Worst December skiing in Washington?

One powder day at Stevens on December 21st. That's been it so far, folks. Rain, crust, wet slides, bare ground. Long skins on the highway. Bare ground in the Methow Valley. Maybe winter will come, but not for a bit at least. As one friend put it, ski season is now cookie and book season. 

But on a positive note, there is good trail running and mountain biking to be had, and maybe even some winter hikes, as Yodelin barely has a foot at 4,000 feet. And Snoqualmie is nearly bare, so you can have many more happy days without skiing in the rain on a Friday night. Your unused season pass may be burning some holes in your new goretex bibs, but maybe they'll give you a free day at Crystal.

So here's to a 2013/2014 early winter season of extra pre-season conditioning, trail running, interstate or intercontinental snow-chase, and rock skis. Get your gopro out, capture whatever is normally coated in snow, and most importantly, have fun. 

Five last-minute christmas adventure presents

A little something for someone special in a city on your list, who you've procrastinated in buying presents for. Airfare amounts should reasonably be doubled to account for the fact that solo international travel is not the most attractive gift. 

If your recipient is in SEATTLE, send them to New Zealand in August. 17 hours travel through Hawaii, for a little over 1200 a person. Throw in some new skis, and let them head to Wanaka for some South Island fun.

If your recipient is in CHICAGO, send them to Geneva (and Chamonix) in February by way of Istanbul, for a little over 700 a person. They'll get a night in Istanbul both ways to explore the city, and a week or more of mountain and city exploration, skiing, and french food. 

If your recipient is in HOUSTON, send them to Sao Paulo in February (under $1250 a person) for a break from the cold temperatures that seem to grasp Houston every once in a while. Take some time to find a perfect beach, and send a bathing suit along with the ticket.

If your recipient is in SAN FRANCISCO, send them to Sochi for some olympic action. Even the Russians may not know where they're staying, but almost anyone can fly into Sochi on Aeroflot, one of Russia's ITA airlines, for under under $1000 US. 

If your recipient is in NEW YORK, send them to Dubrovnik, Croatia for a little pre-holiday vacation in November. They'll be escaping the cold, partying with Europe's finest in accommodations ranging from downright swank to website-less inns. Keep whatever's left over after $850 airfare for fresh fish. 

From the Methow to Seattle: Same Snow

Sometimes I travel for snow. And normally that means going to somewhere with more. But the past two weeks, I've had nearly the same amount of snow everywhere I've been. Three inches in Williamstown on the golf course, 5-6 inches in places in the Methow Valley, and now 1-3 on the golf course down the street from my house in Seattle.
Yet I am not disappointed. The golf course in Williamstown got boring after a few days, but the frozen fog and fast skating (and limited classic skiing) made up for it. Then snow in Seattle is always a treat, never to be dismissed. Hopefully more is on its way. 

Holiday gift ideas for your favorite adventurer

You're probably scrambling to find something unique, relatively cheap, and distinguishable. While your local gear store may be the best bet, backcountry and REI have stuff that few other places will keep in stock. Check em for some of the products I recommend below.
backcountry.com for free 2-day shipping
REI.com to find your local branch

Canon G1x or G16 camera, $500.
Everyone has their favorite camera, but is it small, stylish, and good in low light? If not, spring for a G1x or G16, and help make those climbing, skiing, and biking shots into something famous without risking a dSLR or sacrificing image quality with a gopro.

Patagonia Piton Hybrid Hoody, $180.
Want your best friend to look like a Ninja, but still be visible? A brightly colored technical sweatshirt is the answer, with a slightly wind-resistant chest, zip pocket, and high-zip hood.

Saxx black sheep boxers. $40.
Half gimmick, half endless comfort while in the backcountry or in an office chair, but the comfort wins out over the gimmick. These have a pouch for some friends, which works to reduce chaffing and other issues.

Swix LF12 wax. $30.
If you want to make someone a winner, this could be key. Give that little advantage for a Chinese downhill or a long skate ski. A bit of fluoro helps keep the dirt away, and three hardnesses keep skis running in most temps someone would want to ski.

Voile ski straps. $5.
Every shop has their own logo on some twist of the Voile strap, and one person can never have too many ski straps. You'll find em months later strapped to bikes, holding pipes together, or as part of a flower arrangement. Grab a few just in case and hide em amongst a bouquet of orange-stemmed flowers.

Lift skiing ideas

If you like sitting on a cold plank all day, or just don't feel like skinning up a run or risking uncontrolled terrain, check out some of these tips for cheap lift skiing. Its a good break once in a while.
http://gearjunkie.com/save-money-tips-ski-snowboard?pg=3
Right now though, might be best to invest in a mountain bike or running shoes and a set of weights, as west and east coast ski areas are having a lackluster snow year.