First to Open - 2007-08 Predictions

[Greg]

Hunter will be the first to open...not because it's cool or because they care about being open first, just because the snowmaking crew at Hunter will make snow if temps and a decent long range are in place. Every other resort seems to have an agenda tied to the first to open label.

And just because of that, I'm voting for Killington to open first if Hunter does not. I think Killington is looking for a reason to shut alot of people up.

I know Hunter is an early season player. What has been there earliest opening?

 

[millerm277]

I know Hunter is an early season player. What has been there earliest opening?

Not sure, but their policy seems to be to get everything prepped at the beginning of november, and fire them up as soon as there's a favorable weather forecast, they opened on Thanksgiving last year, although they were closed for a couple days around the beginning of December.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I know Hunter is an early season player. What has been there earliest opening?

November 5th in 1992..November 1st in 1993 or 94..due to 24 hours of snowmaking and a Halloween snowstorm..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Sugarbush was open on Upper Jester and Downspout with download the entire last week of October 1997,,a few months before the great ice storm wreaked havoc on the Northern Vermont glades..

 

[deadheadskier]

I vote 'a few to several' on November 10th.

Killington, Okemo, Mount Snow, Sunday River, Loon, Bretton Woods

if that doesn't happen, I vote 'several' on November 17th

There isn't the same pay off as there once was opening early. I remember growing up as a kid skiing Okemo during the late 80's into the early 90's, it was a given that they would be open by the 2nd weekend in November, along with several other areas, but at that time Okemo was still a couple of weeks behind Killington.

The key back then was having as much open as possible for Thanksgiving weekend. That used to be a pretty big revenue weekend for resorts and I recall several Thanksgiving's at Okemo with 30 to 40 trails open.

not the case anymore

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

[QUOTE=deadheadskier;179892]I vote 'a few to several' on November 10th.

Killington, Okemo, Mount Snow, Sunday River, Loon, Bretton Woods

if that doesn't happen, I vote 'several' on November 17th

There isn't the same pay off as there once was opening early. I remember growing up as a kid skiing Okemo during the late 80's into the early 90's, it was a given that they would be open by the 2nd weekend in November, along with several other areas, but at that time Okemo was still a couple of weeks behind Killington.

The key back then was having as much open as possible for Thanksgiving weekend. That used to be a pretty big revenue weekend for resorts and I recall several Thanksgiving's at Okemo with 30 to 40 trails open.

not the case anymore[/QUOTE]


Okemo had about 30 trails open Thanksgiving of 2005..but Thanksgiving of 2004 and 2006..only had a small snowmaking window..The late fall weather in New England has been getting progressively warmer. I think Al Gore might be right..

 

[Treeskier]

Wildcat in Oct.

The almanac is predicting a cold winter. I suspect after such a great 2007 winter (notice I did not include 2006) that the balance of 2007 will be also good skiing. So if we get a early dump....like Oct. 2005. I suspect Wildcat will pull out the stops again. If it is up to snow making......? Just do not know.

 

[Newpylong]

Sugarbush, but more likely someone in Maine, Sugarloaf?

 

[MikeTrainor]

I am going to go with peaks with mt snow, if for some reason weather is tough then Sugarbush. Last to close which IMHO is most important I will go with Wildcat (they proved it last year top to bottom in May almost 100% open!).

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Sugarbush was open on Upper Jester and Downspout with download the entire last week of October 1997,,a few months before the great ice storm wreaked havoc on the Northern Vermont glades..

Yea, I remember those days.....I actually started at the Bush fulltime in August of 1997. The Sugarbush of 2007 is completely and I emphasize the word completely, diferent than the Bush of 1997. It's 1000% better now.

Any resort can blow snow on a trail, spin a lift and declare they are open. Some feel it has alot of PR value, some don't. Back in the ASC days the Bush had a friendly competition with Kmart. Blow a 100 ft section of a trail, have a few employers ski it and the Vermont media took it from there. It wasn't a big cost for the resort as the system needs to be tested, anyway.

I think any major resort nowadays can be the first to open, most now don't have it as a high priority. A couple of resorts probably need to be the first to open. You guys know who they are.

BTW, the Farmers Almanac just came out. For those who put great credence in their winter predictions you will be very happy. Not part of that group, personally.
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070829/NEWS01/708290361/1002/NEWS01

 

[JimG.]

November 5th in 1992..November 1st in 1993 or 94..due to 24 hours of snowmaking and a Halloween snowstorm..

Correct!

You know your Hunter trivia.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Correct!

You know your Hunter trivia.

I always used to call the Hunter snowphone everyday...and I remember just about everything..