with machine made snow. Then spring returned.
"We're still going to try to open on Thanksgiving Day, but we don't know if that's going to happen," said spokeswoman Kris Breen.
At Alpine Meadows on the north side of Lake Tahoe, operators are hoping the weather will show signs of being a little more conciliatory - even if just to cool things down a bit.
"We're just getting ready for Mother Nature to cooperate for us," said Brinn Talbot, spokeswoman for Alpine Meadows near Lake Tahoe.
"We're hoping that as soon as temperatures do drop, we'll fire up our snow guns. We're not panicking yet."
For the most part, snow guns have been idled by temperatures hovering around 60 and overnight lows that often don't reach freezing.
Last year, Alpine Meadows opened on Nov. 11. With a winter snowpack that in some places was 250 percent of normal, skiers swooshed down the slopes until July 4.
But in a "normal" year, November is always hit-and-miss when it comes to snow, operators said.
"It's unfortunate that we don't have more snow at this time, but it's not unusual for November," said Wendy Kelley, spokeswoman at Mammoth Mountain.
"Last year we opened on Oct. 8, but that was just an extraordinary year. This is more a typical year. Often times, November is touch and go."
Mammoth Mountain, located in the central Sierra, is making snow whenever temperatures turn chilly, Kelley said. But it's doubtful there will be any skiing over the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
For people who made reservations in advance, the ski area is offering recreational alternatives, such as passes to the resort's mountain bike park.
At Squaw Valley USA, the ice skating rink is open on weekends, and the tram car will take you on a scenic ride to the top of the mountain. But you won't be able to ski your way down, at least not yet.
Typically, Squaw Valley opens toward the end of November. "So this isn't anything out of the ordinary for us," said resort spokesman Andrew Cook.
"We did make some snow the other day," he said.
At June Mountain, spokesman Paul McCahon remains optimistic.
"At this stage of the game, we're waiting for snow like everyone else. It's a little early for anyone to get nervous," he said.
"We're confident that when Mother Nature gets ready, it'll come."