Updated: 2-25-09 |
Well it's a little bit of a gloomy Thursday on the mountain, but the rest of the week has been absolutely amazing. After almost a foot of snow fell over the weekend, we began the week with powder conditions. Tuesday and Wednesday warmed up a good bit, but there were bluebird skies, sunshine and some GREAT snow. It was almost like skiing in late March, which I love.
After filming outside for a bit yesterday, I couldn't resist throwing on my gear and making a few runs. I hadn't gotten any turns in since Saturday, and you couldn't have asked for a prettier day. The temps had risen to around 40, so I just threw on a hoodie and a beanie; it was great. I didn't stay out for long, since it was the middle of a workday, but 5 or 6 runs in about an hour satisfied my need for snow. I lapped Gandy Dancer a couple times, took a run down Grabhammer and then made a few runs over in the Northern Track area to see how our green runs were holding up with the warmer weather.
Let me tell you, everything was in great shape. There was a spot or two of ice, when trees or other obstacles cast shadows, but everywhere else was great. There was even some "almost" powder left on the sides of a few trails. Nothing was slushy or thin, even over on the greens that see a lot of action. All the lift ramps and even trail merging areas were also in great shape. We have some rain in the forecast for Friday, but with all the snow we have out there, I don't think it should have any real negative affect on the conditions. It might be a wet day tomorrow, but if you have the right gear and don't mind it, I think you'll still have some really good conditions to enjoy! After tomorrow, temps should start to drop and we may even see some flakes over the weekend. Regardless of what Mother Nature provides, if temperatures allow-which they should - we'll be making snow overnight wherever we need it. Our snowmaking and grooming teams have done a fantastic job all season. They have been diligent about checking out what's going on out there and where, if anywhere, needs some attention. This weekend will be no different. If a spot or two starts thinning, our Mountain Ops team will be on it.
This weekend is a somewhat quiet one on the mountain, without a real event. But it'll be the last quiet one until the end of the season. We have our Homegrown Music Festival next weekend, as well as the Wounded Warrior Program. This is a really special event and one we're honored to have at Snowshoe. Wounded Warriors is a national program dedicated to servicemen and women who have been injured in the line of duty. It helps them participate in a range of recreational activities. We are expecting 17 soldiers and their families next weekend. They'll received free lessons and equipment from our Adaptive Ski Program, as well as free lodging, meals and special events. This is the second year in a row we've hosted this incredible group. To learn more, check out http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
Next weekend is also our second annual Skisoutheast Summit. This is a pet project of mine, and one I'm very proud of. If you ski or ride in the region and haven't visited Skisoutheast.com, you're missing out big time. The site is an amazingly comprehensive guide to skiing and riding in the area. Mike Doble runs the site over there and does an incredible job. It has all the information you need, as well as a very active message board. The discussions range from very informative to absolutely hilarious and everything in between. It's the most visited ski site in the East, and deservingly so. The folks who participate on the message board are a great resource and are always getting together to hit the snow. Check out the site and consider coming up for next weekend's event. All the details, including how to get $100 off your lodging package and other great benefits are available on the site.
Until next time... THINK SNOW!
