Shortest Season of this generation?

[billski]

In my old age, I'm leaning much more towards quality over quantity than ever before, since my motives are not much about adrenaline, stamina and risk any more. I'm becoming more convinced of a "follow the snow" strategy. I may even alter it to include an out West trip more frequently, since the this year's trip seemed to "balance out" the lack of natural snowfall. To do that though, I'll need to start finding and following the "cheap west" threads.

 

[bvibert]

Glad I'm not the only one who thought this season was kind of effed up. These unusually high temperatures are really doing a number on the remaining snow this spring...

 

[andrec10]

The FAT LADY just walked offstage. With temps in the mid 80's on Wed., the snow is running down the hill. uke:uke:uke:

 

[Bostonian]

I think for me it was the very very late start of the season, which makes it feel shorter then an ordinary season. I would like to think that by Thanksgiving the majority of resorts and operators are ready to roll. But this year, due to the higher then normal temps it really took a toll on the season. I know I have at least 2 more days of skiing in me this year (Superstar Glacier and hopefully Wildcat) Just think of next winter Hopefully we will get dumped on the day after thanksgiving all the way until April 1st Ironically, I did get out more this season...

 

[drjeff]

I would think that not from the hard corp skier/rider perspective, but from the ski area owner/operator, that this season was just about the perfect length.

A late-ish start, but still plenty early to allow for ample snow during x-mas week. And then mother nature doing her part to 1st put people on the hill in early March and then end the season by Late March/early April. While the total number of days of operation for this year for most places wasn't the greatest number ever, I'd bet that from a financial perspective that this seasons length will have the books looking pretty well, since many of the days that we missed at the start and then the way the end quickly has hit/is hitting will eliminate many of the days where a resort typically operates at a loss

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Watching WMUR out of Manchester, NH and the weatherman said that over the last 50 days (I think it was 50) that only 3 days were at or below normal. That is really incredible exspecially when you think that recently many of the above average days were way above average.

 

[midd]

Horrendously short season at Attitash. Opened December 12th this year as opposed to November 14, 2008. Closed March 27th this year vs. April 18th or so last year.

 

[Riverskier]

Horrendously short season at Attitash. Opened December 12th this year as opposed to November 14, 2008. Closed March 27th this year vs. April 18th or so last year.

WOW! That is terrible. While much is to be blamed on the weather, if I was an Attitash skier I would be looking for a new mountain.

 

[deadheadskier]

Horrendously short season at Attitash. Opened December 12th this year as opposed to November 14, 2008. Closed March 27th this year vs. April 18th or so last year.

was it lack of snow that closed up the mountain or lack of skiers?

 

[Puck it]

Cannon is closing tomorrow.

 

[midd]

was it lack of snow that closed up the mountain or lack of skiers?

It was getting thin before the rainstorm the week of the 25th and that did them in. Probably could have squeezed another weekend out of it, but the numbers they were expecting probably didn't merit the effort.

 

[deadheadskier]

I was very pleased that Ragged opened for this past weekend. I was there Saturday and there may have been 200 or so other skiers. I'd guestimate 90 pass holders. They sold their fair share of beers to people out on the patio, but it was clearly a money loser for them.

 

[riverc0il]

Cannon is closing tomorrow.

That was a pretty startling announcement. How many other ski resorts had to close earlier than projected due to lack of snow? MRG closed one day early. I suspect they might not have even lasted that long but they made it to shareholder meeting day.

 

[thetrailboss]

That was a pretty startling announcement. How many other ski resorts had to close earlier than projected due to lack of snow? MRG closed one day early. I suspect they might not have even lasted that long but they made it to shareholder meeting day.

Had Burke not had pond skimming, I imagine they would have closed earlier than they did.

 

[Puck it]

Not for the Artic Ice PAck though!!!

http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...ting-season-posts-latest-start-on-record.html

 

[oakapple]

I get the impression Mt. Snow is closing more from lack of skiers than from lack of snow.

When you've got temperatures in the 60s and 70s, most people are simply not in a skiing mood, even if the snow hasn't all melted yet. The die-hards who would ski in those conditions aren't numerous enough for most mountains to justify the expense of remaining open.

 

[kingdom-tele]

No complaints

skied in Oct

skied in Nov

ONE rain event - then skied boot deep powder 5 days later

it was memorable for 1 big 30"+ storm system in Feb

skied boot deep to knee/thigh deep super arctic elevation dependent snow all winter, made for easy skinning with high reward

put 3 hours on the tractor snowblowing ALL winter, used 1/4 tank of gas

still skiing at 7pm now and the garlic will likely have a banner year as it is up a month early and the mt bike trails are dry already

could always be more snow - bu thtats the way it goes

 

[sLoPeS]

on the whole it has seemed very short, especially on this end, but i have had my most days in a season ever. u take what u get each day. the winter was good and pow turns were out there. end of feb was A LOT of snow. now lets just see how long it goes...

 

[2knees]

now lets just see how long it goes...

how has superstar held up under this blow torch?

 

[powbmps]

how has superstar held up under this blow torch?

The whole headwall looked good last Saturday, but the long flat stretch didn't look very deep. Nothing like the chair-high base depths of the past. Of course back then we had to walk to the ski hill.......uphill.............both ways.