 Well, the recent snow and the frigid temperatures have many people thinking winter activities and many area resorts and recreation areas are getting ready. And this week's Northwood's adventure, our Josh Peterson, shows us how the conditions are just right for the slopes. Over the ground lies a mantle of white, creating a scene straight out of a Christmas card. But behind the scenes, plenty of preparations are taking place to get those slopes ready for all the winter enthusiasts. All our lifts are checked over, our rope toes, the heels, the grooming, we chop all the heels right before we make snow, a lot of preparation. With the natural winter look already starting to take shape, to get those slopes up and running requires a little bit of help. With a nice fresh blanket of snow covering the ground, the staff here at Buna Vista will soon be firing up these snow machines to make sure there's a solid base for all the skiers and snowboarders this upcoming season. Because weather temperatures are quite ideal for snowmaking, so we will have the guns up and running as soon as we can and we're hoping for opening for the season on November 24th. But preparations aren't just happening outside. Inside the chalet, a ski and board swap and sale is beginning to take shape to prepare everyone for the upcoming season. We want to have people on up-to-date ski equipment rather than on really old out-of-date equipment because it's much safer and less chance of actual injuries out on the hill. The gear swap and sale, which has been held for over 30 years, will take place this weekend and while it's a good way to get up-to-date gear, it also acts as a fundraiser for the ski patrol organization. When we first started it was basically our only fundraiser, but now it supplements what we're getting from other organizations. With some runs expected to open beginning November 24th, the hope is that this weather will hold out and people will soon be shushing their way down the hillside and into some winter fun. With this week's Northwood's adventure in Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.