Updated: 2-5-08 |
I'm a day late with Snow News this week because I was too depressed to write yesterday after Sunday's Super Bowl. That's right, as a Boston girl I'm a lifelong Patriot's fan (and yes, that means pre-2001 or even 1996) and Sunday was a rough one for me. Now some of you might hold my sports affiliations against me, but I have to give a shout out to my boys, who had a great season and played in yet another entertaining Super Bowl (even you Pats haters have to admit they almost always make things interesting!). But congratulations also go out to the Giants for a great season and a deserving victory.
I was lucky enough to drown my sorrows in snow yesterday, as I got a day off and decided to spend it out on the slopes. It was the first time I've been able to get out for a whole day all season and it felt great! I headed over to Silver Creek and was impressed that even with the warm and wet weather we've been having—it rained on and off all day yesterday—our conditions really are holding up amazingly well. I don't think our average base has diminished at all. There are a couple spots here and there that look a little thin, and some icy spots formed at the day went on and temperatures dropped a little bit, but all in all, the snow was great. It was 50 degrees yesterday and with only my shell and a t-shirt on, I felt like I was getting in some spring skiing a month early; and you can't complain about that!
I know people are skeptical when the temperatures are nearing 60, it has rained on and off for several days and resorts are still reporting good conditions. We get a lot of phone calls from people asking if they should keep their reservations, and I know sites like skisoutheast.com (a GREAT resource for skiers and riders in the region) are swamped with emails asking what it's "really" like in the mountains. Here's a great way to test the quality of conditions; try and find out if employees are out there skiing and riding. When you live and work at a resort you get very selective about what days you go out. The mountain is right in your backyard, so anytime conditions are less than stellar it is easy to wait for them to improve. Unlike guests who are only here for a short amount of time, employees know they'll be around when are great and they don't have money invested in the time. So, if you can find a person or two who is out there making turns even when they're not getting paid for it, chances are you're getting your money's worth. The fact that my friends and I spent a whole day out there yesterday means the conditions are worth it, and now is a great time to make reservations for this weekend, or a midweek getaway!
Even though the weather has been up and down this season, conditions have been consistently good to very, very good since Christmas. We get a week or two of snow and cold weather, followed by weeks of 50-degree days and rain, but our snow continues to hold up. What has helped it that we have actually gotten a lot of natural snow—82" so far—and a cold fall allowed us to begin snowmaking nice and early—Nov 2nd. Additionally, we have one of the most experienced snowmaking and grooming teams around. Those guys work extremely hard whenever possible to make the snow the best it can be, and they usually succeed. Those factors have allowed us to put down a great base, and even though snow disappears faster than is accumulates, it takes a loooong time for 3-4 feet of snow to melt. So remember, even though temperatures may be warm, we might have gotten some rain and you don't have snow in your backyard, we've still got plenty of the white stuff up here! Also, something I just learned this week, while rain isn't something many of us enjoy when we're thinking about skiing and snowboarding, it actually doesn't zap the snow like you might think. What really affects the snow is humidity, which is why we don't groom on warm, humid nights. The grooming process aerates the snow, which allows it to evaporate at a faster pace. By leaving it packed down from the day's traffic, we help to preserve the snow.
Keep thinking snow and cold, and remember, don't fall prey to the "backyard syndrome". At 4848' the weather is very different than what you're experiencing at home. So even when you're wearing t-shirts and carrying an umbrella wherever you are, it's still a great time to get in your car and get up here!
