By Mary O’KEEFE

Winter came a little early this year – actually, for about the last six years, winter snow has arrived early in Montrose in typical California style.

Thirty-five tons of ice was transformed into snow and piled onto the parking lot of Montrose Travel for the annual Snowpalooza on Friday afternoon. There was a hill for sledding and a place to play all surrounded by 175 bales of hay.

This is the way Montrose Travel celebrates the holidays with their employees. About 390 employees, family and friends ate 600 burgers and 300 hotdogs as they spent the night sledding, listening to music and just having a great time.

It wasn’t just kids who took advantage of this special treat; many adults could be seen sliding down the white hill of snow, laughing as hard as any kid.

Montrose Travel is one of the top 50 travel management companies in the country. The business has six operating divisions in Montrose. It is family owned and operated business, which may be why the Snowpalooza has the feeling of a small town celebration.

  Mary Okeefe