At its best, it can be exasperating. At its worst, it can be expensive.

Although it can happen to anyone, the "Forgot Syndrome" more often than not seems to focus on families.

Mom, dad and the kids arrive at a resort for a day of skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing and/or snowshoeing. Dad pulls up to the drop-off site next to the base lodge. Mom and the kids unload all the clothing and equipment.

Well, almost all. One item, and perhaps more than one, was left somewhere at home -- in a closet, on a table or in the garage.

Joe McDonough of Upper St. Clair, an attorney and instrument-rated pilot with 30 years of experience, has a time-tested solution to the syndrome -- a checklist.

It came up during a recent conversation at Hidden Valley during which he commented on the Buncher Company's "truly remarkable resurrection" of the resort since it purchased it Aug. 31, 2007. I asked him to send me an e-mail about the merits of a checklist.

When he did, he said it was one of the most useful things he learned in his training to become a pilot. "While pilots are often in a rush to get going, checklists make sure they have done everything necessary for a rewarding and safe flight before leaving.

"In my experience with a wife [Maureen] and five daughters [Colleen, Lindsey, Meredith, Elizabeth and Caroline], there is often a rush to leave for the slopes. With all there is to take -- multiplied by the number of people going -- a checklist can really come in handy.

"To allow for a last-minute review, and to promote individual responsibility so that mom or dad do not carry the entire burden, I attach a checklist to the garage wall and require each skier to read the list before departure.

"While this takes a little discipline because we all believe in our minds we already have everything we need, I cannot tell you the number of times when going down the checklist has prevented us from arriving at the slopes missing key items.

"By the way, some of the key items we have forgotten during our years of skiing include those that are useful but not essential (hand warmers, iPods), items that are essential but replaceable (boots or poles) and items that are essential and not easily replaced (ski jackets, helmets and season passes)."

Here's the McDonough family's checklist:

Skis, boots, poles, ski jacket, ski pants, hats/helmets, gloves, neck warmer, ski socks, goggles/sunglasses, hand warmers, season pass (if applicable) and iPod.

"Besides the obvious advantage of leaving with everything you need, using the checklist is a good habit for the kids and eliminates that feeling that you may have forgotten something important.

"One final point: While they are most often the beneficiaries of not forgetting things, do not expect your children to gratefully accept checklists without kidding you every time about your excessive attention to detail."

And to that may I say:

"Wait until they have kids of their own."

The Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) Winter Games will run through tomorrow at four venues in the Laurel Highlands. More than 340 athletes and 140 coaches are expected to attend.

Blue Knob resort will host the cross country and snowshoeing competition. Hidden Valley will handle all the alpine events. The Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown will welcome the figure skaters and Planet Ice, also in Johnstown, will host the speed skaters.

"This is the signature competition each year for which our athletes prepare with incredible determination," said Matthew B. Aaron, SOPA president and chief executive officer. All the events are free and the public is invited.

SOPA provides year-round training and competition in 23 Olympic-type sports to more than 18,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely related developmental disabilities.

For more information, go to www.specialolympics.org or call 1-484-433-6201 or 1-610-554-7930.