Loon Delays Opening

[Vortex]

8 or 9 years ago it use to be two weekends before tukey day around the 11th or 12. Then it went to the Sat before thankxgiving. It must have been 2003 that I skeid Watervile and on High country the Wed and thurs before thanksgiving. Boyne has the advantage of having 1 resort open in the East already.

 

[billski]

Too warm to ski, says Crotched Mountain

If they can't build base, it's going to be a trying season going into the holiday$$ period.
Crotched can cover their entire resort in a few days when the gods allow.

 

[Skimaine]

Sugarloaf's opening is on hold as well. Friday is out and Saturday and Sunday are unlikely. Nothing official but maybe by T-day or black Friday. Depressing.

 

[thetrailboss]

I have not looked at a forecast lately, but the biggest problem I've seen is that this warm/marginal weather continues until about Wednesday and then it turns colder. For places that have blown little or no snow, I don't know if there is enough time to get down a base for next weekend. I know that Sugarbush has "some" snow still remaining from the summit to Allyn's as of Tuesday, but Win said it will take about 90 hours of continuous production to get open. I don't know how much they have now, but assuming that they have a ways to go, it may be a close call for Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[hammer]

Too warm to ski, says Crotched Mountain

If they can't build base, it's going to be a trying season going into the holiday$$ period.
Crotched can cover their entire resort in a few days when the gods allow.

Bummer that there isn't a place close to home that will be open for T-day weekend, but I still think they (and Pats Peak) have plenty of time to be fully open by XMas week...seems like they both have a lot of snowmaking capacity for their size.

 

[mikestaple]

I would still take the winter we had 3 years ago over the last 2 in a heartbeat. Granted the early season was bad, in fact I remember Portland reaching an all time high for the month of January early in the month of 67 degrees. However, late January through late April was some of the best skiing of my life. Consistent big storms and few, if any, freeze/thaw cycles.

Ouch. I remember that winter. It was so warm through December and New Years that my bushes started to bud up. Then BAM - sleet, snow, frigid temps. Killed all the plants. But the skiing was good late.


I wonder what Bretton Woods has that is really "open"? Having just their bunny hill open is akin to the steep in your average WalMart parking lot.

 

[billski]

I wonder what Bretton Woods has that is really "open"? Having just their bunny hill open is akin to the steep in your average WalMart parking lot.

Just look at the camera ontop BW and decide for yourself. BW is in the foreground, beneath the camera. Washington is in the not-so-distance. The camera is angled much higher than it usually is, so you can't see any trails. Go figure.

 

[SIKSKIER]

I wonder what Bretton Woods has that is really "open"? Having just their bunny hill open is akin to the steep in your average WalMart parking lot.

From their website:

Comments: We're back making snow this week as temperatures allow. Beginning this weekend, we'll be open daily with the Rosebrook Lane Trail, the Learning Center Quad, and the Food Court in operation from 9AM - 4PM. Lift ticket price will be $15. The Williwaw Dual Racing Zip will also be open this weekend from 10AM - 4PM. Please visit the snow conditions page often for the latest updates on weather conditions and additional trail opening status.

 

[billski]

From their website:

Comments: We're back making snow this week as temperatures allow. Beginning this weekend, we'll be open daily with the Rosebrook Lane Trail, the Learning Center Quad, and the Food Court in operation from 9AM - 4PM. Lift ticket price will be $15. The Williwaw Dual Racing Zip will also be open this weekend from 10AM - 4PM. Please visit the snow conditions page often for the latest updates on weather conditions and additional trail opening status.

Translation: one teeny-tiny trail, with one teeny-tiny lift next to it, but hey, you can pay to eat all you want and pay extra to do a zip line.

 

[AMAC2233]

I don't think Loon opened until December 1st or so in 2006. It was definitely after Thanksgiving. Personally I hated 06-07 since I do most of my skiing early December through early March. Hopefully this year will not be a repeat.

 

[snoseek]

It's still pretty early, it'll snow soon I'm sure.

Couch space for whoever wants it......

 

[riverc0il]

What about Waterville? Their website still states November 26 (El Turkey Day)...

Waterville has the best chance for NH, IMO. They only need to cover one trail off the High County double chair and they can upload the quad. That gives Waterville the highest snow making "top to bottom chairlift" elevation in NH due to the upload option and they also have one of the smallest trails to cover as the vertical on that chair is very limited.

That said, I did early season Waterville before and will not do it again. The lines are terrible and that chair is dog slow. Would be faster just to hike it a few times than wait for the chair.

 

[riverc0il]

I hate to say this, but now would be a great time for hiking and mtb...

I will be hiking this weekend for sure. Maybe I should break out the golf clubs for one more round. :-o:roll:

 

[jerryg]

Translation: one teeny-tiny trail, with one teeny-tiny lift next to it, but hey, you can pay to eat all you want and pay extra to do a zip line.

It may be a tiny trail and a tiny lift, but this seems to be the first time since the new ownership took over the BW took a chance with snowmaking or really trying to get open "early" or staying open late. I remember a few years ago when they were one of the last hills open in May, but then the new owners came in with a different strategy.

Then again, maybe they tried to open early last year and I wasn't paying attention...

 

[Ice Queen]

And Bretton is making snow on Bretton's Wood, too. I might be desperate enough to go pay 15 bucks for the chance to slide on snow, just a little. RISkier and I will be up that way anyway......if they got a real trail open we'd definitely do it.

Sigh.

 

[billski]

I will be hiking this weekend for sure. Maybe I should break out the golf clubs for one more round. :-o:roll:

I'm hatching a plan to do more forest road clearing from the 09 ice storm, believe it or nutz.

 

[Northernflight]

I cant remember a season when Waterville has had to open in December. Last year was great as they were able to open top to bottom. At this point Ill take Rosebrook just to get out. Planning on hitting it up for a few hours Saturday and seeing how many turns I can make in a run :-D
The season pass really helps out in this case. Hopefully they'll fire up the Bethlehem Quad, they've been making snow up there all week, well see.....

 

[riverc0il]

Raining pretty hard out there this morning. Much as I hate to admit it, I think the pushed back opening dates are very reasonable and it is not a case of resorts being afraid to go for it with limited snow making.

 

[Vortex]

Raining pretty hard out there this morning. Much as I hate to admit it, I think the pushed back opening dates are very reasonable and it is not a case of resorts being afraid to go for it with limited snow making.

If you got open it makes sense to keep it going, but if not why waste the money? Looks like some places could start back up Sat Night.

 

[4aprice]

Raining pretty hard out there this morning. Much as I hate to admit it, I think the pushed back opening dates are very reasonable and it is not a case of resorts being afraid to go for it with limited snow making.

Considering the economy I would say its very reasonable. I think the ski areas gotta alot of questions to be ansewered including attendance. They say snow trumps the economy but there's no snow as of yet. I know my plans have taken $ into more consideration then in the past.

BTW the west is not doing so great either at this point. The upside is to remember that it s still fall. Regardless of the current situation I still believe we're in for a good winter.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