Photo provided by Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

This year is not an average year. Warm temperatures have plagued snowmaking efforts across the Mid-Atlantic, and, passing through mid December, no resort in the area has been able to make enough snow to capture an opening date.

“Here at Snowshoe Mountain we are convinced that either Mother Nature’s alarm clock doesn’t have a battery backup, or she is still vacationing in the Bahamas,” concedes a frustrated Joe Stevens, Snowshoe’s Director of Communications.

The Pocahontas County resort has taken the unusual step of renting five additional air compressors - hauled in on a flat bed truck - to supplement snowmaking once the temperatures drop. Since Snowshoe is known for the strength of its snowmaking infrastructure, this additional capacity will really help the snow pile up - at least 20% faster at the Snowshoe area and at least 15% faster at the Silver Creek area, according to the resort.

Frustrated employees at the resort also decided to try some alternative and unconventional ways to attract cold weather, making a plee to Ullr, the famed Norse God of snow in a ceremony on Skidder Slope Thursday night.

“Ullr, which means magnificient, is the Norse God of Snow,” explains Stevens. “This Winter God was considered to be one of the highest gods in Norse Mythology. He was an awesome snowshoe-skier and archer. Ullr delighted in traveling on his skis or skates - particularly when hunting with his weapon, the long bow. In Europe, skiers wear medals engraved with the words Ullr to protect them from harm while on the snow.”

Snowshoe last praised Ullr on its summit three years ago, and a healthy winter shortly followed.

“We can’t wait any longer for snow or cold temperatures, so we have taken the matter into our own hands,” explains Stevens.

Resort employees gathered at the summit and offered praise to Ullr, who made an appearance. (At least, employees assume it was Ullr. It could simply have been a strange old man wearing a white cape that stumbled across the resort, attracted by the bonfire.)

There is no immediate evidence yet that Ullr will deliver the goods in the form of cold temperatures and snow, but a more earthly source - Paul Goodloe, Chief Evening Meteorologist of The Weather Channel, reports that cold temperatures are finally on their way.

“It looks like the [warm] pattern will be changing over North America over the next 10 days, and that will finally mean winter will arrive in Snowshoe! The North Atlantic Oscillation, or NAO, is moving out of its positive phase and has already turned negative, and will stay negative for weeks to come,” explains Goodloe.

The NAO will allow a blocking high to set up over the Western Atlantic, locking in cold air and allowing snow storms to flow from far north all the way into the southeastern U.S.

“For the next 5-10 days, look for a chance of rain late Sunday into Monday and then that rain to change to some snow later on Monday as temperatures finally start to fall,” Goodloe says. “And look for that snow to hang around into Tuesday as well. After that, the cold air should be here to stay awhile.”

Snowshoe will take the cold temperatures whether they come from Ullr or a North Atlantic Oscillation.

The resort plans to launch a volley of snowmaking operations on Monday night, possibly opening some slopes within days - as soon as conditions are right.

In the meantime, Stevens suggests that we can all help out with some snow dances.

Hey - whatever works.