David you southerners wouldn't be able to handle some of our lakes at their warmest! LOL I live a couple hours north of Gisepi yet and we go even farther north to vacation and ski our a**es off!
We ski from May 1st to Oct 31st weather permitting? Yes it's cold at the start and the end of the year but it also allows me to ski 6 months of the year. But now that I started skiing in Texas when I'm down here working my ski season has gotten longer. It just hurts more in the winter because I can't stay in ski shape going so long between sets!
Thimbs up to the folks up north who go hard in the cold! :P