So, the last couple of weeks, I have been pleasantly surprised to see the log piles on either side of the newly renovated outdoor fireplace at Laurel Mountain. And it is really great to see the roaring fire as a welcome to the area. Thank you to the employees of Laurel. The fireplaces inside the lodge, and down in the Wildcat Lounge are cracking as well and to me- a fire says….” come on in and welcome to the mountains.” I grew up with large fireplaces because my folks loved a fire. My dad used to get his wood cut in 36″ lengths for his oversized fireplaces and I never minded stacking the wood because I knew that fire season was upon us.

Fast forward, Janet and I had a nice fireplace in our townhouse when we were first married and then in our first house in West View. We used to come in from the cold and ” moon the fireplace” to get our bums warm. LOL!!! But the real treat to me was our first outdoor fireplace at our house in Franklin Park.

I loved to sit around our outdoor fireplace at any time of the year. When my brother in law Duke would come over, he would pile an “army stack” of wood and sit in the Adirondack chairs and admire what he called ” the Mountain TV.” We had lots of conversations around that fireplace, and it was always a welcoming place for family and friends to gather. I miss that fireplace.

I always loved the smell of a crackling fire. In the fall, it reminded me that winter is coming and so is ski season. I can smell a fire a mile away when Janet and I are hiking in the fall. I remember going to Vail for the first time, when I was young, and smelling the fires out there. It was just part of the welcoming atmosphere of Colorado. Our own Seven Springs, back in the day, always had a fire in the fireplace in the main lodge at all times of the year. It was so inviting, and I could just hear Herman Dupre saying……..” welcome to the mountains.” Ski areas and fireplaces are synonymous. To me, there is nothing more cold, and uninviting, than an empty fireplace when you arrive at a ski area. I am so happy Laurel Mountain is making the effort to light them and keep them going. Heck, I would even volunteer to do a shift to stoke the fires and keep them all loaded with wood. To see the kids making smores around the outdoor fireplace at Laurel is just so cool. After the free hot chocolate provided by Vail, the kids go outdoors to make their smores, much to the delight of their parents. Vail provides the graham crackers, the marshmallows, and the kids love it. So do their parents and all of us, as we come in the get a little warmup between runs. These are the things that make memories for kids, and create a unique atmosphere at Laurel for all of us regulars. The blazing fireplace just warms my heart as I arrive and take in the atmosphere of our mountain here in Western Pa.

I always make an effort to hang around a fireplace wherever we go skiing. I actually seek them out not only to take the chill off, but also to smell the fire and hear and see the crackling embers. There is just something about it that welcomes you no matter where you are.

So, thank you to all the employees that have made it happen for all of us. It is truly appreciated and if you see me, tell me……” hey Pat, it is your turn to stoke the fires,” I will do it!! My friend Jaime does it all the time and he is not even asked. LOL!! Like I have said in my last couple of posts, there is more to skiing than groomers, powder and sunshine. Part of the atmosphere are your friends, the welcoming aura of your own local area, and ……….a blazing fire to welcome you to the mountains. Thanks for reading and go make a smore will ya?

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