31.   Winter snows lay draped in lazy drifts across the Sentiero.

32.   Aid workers say it is crucial that supplies are in place before the winter snow closes roads in parts of the country.

33.   Aid workers say it is crucial that supplies be in place before the winter snow closes roads in parts of the country.

34.   As soon as the winter snow melts, Japanese specialists will come to Russia to exhume their remains, the news agency said.

35.   Before the German assault through the snow that winter, the local people had been preparing to celebrate their first Christmas since the liberation from Nazi occupation.

36.   But winter snows in the uplands and the rugged terrain have made it almost impossible to reach some people with food aid.

37.   Early and continued snows this winter have made conditions optimal for snowmobiling, which means more people are out on the trails, she said.

38.   Heavy winter snows still block the passes in the area.

39.   Heavy winter snows, which blanket the mountainous area each year, also hindered rescue efforts, he said.