Beast Snowmaking to start....

[mondeo]

Is it just me or does the Big K snow leopard thingy look like it should advertising a breakfast cereal rather than trying to be a 'beast'?

I figured they were going to start selling cigarettes to kids.

 

[bigbob]

I'll be up in Bethel Tues and Wed on business. I might bring skis!

 

[Vortex]

The Rumors are Thursday could be an interesting day to be in Newry. I need conformation. Russ "weather man we trust" said 4 to 6 inches of snow tomorrow at the base over 6 inches at elevation and a snowmaking window from tomorrow till Friday. The weather has to hold up 1, and do they really want to spend the money to open so soon, two. I don't have any doubt about them making snow. Cold weather they blow, but opening wow.

 

[SpinmasterK]

Good forecast for this week. 2-5 inches of snow tonight into Tuesday, followed by cold temps right into the weekend.

 

[Greg]

Good forecast for this week. 2-5 inches of snow tonight into Tuesday, followed by cold temps right into the weekend.

Indeed, Tom. Funny how the Accuweather 15 Day forecast [thread="64445"]I posted on the 5th[/thread] is looking like it might verify. Looking ahead of this week (again based on Accuweather which I know is normally far from accurate), it looks like it's going to remain cold straight through the end of the month. If that also verifies, will you guys make a run at snowmaking down to the base when possible? Stock piling up top starting this week makes sense where it'll likely hold on through any brief warm-ups, but in reality, how likely is a pre-November opening at this point?

 

[Puck it]

Good forecast for this week. 2-5 inches of snow tonight into Tuesday, followed by cold temps right into the weekend.

Like this?


Columbus
Day

Sunny

Hi 47 °FTonight

Rain/Snow

Lo 30 °FTuesday

Rain/Snow

Hi 36 °FTuesday
Night

Mostly
Cloudy
Lo 30 °FWednesday

Mostly
Sunny
Hi 37 °FWednesday
Night

Mostly
Cloudy
Lo 21 °FThursday

Cloudy

Hi 41 °FThursday
Night

Chance
Rain/Snow
Lo 21 °FFriday

Mostly
Sunny
Hi 44 °F

THE FORECAST FOR KILLINGTON MOUNTAIN, VERMONT:
LAST UPDATED AT 424 AM EDT MON OCT 12 2009

.TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 33. WEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY UNTIL MIDNIGHT...THEN SUMMITS BECOMING
OBSCURED IN CLOUDS. A CHANCE OF SNOW UNTIL MIDNIGHT...THEN SNOW
AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW AROUND 30. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH...
INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.TUESDAY...SUMMITS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS. SNOW IN THE MORNING...THEN A
CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH AROUND 32. WEST WINDS
25 TO 30 MPH...BECOMING NORTHWEST AROUND 35 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
WIND CHILL VALUES AS LOW AS 6 ABOVE.

DETAILED TEMPERATURE & WIND DATA:

DATE MON 10/12/09 TUE 10/13/09
TIME 08 11 14 17 20 23 02 05 08 11 14 17 20
TEMP 28 28 31 32 33 33 31 30 32 31 27 25 24
WIND DIR NW W W SW SW SW SW SW S W NW NW N
WIND SPD 14 6 8 5 14 17 10 20 32 26 35 36 34
WIND CHL 16 21 24 26 23 22 22 17 17 17 10 7 6

 

[SpinmasterK]

Indeed, Tom. Funny how the Accuweather 15 Day forecast [thread="64445"]I posted on the 5th[/thread] is looking like it might verify. Looking ahead of this week (again based on Accuweather which I know is normally far from accurate), it looks like it's going to remain cold straight through the end of the month. If that also verifies, will you guys make a run at snowmaking down to the base when possible? Stock piling up top starting this week makes sense where it'll likely hold on through any brief warm-ups, but in reality, how likely is a pre-November opening at this point?

We are taking it day to day and ready to take advantage of favorable snowmaking conditions, but it all depends upon the weather.

 

[Greg]

We are taking it day to day and ready to take advantage of favorable snowmaking conditions, but it all depends upon the weather.

Dammit Tom. I was hoping for a "hell effin yeah, we plan to open in October!" But I hear ya. Better to under-promise/over-deliver. Thinking COLD!

 

[Geoff]

Dammit Tom. I was hoping for a "hell effin yeah, we plan to open in October!" But I hear ya. Better to under-promise/over-deliver. Thinking COLD!

