It’s Snow Time! City’s First Snowfall Brings Out Youngsters For Hillside Recreation

Squeals of snowy delight echoed through Manito Park on Saturday as sledders on the park’s big hill found their prayers had been answered.

“Last night, I didn’t think it was going to stick,” said Amanda Hess, 11. As she drifted to sleep, she could only hope it would.

Hess spent the morning slipping and sledding through the 2 or 3 inches that blanketed the park. However, the official report from the National Weather Service was that only 2 inches fell in Spokane by 6 p.m.

Tagging along with Hess were her red-nosed South Hill friends, Melanie Piperek, 11, and siblings Jessica English, 12, Sarah English, 9, and Nicholas English, 3. Their chaperone - Boxie, a 1-1/2-year-old black lab - ran alongside every sled run the kids made, grabbing gloves, nipping boots and, of course, hoping for a chance to ride in the plastic funmobile.

“Watch out, Nick, they’re gonna hit you,” said Sarah to her little brother as Melanie and Amanda sped down the hill sitting on a flattened Jessica - who volunteered to ride down head first.

For one Spokane family, Saturday was the day they bought their first sled. It was also the first time Austin Turner, 3, had seen snow.

The Turners moved to Washington from California this summer.

John and Sheri Turner said they pulled the sleepy-eyed Austin from his bed and brought him in front of the biggest window in their South Hill home.

“We opened the shades really slowly,” said John Turner. “And as he saw the snow his eyes just opened up as big as grapefruits.”

At the park, most of Austin’s eyes were covered up because he kept tugging on his new hunter green alpine hat.

“These are my new boots, too,” he said, pointing to his snow-covered rubbers. All the Turners have to do is buy some for Austin’s brother, Alexander, 1.

Sheri Turner said she didn’t expect the little guy would like the snow so much but he kept giggling and asking for more every time she took him down the hill.

Three snowboarders certainly were asking for more snow. South Hill’s Mike Fealk, 12, Max Silver, 10 and Ben Silver, 8, who are next-door neighbors, grabbed their gear and raced over to Manito Park - passing by the “little sledders.”

Boarding’s a ton more fun than sledding, said Fealk, adding that when more snow falls, he and the Silvers will be heading to the mountains to strut their snowboarding stuff.

Ben was sweating up a storm while he took a break from the action. “Geez, it’s so hot out,” he said, whipping off his fleece hat and unzipping his puffy parka.

His brother, Max, who was busy stuffing snow into his mouth, suggested it had more to do with his Pillsbury Dough Boy attire.

“Aw, man,” said a frowning Max as he looked up to the sky. “The sun is coming out.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo