Hello Everyone –
Now that’s what I am talking about, a nice coating of snow from the sky, mixed with tons upon tons of machine made snow. Those are the conditions that skiers and snowboarders are finding right now on slopes at resorts in this region. If you have been waiting because the conditions just weren’t up to your expectations, stop waiting and head to the slopes. I got to experience some of the above conditions over the weekend and they were primo. Not only are the cold temperatures allowing snowmakers to keep the guns operating around the clock, but the quality of the manmade snow is of the very fine variety.
There’s only one direction for the trail counts to head right now and that’s north or straight up. Don’t worry about any base figures you are reading. Skiers and snowboarders need to understand that resorts are looking to open addition terrain as soon as possible and then add to the base. Nevertheless, you and I both know that base averages to also going to start heading north. While we are on the subject of base averages, one thing to remember one inch of snowmaking snow is one inch of base and 12 inches of natural relates to base. What I don’t understand is base measurements climbing overnight when not all of the trails had snow made on them. That still doesn’t take away from the fact that the conditions on the slopes right now are great.
Now the question is how long this favorable weather pattern is going to hang around. Again I checked with my favorite Skiing Weatherman, Herb Stevens. In fact, it was a face to face conversation as we were sharing time on the slopes together over the weekend. Stevens, who you can also hear on XM Radio’s PGA Tour coverage, says there are only going to be a few days where around the clock won’t be happening over the next two weeks. To me, that means that most resorts should be 90 to 100 percent open by this weekend.
Now that snowmaking conditions have returned may I remind everyone to pack those goggles and not utter a single complaint about the snow guns operating on open terrain. Not this year my friend, not this year. If you want to ski and snowboard in March this year you are going to have to suck it up and deal with the best snowmaking in the region. Along the same lines, if you happen to be in your favorite resort watering hole at the end of the day and you notice a couple of snowmakers quenching their thirst after a long day on the slopes, you owe them a couple free ones and make sure to make a public toast.
Enjoy this time of the season because I know most of you have P.U.D.(pent up demand) right now and the only way to ease your pain is to head to your nearest winter resort and let gravity be your friend.
That’s it for this week, more to come as the season continues, just remember whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll whether the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! See you on the slopes.
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