After some rather substantial under-delivery in the 2007-2008 season, most of the Killington customer base that wants the early open and late close is doing an "I'm from Missouri... Show me". A post to AlpineZone that the weather looks favorable for snowmaking is pretty useless information. I can listen to my furnace firing and know that. It's also pretty useless if all they do is blow snow on the top 2/3 of Rime. Nobody is expecting them to blow snow, run the lifts for a day, and have the whole thing melt out. The proper way of dealing with your customers is to tell them what your decision criteria is for making snow and opening.

I'd much prefer some candor.

How about something like: "We will make snow to the bottom and run the K1 and Glades Triple when we have a forecast of Xxxx nights in a row where temps and humidity would allow us to make snow on lower Bunny Buster. We also need a Yyyyy day extended forecast that it's not going to piss rain on it immediately afterwards. If that weather forecast occurs in October, we'll open in October."

It's not like they haven't already worked this all out. There's no reason they can't share it with the public. You can't control the weather. You can share what it takes to turn the system on top-to-bottom.

 

[SpinmasterK]

After some rather substantial under-delivery in the 2007-2008 season, most of the Killington customer base that wants the early open and late close is doing an "I'm from Missouri... Show me". A post to AlpineZone that the weather looks favorable for snowmaking is pretty useless information. I can listen to my furnace firing and know that. It's also pretty useless if all they do is blow snow on the top 2/3 of Rime. Nobody is expecting them to blow snow, run the lifts for a day, and have the whole thing melt out. The proper way of dealing with your customers is to tell them what your decision criteria is for making snow and opening.

I'd much prefer some candor.

How about something like: "We will make snow to the bottom and run the K1 and Glades Triple when we have a forecast of Xxxx nights in a row where temps and humidity would allow us to make snow on lower Bunny Buster. We also need a Yyyyy day extended forecast that it's not going to piss rain on it immediately afterwards. If that weather forecast occurs in October, we'll open in October."

It's not like they haven't already worked this all out. There's no reason they can't share it with the public. You can't control the weather. You can share what it takes to turn the system on top-to-bottom.

Correct Geoff! We don't control the weather. However, conditions look favorable for snowmaking, and we'll know more in the next 24 hours.
BTW, I'm ready to ski too! Especially after watching all the Rockies fans making turns at Loveland yesterday during the Broncos/Pats game. I'd love to say that we'll be skiing at Killington later this month, but at this point I don't know. We're taking it day to day.
I will provide updates here, our Insider blog, Facebook and Twitter as I know more.

 

[Highway Star]

Correct Geoff! We don't control the weather. However, conditions look favorable for snowmaking, and we'll know more in the next 24 hours.
BTW, I'm ready to ski too! Especially after watching all the Rockies fans making turns at Loveland yesterday during the Broncos/Pats game. I'd love to say that we'll be skiing at Killington later this month, but at this point I don't know. We're taking it day to day.
I will provide updates here, our Insider blog, Facebook and Twitter as I know more.

Tom - you could blow some snow on upper Downdraft for a jib park and short mogul run that people could hike.

Let people ride up the K-1, charge $10-20 and issue a lift ticket.

 

[Greg]

Tom - you could blow some snow on upper Downdraft for a jib park and short mogul run that people could hike.

Let people ride up the K-1, charge $10-20 and issue a lift ticket.

I think they could blow snow on Cascade and then just hang rope ladders off the gondy cabins and let people snag one when they're ready to descend back to the base.

 

[RENO]

Tom - you could blow some snow on upper Downdraft for a jib park and short mogul run that people could hike.

Let people ride up the K-1, charge $10-20 and issue a lift ticket.

The great ideas are just pouring in! :dunce:
Maybe they can get some of the horses they were using at Pico during the summer and charge $10-20 to ride up? You can holster your skis and snowboard. Get some extra wide stirrups for the boots. Maybe some pack mules? Maybe they can hang a t-bar or rope tow from the gondolas and blow snow on upper cascade and just grab one after your run to drag you back up?
:razz::razz:

 

[arik]

when I read the title of this thread I thought B-east (berkshire east)
that would be too early

 

[trtaylor]

the great ideas are just pouring in! :dunce:
Maybe they can get some of the horses they were using at pico during the summer and charge $10-20 to ride up? You can holster your skis and snowboard. Get some extra wide stirrups for the boots. Maybe some pack mules? Maybe they can hang a t-bar or rope tow from the gondolas and blow snow on upper cascade and just grab one after your run to drag you back up?
:razz::razz:

Nominated for POTD.

 

[BigK]

I was up on the mountain today...Locked & Loaded

 

[BigK]

And this...

 

[BigK]

Beast Snowmaking to start tonight!!

The word has come down!

 

[BigK]

 

[WJenness]

I like the Panoramic shot.

I really like SR and Killington throwing the gauntlet down here...

-w