Soggy, but it's snow

It's not New York, but South Shore skiers, resorts and rental shop operators said Sunday they'd soak up the snow Mother Nature dished out over the weekend.

All three South Shore resorts reported by midday at least a foot of snow in a 24-hour period, while 2 inches fell at lake level. Through the weekend, the snow was wetter and heavier than most February storm systems - but it was long-awaited moisture that's evaded a winter season deemed the second driest in history, according to the Western Regional Climate Center.

"This is the best day of the year. You can't go busting off in the trees, but it's snow. It's not the fluffy snow, but it's snow," South Lake Tahoe resident David Greco said, while having lunch at the Stagecoach Lodge at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Since he holds a season pass at Heavenly, Greco said he was glad the resort invested its $1.5 million in snowmaking.

The National Weather Service reported the long-term forecast provides a slight chance of moisture on Wednesday with no storms anticipated for the upcoming President's Day holiday.

Skiers weren't the only ones waging a mild celebration over the weekend.

Ski rental shops from Kingsbury Grade to the "Y" gave employees a little spring in their steps and hours to work.

"They're not breaking down the door, but there were rentals this morning," House of Ski worker Monique Martinoni said.

She added that slightly pent-up demand brought up Bay Area skiers to complement the destination travelers.

"It was definitely busier than in the past," Ted Moorhead of A Vertical Sport said. "When we have a season like we did the last season, we expect it to be like that. We're a bit more optimistic going into the holiday weekend. This is our lifeblood."

The last two winters were recognized as banner snow seasons -one for its early snow, the other for its later moisture.

About the only people not celebrating the snow may have been the motorists who were in traffic accidents. Two involving minor injuries occurred within two hours of one another on Sunday and a few miles apart.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Department responded to a single-car skid out on Lakeridge near Cave Rock at about 8 a.m., while the Nevada Highway Patrol went to the scene of another involving three vehicles on Highway 50 near Roundhill Square. The crash reduced the thoroughfare to one lane.

"This is usually something we see in the beginning of winter," NHP Sgt. Blair Harkleroad said.