First to Open - 2007-08 Predictions

[Greg]

This season's version of this thread. I think a mountain from either Boyne or Peak Resorts will make a run at first to open this year. I have to bet on Sugarloaf due to latitude and altitude advantage. However, if the entire Northeast gets extended cold weather in late October/early November, Mount Snow is definitely in the running with a loop off the summit to TNF (Upper Canyon, River Run, Chute) and downloading on the Canyon Quad.

So my guess is Sugarloaf/USA on Thursday, November 1, followed soon after by Mount Snow and Sunday River that Friday.

Discuss!

 

[drjeff]

I'll put my vote in for the little mountain that seems to beat everyone as of late, Woodbury! I'll go for Election day, 11/6(some kids will be off from school, so they'll go for it), with the major mtns later that week!

Let's just hope that early November mother nature is cooperative and needing to wear shorts to keep cool while raking leaves is part of the equation!

 

[Greg]

I'll put my vote in for the little mountain that seems to beat everyone as of late, Woodbury! I'll go for Election day, 11/6(some kids will be off from school, so they'll go for it), with the major mtns later that week!

Sort of the annual debate. Does the product that Woodbury offers really qualify? A 100' patch and a rope tow? I so no. Anyone can do that.

With that said, what constitutes a reasonable opening day offering? I saw at least one trail and 1,000 vertical feet.

 

[threecy]

With that said, what constitutes a reasonable opening day offering? I saw at least one trail and 1,000 vertical feet.

I dunno about that one - the Glades wouldn't even count at K-Mart. How about closer to 500' vert?

 

[millerm277]

Woodbury doesn't count in my opinion, so the first to open will be SL, followed by SR and Mt. Snow. Then probably Killington, and Hunter will be sometime around then.

 

[pepperdawg]

Didnt one of the NH resorts get into the mix lately (past couple of years) - I wanna say Bretton or Wildcat???

 

[hammer]

Didnt one of the NH resorts get into the mix lately (past couple of years) - I wanna say Bretton or Wildcat???

IIRC Bretton Woods tries to open up the beginner area in early November...wouldn't qualify as a true opening under the 1000' vertical rule, though.

Also, I believe that Wildcat opened up a few years ago after a big snowfall in October.

 

[Greg]

I dunno about that one - the Glades wouldn't even count at K-Mart. How about closer to 500' vert?

Oh I think 500' is very reasonable. But we all know there will be no downloading or trucks running so the Glades is not gonna happen anyway. Any of the other early season options I can think of are going to be in the 1K range (TNF, Hunter/F Lift, FIS, Superquad at Sugarloaf, even Jiminy T2B).

Didnt one of the NH resorts get into the mix lately (past couple of years) - I wanna say Bretton or Wildcat???

Bretton Woods was making a run at it for a few years. Sugarbush is in the running. Belleayre is normally talked about. Okemo, Jiminy, Hunter are normally early season players.

 

[pepperdawg]

=
Bretton Woods was making a run at it for a few years. Sugarbush is in the running. Belleayre is normally talked about. Okemo, Jiminy, Hunter are normally early season players.

Yeah forgot about Okemo getting it done early....will bode well for my midweek S-O-S pass

 

[Vortex]

BW took was not as agressive last year. snowseek told me they got an earful at the pass holder bbq. I think the people who work there are great.

I see it being between Mt snow and Sunday River. both want to show what they can do. I'm going with my heart I picked the river.

 

[MikeTrainor]

I think I am going to go with Sugarbush.

 

[thebigo]

I would guess peaks shows off their new snowmaking technology by opening mount snow on november 9. Followed shortly after by sunday river.

In the coming years as boyne installs more fan guns I would think sunday river and sugarloaf would have the advantage.

 

[Greg]

I would guess peaks shows off their new snowmaking technology by opening mount snow on november 9.

I really wish someone thought to ask Chris L in the Mount Snow challenge if there was any plan to increase snowmaking in other areas (i.e. early season) with the old equipment that was replaced by the fan guns.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I would guess peaks shows off their new snowmaking technology by opening mount snow on november 9. Followed shortly after by sunday river.

In the coming years as boyne installs more fan guns I would think sunday river and sugarloaf would have the advantage.

SR already has a bunch of tower guns with new low e heads on prime terrain...adding fan guns to that mix would be redundant...they pretty much accomplish the same thing...efficiency, wider range of temp and humidity uses, etc. Hopefully Boyne will spend their money on other infrastructure...the snowmaking at SR is pretty dialed already. Lodges could use some $$$.

 

[reefer]

SR already has a bunch of tower guns with new low e heads on prime terrain...adding fan guns to that mix would be redundant...they pretty much accomplish the same thing...efficiency, wider range of temp and humidity uses, etc. Hopefully Boyne will spend their money on other infrastructure...the snowmaking at SR is pretty dialed already. Lodges could use some $$$.

Don't need those deisel fuled, noisy, air compressors with fan guns, talk about efficiency. The future is nothing but fan guns....................I'm betting on the Bush to open first, but I would love to see Mt. Snow pull something off if the weather permits. Also look out for Wildcat if they get the snow, Halloween w/e two years ago is etched in my memory forever...........

 

[Vortex]

sk posted on the Loaf board. The new guns will come to get more terrain open faster, not really saying earlier opening at either place, just more terrain early seson. Ability to make snow at marginal conditions. Ow ya i like what is going on with boyne BTW.:razz:

Ya beating a dead horse. Good news is good news.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Don't need those deisel fuled, noisy, air compressors with fan guns, talk about efficiency. The future is nothing but fan guns....................I'm betting on the Bush to open first, but I would love to see Mt. Snow pull something off if the weather permits. Also look out for Wildcat if they get the snow, Halloween w/e two years ago is etched in my memory forever...........

reefer...puff, puff....give....electricity, not deisel. Cough, cough...smooth.

 

[ajl50]

Are we talking "open" and then closing a week later?
or are we talking guesses about when a resort will actually open and stay open the next weekend?
If it's a I say November 2 K-mart and others will give it a go
If it's b I say December I is the first weekend that the mountains will open and stay open the next weekend.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Everyone opens with very limited terrain so I am going with Woodbury and for majors I will be positively loyal and go with the Bush.

 

[tree_skier]

BW took was not as agressive last year. snowseek told me they got an earful at the pass holder bbq. I think the people who work there are great.

I see it being between Mt snow and Sunday River. both want to show what they can do. I'm going with my heart I picked the river.

Bob you have a heart???????????