PAHASKA TEPEE – A lack of snow is wreaking havoc on winter activities across the Rocky Mountain West, delaying ski resort openings and sports seasons.

The Wyoming High School Activities Association pushed the Nordic ski season back a week due to poor snow conditions on Casper Mountain.

Enough snow eventually fell last week for Cody to host the first Nordic ski meet of the season at Pahaska Tepee, located an hour west of town and high enough in elevation to accumulate the necessary snowpack.

The Pinedale High School Nordic ski team strapped on its skis for the first time at the Cody Invite held on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17-18. The team has yet to hold practice outdoors in real skiing conditions, said head coach Holly Thayne.

“The seniors were okay (at Cody), but it was a challenge for the freshmen,” she said. “Teams across the state are in the same boat. Everyone is racing on muscle memory.”

Thayne expressed pride in her athletes for rallying despite the “marginal” conditions at Pahaska Tepee.

“I’m pleased with the seniors – they dug right in and did the best they could,” she said. “I’m impressed everyone was able to make it from point A to point B.”

Friday featured a 6-kilometer classic race, followed by a 6-kilometer skate, or freestyle, race on Saturday with competitors starting in 15-second intervals.

Senior Lexi Goodrich represented Pinedale in the girls’ varsity division. On Friday, she placed 19th in a field of more than 40 skiers,

In Saturday’s freestyle race, Greene took 22nd place at 29:21.30 while Belka came in 24th at 29:52.20.

The Pinedale girls’ varsity team of one placed sixth with 18 points after two days. Boys’ varsity also came in sixth place overall with 19 points.