Why is it that...

[riverc0il]

...skiers and riders pack it up for the season during prime conditions? This year is rather an exception with the bad snow cover, but even still closing times seem consistant with in years past. Likely because most ski areas usually close for lack of customers not lack of snow. This year many ski areas closed due to lack of snow, but the dates seem no later than normal years when areas close due to lack of customers.

I think I know the answers: other Spring Sports, Golf, Bike Riding, Gardening, etc. But knowing the answers and understanding them are two completely different things.

Let us analyze the typical skier/rider's patterns of visiting ski areas: Typically, average skiers/riders ski most during the coldest months of the year paying the most expensive prices for lift tickets often times before ski areas have all their terrain open. Then March comes and the mountains are fully open, it isn't cold, lots of blue bird days, and areas start offering discounts... no one shows up! Each week, resorts gradually loose their customers even when they do not loose terrain, have warmer temperatures, and offer more discounts (this year being an exception with loosing terrain). Areas shut down often times with 100% coverage and trails open.

My lack of comprehension lies in trying to understand why people pack it up when skiing is at its best. Granted, wet snow and corn and occasional mashed potatos isn't the best snow conditions in the world, certainly isn't powder! But it is fun to ski and hero bumps are great for those trying to expand their technique. Bright blue skies, sun shine, and lift discounts galore can't get people to the slopes! Boggles my mind. The season marches on, in my opinion, with no end in sight for the next month at least, and that is just for lift serviced skiing which is the entire focus of this topic. And again, I want to stress this is a generalization for most years, this year hasn't been a terrific year for Spring Skiing and conditions are going quick, but there is still a ton of fun and cheap skiing and with exception of today from noon onward the weather has been great.

 

[thetrailboss]

I think I know the answers: other Spring Sports, Golf, Bike Riding, Gardening, etc. But knowing the answers and understanding them are two completely different things.

I'm glad I am not the only one who sees things this way and understands what is going on. We had this discussion already and I was chastized when I put forward the similar arguments. :roll: Ski areas close because of lack of people, not lack of snow more often than not. And as Riv said, most folks in the metropolitan areas (which is coincidentally S New England) are already golfing, biking, etc.

I have been enjoying the last few spring outings...nice snow. No crowds.

 

[kingslug]

I would ski every month if I could. If i lived out west i prolly could. Just look up Endlesseasons web site. He's been skiing non stop for over 10 years. Resorts like Snowbird stay open sometimes until June or even July. Here in the east, Arpril is D-Day.I remeber when Hunter closed with all 52 trails open and in good shape. I was pissed. This year it will all be gone pretty soon.

 

[deadheadskier]

There are obviously a multitude of reasons why people pack it in when the getting is still good. I would venture to say that 85% of the populus simply doesn't care for the conditions after 10 am in the morning. Corn snow can obviously be very heavy and difficult for those who are not in the best shape to push around. Also a huge percentage of the skiing populous are families and this is the time of year when baseball practices etc begin.

I know I've still got some days left in me before I pack it in, so my room on the hill for me is fine by me.

 

[NYDrew]

I don't know, same reason people can't wake up early and hit the fresh stuff. they just don't understand what they are missing.

I took someone on their first spring skiing day today (and he is an instructor, granted first year). One more person hooked, more $ for the resorts to stay open.

 

[John84]

I think I know the answers: other Spring Sports, Golf, Bike Riding, Gardening, etc.

...Waiting patiently to see gardening on ESPN. The Xtreme Gardening League is looking to be a big hit this year.

On a more serious note, it seems to me that some people think that if there isn't snow in their backyards, there couldn't possibly be snow in the mountains. When I came back to school one weekend in Mid-March people asked my where I went that I got sunburned. The response I got when I told them that I went skiing was something similar to "Skiing?!? How did you go skiing, it hasn't snowed in a month?"

But it's fine with me, just means less people on the slopes.

 

[deadheadskier]

...Waiting patiently to see gardening on ESPN. The Xtreme Gardening League is looking to be a big hit this year.

