Some new deals at Crystal Mountain this month:

In an effort to help skiers and riders feel less of a pinch during this tough economic time, Crystal Mountain has come up with a Ski Ride Stimulus Plan including some specials during the month of February.

$40 LIFT TICKETS ON MONDAYS DURING FEBRUARY:

Crystal Mountain is offering $40 lift tickets online for Mondays in February, excluding President's day. The $40 lift tickets are available online only and will not be available at the ticket window.

-Offer valid Mondays in February only.
-Not valid Monday, February 16, 2009.
-Not valid with any other promotion.
-Offer ends February 23, 2009

FREE LIFT TICKET WHEN YOU BRING UP A BEGINNER FOR A LESSON PACKAGE:

Also during the month of February, if someone brings a beginner skier or snowboarder to Crystal midweek and signs them up for a full-day First Time Group Lesson Package or the EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3 Package and they'll receive a FREE all-mountain lift ticket to use the same day!

First Time Group Lesson Package $122 (full-day package offered at the half-day price)
Includes equipment, Discovery lift ticket a full-day* lesson.
*5 hours: 10am-12:30pm, 1 hour break for lunch, 1:30-4pm (check-in at the sales desk by 9:30am)

EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3 Package $155 ($25 off the regular price)
We provide you with everything you need: your equipment, group instruction and lift tickets. Your first visit includes one 5-hour lesson, equipment rentals and a Discovery lift ticket to learn the basics. You'll then return for two additional 2 1/2 hour follow-up lessons, equipment rentals and all-mountain lift tickets to help you hone your skills.

-One free lift ticket issued per package purchased.
-Lift ticket not valid on any other day.
-Not valid with any other promotions.
-Offer valid midweek only. Not valid Monday, February 16, 2009.

Having grown up in Ohio, I was thoroughly immersed into the legend and fame of Punxsutawney Phil. Every Ground Hog's Day, we would eagerly await Phil's forecast for the length of the remaining winter.

According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks, according to an AP story. If no shadow is seen, legend says, spring will come early.

At some point, Ohio jumped on to the Ground Hog's Day bandwagon with Buckeye Chuck. But Phil was and is the most famous of ground hog weathermen.

I was thinking of that on my way to work this morning, when I thought the South Sound deserved its own winter prognosticator. I thought Paradise Pete, the Cascade fox. just might do. OK, I admit they don't hibernate, but given the amount of snow at Paradise, those animals that do hibernate in the Paradise area are going to be sleeping for a long while.

Any way, had Paradise Pete poked his nose out of his den this morning, he would have seen his shadow, based on the Web cams. So it seems like we'll have six more weeks of winter.

As for Punxsutawney Phil, it was decided that he, too, saw his shadow this morning.