1996-97 was above normal after the April fools blizzard which is an all timer. However, leading up to it snow was sub par but nothing like recent ratters like 2001-02, 2011-12, and this season so far. There was a nice snow in early December-like 4-7 or something which was supposed to be rain. A few days later inland areas got nailed (cantore famous thundersnow shot in ORH). ORH got 14 inches. January was generally pretty cold and we did get 7 inches from a system that was supposed to miss us early in the month. I remember xc skiing that day in the Arboretum. February was an absolute torch mainly snowless but mid March on was cold and snowy. So that season is a bad example.