On a more serious note, it seems to me that some people think that if there isn't snow in their backyards, there couldn't possibly be snow in the mountains. When I came back to school one weekend in Mid-March people asked my where I went that I got sunburned. The response I got when I told them that I went skiing was something similar to "Skiing?!? How did you go skiing, it hasn't snowed in a month?"

But it's fine with me, just means less people on the slopes.

And this isn't just true for people from down south. Even when I lived in Burlington, VT some locals were suprised that I was still skiing last year in late April. Burlington gets about 80 inches of snow a year on average where as Stowe and Sugarbush only 45 minutes from there average 250. I skied Stowe last Monday and the snow at the stake was still 70 inches deep despite being a 'bad' year.

 

[riverc0il]

But it's fine with me, just means less people on the slopes.

it also means the slopes aren't open as long, unfortunately. i will echo deadheadskier, i skied in may last year and people at work (in the NEK) were looking at me like i had two heads when i said i was going skiing in may despite killington having been known for going that long.

 

[marcski]

I have a few friends and relatives that live up in the northern reaches of vt. I think for the exception of the contingent of diehard skiers, a lot of people up in those areas are so tired of the long cold winter, for them, they're really just ready to welcome the warm, albeit short, summer season.

As for me, I love the warmer days out on the slopes.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I wonder the same thing Steve. But can you imagine how crappy the conditions would be if everyone was still on the mountain in April? I count my blessings.

 

[ALLSKIING]

My area is a location problem. Most people won't make a 5 to 8 hr trip to ski a mountain with 1 run open. Some people I have talked to wait for Feb to start skiing and once March hits thats the end. Late March and on are forthe die-hards.

 

[loafer89]

This season in particular will be remembered by most as "the winter that wasn't" and while there where some big snowfalls in October and November in ski country, the weather pattern afterwards was extremely erratic. I think most average skiers gave up on the season after Presidents week this year and this really showed by the lack of crowds during some fine skiing in March, which was the best month for me with powder skiing from beggining to end.

Spring is also showing up much earlier this year than normal, by about 2-3 weeks. March in my area was the driest in 135+ years of record keeping with nearly no snow to entice people in the big cities to head north.

Spring skiing has it's advantages and it's drawbacks. Sure it is fun to ski with much less clothing, but the day it usually shorter to avoid skiing in a slurpie, and lugging a 6 year old through heavy snow is not always fun. For most people with families that have children with weaker skiing skills, thick spring snow is not all that fun to ski in, I think this is why alot of families stop skiing, besides the fact that conflict of interest's come into play such as golf, soccer, baseball, etc.

I am not so sure that there will be lift serviced skiing for the next month, I read on K-zone that Superstar already has a bare spot on the lower part of the trail and Sugarloaf is closing down on the 16th, instead of the 23rd, due to lack of interest.:angry: :smash:

I am trying to plan another ski trip for Easter weekend, but the snow conditions look marginal for the amount of money that I would have to spend and time spent in the car.

 

[Sky]

1) I hate mashed potatoes. I can't get excited about a trip to anywhere if I'm going to slosh through that crap.

2) From Nov to Mar the yard and basement/garage accumulate debris. Once the weather warms and the snow is gone, the yard dries up AND...before the black flies arrive....it's time to spruce things up.

For me, Skiing is a great way to pass the winter. I love the sport. I love the comradare (sp?). But I've got other things on my plate this time of year.

 

[loafer89]

While I was skiing at Belleayre yesterday, I had blackflies swirling around me in a few places:-o and the Magnolia trees at the Modena rest area on the Thruway where in blossom. It was hard to keep in the winter sport mind frame.

 

[riverc0il]

I am enjoying reading everyone's comments. One thing I noticed is a few comments indicated disliking mashed potato snow. I would only like to comment that there is a huge difference between corn snow and mashed potatos. Mashed potatos is pretty crappy to ski in, I will agree, and usually occurs when it is really warm. If you get to an area early during Spring Skiing, you can usually harvest lots of corn before things go to MP, that is if they go to MP at all, often things corn up nicely most of the day. No different than winter skiing, you gotta watch the weather, understand what the weather will do to conditions, choose your days, and know how to ski the mountain where and when the conditions are best and the corn is primed. Personally, I would rather ski Mashed Potatos than scraped down frozen gran even though I am no fan of Mashed Potatos.

