Updated: 2-26-08 |
It's hard to believe that we're now just days away from March. While there have been some long stretches in there, as a whole this season has absolutely flown by. As my first winter on the mountain, I couldn't have asked for anything more. It has been a blast getting to meet so many great people, from media members to guests to some of the VIPs we've hosted this winter. And while it's fun to look back at everything that has happen so far, there is still much to come!
March is going to be an absolutely fantastic month on the mountain. We had 11" of snow last week, and after the drizzle clears this morning, we're expecting another 6-8" before the end of the day Wednesday. Right now the National Weather Service is predicting a chance of snow every day for the remainder of the week, so that total could actually be much higher. While that means in the short term that conditions for this week and into the week will be great, it also helps ensure that March skiing won't get any better than at Snowshoe.
I've said it all winter, but in addition to the natural snow—we're now just 5" away from the century march for the season—our snowmakers do an absolutely fabulous job on the slopes. Their work, complimented by that of our groomers, makes Snowshoe conditions some of the best in the region, day in and day out. While this up and down winter has made their job even more challenging than normal, we've maintained a great base all season long and we'll certainly finish strong, with very cold temperatures expected all week, allowing them to work their magic.
I know that singing the praises of our snowmakers and talking about natural snow will inevitably bring up the subject of Lower Shay's. While I addressed this in the last post, many of you have also sent me emails inquiring as to why we've "abandoned" this slope. Well, it's fairly safe to say it's time to change my tune from my optimistic outlook last time around and say there is little to no chance of getting Lower Shay's open for this season. But, let me assure you this is not something that pleases anyone here. I'm lucky enough to sit in on the weekend On the Snow meetings with our Mountain Ops staff and they've been scratching their heads for weeks, trying to figure out a way to get that lower portion open. I won't repeat what I said last time, as I know some of you are loyal readers, but if any of you missed my last post, I give an explanation of how our snowmaking plan works, which explains why Lower Shay's is the last slope we hit and why this year we just couldn't make it happen. You can check that out in the Snow News Archive.
If you want to get frustrated with someone, I'd point my finger at Mother Nature. This up and down cycle of thaw-freeze has made a very challenging job even more difficult for our snowmakers this season. Those guys work harder than most can imagine, and they do it in some pretty awful conditions oftentimes. So, next time you're on the mountain, if you happen to run into a snowmaker—which you probably won't since they're forced to be almost nocturnal—but if you do, please say thank you. Here's my thanks for everything our snowmaking and grooming teams do…and for keeping me entertained at 5am when I'm doing the snow report. You guys are the best and Snowshoe wouldn't be great without you!
Alright, well, I think that about covers everything for today. If you haven't taken advantage of some of the great deals we're offering right now, be sure to check out the website and book your March escape today. And, if you're not already loyal followers of Skisoutheast.com, you should definitely check out the site— you just might find a can't-miss opportunity on there right now! I know at least a couple people have been paying attention to the great conditions we're having right now; my parents and brother are making the trip down from Boston to experience some Southern skiing, and I can't wait to show them how incredible this place it. So, take a cue from some pretty smart Yankees and get in your car and get up here!
