The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 1/13/05 Section: Local News

Media Credit: Andrew Cogbill [Click to enlarge]

January at Middlebury is an image of skis and hot chocolate combined with frantic students running from building to building in an attempt to avoid the cold. However, this January there is a significant difference that cannot only be seen but can also be felt. Let us paint you a picture - breakfast at Ross is still filled with students eager to hit the slopes, yet half the Snow Bowl remains closed. The ground outside is white minus the random patches of mud and grass angering some and pleasing others. Is it really time to pull out the flip-flops or should we keep those boots and down jackets handy? Take for example, January 10, 2004. The mean temperature was a more than chilly -10° F with highs at -2°F and lows at -18°F, this all without wind chill. Yet, January 10, 2005 paints quite a different picture. The mean temperature was a balmy 32° F with highs at 37°F and lows at 26°F. You would think the warm weather would make the usual weather complaints disappear. Students have found something new to complain about: the lack of snow.

Sam Timberg '07 thinks that this January's warm weather is "a devastating and drastic change" from last year's negative temperatures. "The warm weather scares me a little bit," he says, "now I fall more on ice as opposed to snow." Not only does this "drastic" change in weather affect the normal Midd student walking to class, but for the Middlebury Ski Team, snow is a necessity which has been greatly missed so far this season. Nordic ski team member Matthew Perry Johnson '08 expressed concern about his ability to train for upcoming events. "It's really hard to train and I feel like it puts me at a disadvantage during competition." First-years and Febs, both groups experiencing J-term for the first time are shocked by the extraordinary conditions. Matthew Amoss '07.5 is shocked that the horror stories being told have not come true, "I thought it was going to be -40°F with wind-chill and I am exalted by this weather." Drew Walker '08, also experiencing his first J-term, expressed disappointment, "I was expecting to be able to jump out of my room into a 10 foot pile of snow." Sorry Drew, better luck next year. We suggest putting away those down jackets and pulling out those flip flops...just kidding we do realize that it is still below freezing and we do not want to be responsible for your frostbite and pneumonia.

Continued...

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