I find it interesting how the passing of the seasons is reacted to differently by different people. For myself, I only see two main seasons: snow season and no snow season

Interesting point about Spring Sports and families and kids needing to do those activities. That certainly accounts for the families. And I can see Spring being an ideal time to get going on yard and house work, neither of which I worry about as a renter. Great point as well for the drive for folks far far away from good skiing and are only able to take a few trips a year. But that still leaves a huge population of skiers/riders out there bagging the end of the season because a date on the calendar suggests it is Spring, and prevailing knowledge is that you don't ski in the Spring.

I guess the main point of my original post was that many days during Spring Skiing season, conditions are PERFECT. Blue Bird days, no wind, lots of sun shine, warm temps but not too warm, cool crisp and refreshing air, excellent corn snow, fun party atmospheres out on the decks, cheaper prices, pleasant temps for doing stuff after skiing, still light out after skiing, etc. All the things that are missing during the winter. I would never trade a winter powder day for a Spring corn day, but I certainly would trade machine groomed below freezing days for Spring corn easily.

 

[loafer89]

The only real reason that I skied yesterday was to get a day in April at Belleayre, because I doubt they will have any sort of decent skiing come Easter. For Easter weekend, it is a toss up for me between visiting Sugarloaf and Killington. I will be very interested in hearing how the conditions where for Regaee festival next weekend at Sugarloaf. The best skiing I have ever had at Sugarloaf has been in mid to late April as it is such a cold mountain that it stayes good much later into the year, though I am not so sure how it will be with this season of low natural snowfall.

Easter weekend will probably be the end of my lift serviced skiing, besides the posibility of a AZ day at Killington if conditions warrant it. After that it's time to start kayaking and doing outdoor chores/activities.

 

[bigbog]

.........

.....I think I know the answers: other Spring Sports, Golf, Bike Riding, Gardening, etc.

Steve, I have a feeling that your skiing and my paddling skills are pretty close!
The sun and air/breezes of early_Spring/late_Winter are indeed unbelieveable, but then with the addition of newly dry ground and running water.....:roll: ...too much to ignore, especially when your technical "Worries" of difficult terrain become objects of "playtime"....waterborn or mountainborn...8) ...but boating with the mountains in the background is far more enjoyable than lowland paddling...these days..:grin:

 

[skibum1321]

And this isn't just true for people from down south. Even when I lived in Burlington, VT some locals were suprised that I was still skiing last year in late April. Burlington gets about 80 inches of snow a year on average where as Stowe and Sugarbush only 45 minutes from there average 250. I skied Stowe last Monday and the snow at the stake was still 70 inches deep despite being a 'bad' year.

I told someone in Colchester, VT that I was skiing on Friday and they were shocked. It amazes me how people think that the snow disappears as soon as its warm.

 

[Sky]

RC, I admire your dedication to the sport...and I envy your ability to enjoy Spring conditions. I was @ Wachusett to day just for the BBQ and to say goodbye to the mgt folks I know AND whatever ski pals I could run into. I didn't bring the skis because I didn't expect the conditions to warrant my participation...and partially I didn't want to screw up my skis. The only skis I would have risked on the conditions...I hate.

To partially make your point about Spring snow can be pretty good....the folks skiing were not "sinking" and the snow looked to be quite firm. I think I would have enjoyed skiing @ Wa today. I don't regret not skiing. I enjoyed being there with my family and doing what I anticipated doing...bringing closure to my ski season.

As much as I enjoy skiing, and look forward to winter...I'm equally looking forward to spring activities, getting the yard work resolved so I can launch the canoe and fish...or bike.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

...skiers and riders pack it up for the season during prime conditions?

I don't think real skiers and riders do. I think it's more the casual now and then segment of the skiing public, which is a very large segment. Has anyone in here put their gear away? I'll bet not too many.