A Prediction

[Treeskier]

A prediction: I suspect after hearing the weather for next week (and the pictures of snow right now) that some resort will try to open something by Thursday. My bet is not Kmart. (even though in past years it would most definetly been them.) Who will it be?

My guess is Bretton Woods.....but my hope is some place with lots of pitch.

It would be very cool if it was Wildcat...like last year.

Waxing skis next.

 

[Joshua]

no one, day time temps are just not cold enough to sustain anything and the ground is still warm.

 

[riverc0il]

definitely not a chance for lift serviced in october this year. i don't see it happening unless we get another three feet on halloween.

 

[awf170]

no one, day time temps are just not cold enough to sustain anything and the ground is still warm.

Who cares about ground temps when there is snow on the ground. And I guranentee there will be snow on the ground in every ski area in northern new england by tuesday. Days will be cool enough too. My guess is flatten woods, though I still doubt that anyone will open.

 

[thetrailboss]

The WCAX report is calling for mixed stuff....rain and snow....doubtful that anyone will do anything. Hiking for turns is still an option though :wink:

 

[awf170]

The WCAX report is calling for mixed stuff....rain and snow....doubtful that anyone will do anything. Hiking for turns is still an option though :wink:

Weather people don't know anything about elevation. All they know is what is going to happen at 500 ft. This time of year it is all about elevation. IMO, NECN is the only station that knows anything about mountain weather(or the only one that actually cares).

 

[riverc0il]

the annual reminder about ski areas opening seems to be in order: ski areas don't care about how much snow is falling, they care about how many paying customers they can get. most vermonters don't even know it is going to snow in the mountains today. i was telling people at work i was gonna be skiing tomorrow and they were confused because they had no idea snow was in the forecast. let alone the day trippers and over night recreationalists down in MA, CT, RI, NJ, NYC, etc. that are more concerned with johny and suzi's tball and soccar games than skiing. even a good amount of "die hards" will probably be surprised tomorrow when they see pictures of people skiing in october of all months. financially, it just isn't there. last year's freak three foot dump was a huge exception for two reasons A) HUGE publicity and press, B) likelihood of good financial returns, and C) no need to risk blowing ANY snow that might potentially melt. let's not forget that this is only an abnormal week in late october. it is just as likely that we could see an abnormally warm week by the first week of november. ski area operators are not going to bet against the odds, especially when the market is not there to support the early season efforts.

sucks, but that is the way it is. a big dump of epic proportions is the only thing that would change that. and even then, we saw that last year's big early season dump gave us just one weekend of operations.

 

[Joshua]

Who cares about ground temps when there is snow on the ground. And I guranentee there will be snow on the ground in every ski area in northern new england by tuesday. Days will be cool enough too. My guess is flatten woods, though I still doubt that anyone will open.

It def. matters early in the season during the day and even a little at night when the ground is cold and frozen vs. wet and getting colder. The current stuff helps to cool the ground down but ideal conditions for snow making and resorts opening full time is frozen ground and SUSTAINED colder temps, not a few days of cold at night and cool during the day. As stated so many times before, except for freak storms like last year, resorts arent opening for a day or two in this market.

 

[loafer89]

I think that Steve is right, but I would still be suprised if someone did not try to open next week even if only for a few days to beat Killington. Woodbury might go for it and Okemo may start some summit snowmaking. Now that Killington is commiting itself to top to bottom openings, October skiing is becoming more of a rarity at the mountain.

Next weekend does look to warm up and my gut feeling is for a warm November.:smash:

 

[Zand]

I really wouldn't be suprised to see Bretton Woods open up the beginner slope this week. They opened it last year about a week before anyone else in the east opened and they were greatly overlooked (because it's only a bunny trail). They'll probably do it again.