Windy thin flake snowfall last night. Kept springs from being too firm/packed like it normally is; and looks like it was good for HV too. Oddly, haven't put skis down at HV yet but will early this week!
It is now in (at least) the 2nd season of the Southwind lift not running and no snowmaking on the terrain. Any word on why?
Purely speculative on my part, but could it be a HOA vs Vail dispute?
Have heard a couple of different issues with Southwind chair (each 3rd or 4th hand).
#1 Vail’s willingness/ability to make snow on private property (legal issues)
#2 chair in need of significant maintenance and /or did not pass required inspection
cannot confirm either however
^ what he said above. The chair may need inspection, but it is a young chairlift so to speak. It's probably that Vail doesn't want it or its associated liability. Operating at a distance makes a poor experience for visitors. I've used that lift in the past but when I was at 7s 2 weeks ago it wasn't running then.
Patf1engineer wrote:
We will be up tomorrow assuming we can get up the mountain
Yinz will make it, see you there.
I'm planning on Friday to avoid driving in what could be a substantial snow storm,
Laurel Hill Crazie wrote:
Patf1engineer wrote:
We will be up tomorrow assuming we can get up the mountain
Yinz will make it, see you there.
I might be there on Friday too. I'll reach out via cell.
snowsmith wrote:
I'm planning on Friday to avoid driving in what could be a substantial snow storm,
Laurel Hill Crazie wrote:
Patf1engineer wrote:
We will be up tomorrow assuming we can get up the mountain
Yinz will make it, see you there.
MRPLOW wrote:
Why is so little open at Seven Springs and Laurel right now? Only about 50% open at either. No epic pass, but usually come for the weekend from Cleveland. Meanwhile Timberline is 100% open for weeks. And the other option is Holiday Valley (same 3-hours from Cleveland as 7 Springs/Laurel) and which is also 100% open.
Timberline has a brand new snow making system and is 1200 feet higher in elevation than any Laurel Highlands resort. We had rain and warm temperatures between 12/18 and 12/29 which melted a lot of the snow they Holiday Valley gets lots of lake effect snow.
MRPLOW wrote:
Why is so little open at Seven Springs and Laurel right now? Only about 50% open at either. No epic pass, but usually come for the weekend from Cleveland. Meanwhile Timberline is 100% open for weeks. And the other option is Holiday Valley (same 3-hours from Cleveland as 7 Springs/Laurel) and which is also 100% open.
All slopes at Laurel with snowmaking are open wall to wall with deep coverage. Snowmaking is ongoing to push snow on some areas without permanent snowmaking.
^
This is consistent with last season also at 7S. Cold temps, yet not much snowmaking skier's left of north face slope. (Can't really remember the last time I could hit Yodeler with decent coverage) ... Tahoe looked low weeks ago, but 7S has a lot of ponds scattered about the mountain.
HV does have all their front face slopes with fixed snowmakers open, but similar question - why not take some portables and open road runner? (On north summit slopes, they are gradually opening most snowmaking slopes.)
I have not been over to Laurel yet this season (I do save it for mid-season usually) - so looking forward to that.
Otherwise, a great start to the season for the laurels! I started on 12/6 and it really hasn't let up since, with the exception of a couple of days of temp rise.
Much needed snow has been falling in the Laurels today. Not a whole lot, but enough to allow marginal to decent conditions to continue. I skied at 7S yesterday, and was actually surprised with what they had open on the north face. Sure there was some dropout on the open slopes, but a nice ride nonetheless.
The last 3 days of 50 degrees and rain has been a struggle, given the great preamble to the season. The lows look OK for the rest of the week, potentially allowing for another good weekend of skiing.
Looks like it might be a little windy on Monday. How does Laurel do on windy days? Sheltered or more exposed?
Laurel Hill Crazie wrote:
Laurel Mountain will open Monday at 10 AM. Laurel is usually closed on Mondays, except for holidays. Management decided to open due to the comming snow storm.
The lodge and parking are at the summit so it can be a little windy there. The lift is a fixed grip quad so is not susceptible to wind or ice closures. Upslope wind has been known to slow you down on novice terrain. The solution is to ski Lower and when the locals say Lower, they mean Lower Wildcat. That'll warm you up.
Stephen wrote:
Looks like it might be a little windy on Monday. How does Laurel do on windy days? Sheltered or more exposed?
Laurel Hill Crazie wrote:
Laurel Mountain will open Monday at 10 AM. Laurel is usually closed on Mondays, except for holidays. Management decided to open due to the comming snow storm.
Looks like 3” was all it took to get 7S 100% open this AM.
I’m going to hit up LM tomorrow. Should be excellent conditions. Dream/Snow Bowl aren’t open yet… I bet they will be later today and tomorrow.
Laurel 2/4 most of the natural snow trails are still open. The bumps are soft by eastern standards. More snow this weekend.
That same area, from Jan 31:
You got 1300 views for that video in one day! Your first video. I guess the Youtube algorithm loves young people jumping off rocks, but who wouldn't.
wgo wrote:
That same area, from Jan 31:
Yep for sure. He definitely started small and worked up to the jump shown after safely scoping the area. Not something I was ever really into even when I (and my knees) were younger.
Laurel Hill Crazie wrote:
There are some nice rocks to huck there but spot for safety and flat landings. Pick your jump wisely. I call that area Hegan's Rock Garden.
Was at Laurel yesterday sun 2/22... Snow started coming back at about 2:30 - 3: and lower wildcat was marginally tamed. (many ice troughs prior). Always fun to ski at LM and it really is a special place in the Laurels. Hope there was a decent dump in the last 12h to help open up a little more of the place.
I agree that Laurel is a fun place to ski. I went there a week ago over President's weekend. It doesn't have as many trails as many others. But it has an enjoyable vibe and doesn't have the Timber-line. And if I start to get bored, I do some laps on Lower Wildcat. Wish I lived closer. I did notice the parking lot was almost full. I"m worried the secret is getting out. :(
Word may be "out" via Epic Pass at LM, but honestly most people don't make the funky trip over to hit it when it's good ;-)
Works for me. The Timberline, Snowshoe, 7 Springs specs are much better, but anymore I like less chaos at LM.
needawax wrote:
Word may be "out" via Epic Pass at LM, but honestly most people don't make the funky trip over to hit it when it's good ;-)
^ True dat. Nothing like the feel of Laurel on a sunday afternoon. I am sort of a convert, a HV and 7S skier. Truth be told, my first day of skiing was at Laurel, I knew nothing about skiing at all. 1983. Difficult day. After many years of skiing at many locations, I always return. In fact, just yesterday I was there with my son and his friend. Seeing them hit lower (my legs were shot at the end of the weekend) was priceless.
And a belated congratulations to the crew at Seven Springs, winners of the 2026 "I am a Snowmaker" contest, presented by Ski Area Management magazine (SAM). The team, recognized for their skill and resilience, keep the guns firing at the true birthplace of modern snowmaking (everyone below the Mason-Dixon line... you're welcome): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0NW0B3Y1Vo&t=7s
Looks like the season is coming to a quick end. HV and LM are already switching to Spring hours at the beginning of March. And the long range forecast for the 1st week of March looks miserable for western PA. And due to some family health issues, I am not going to be to slip a trip in to Colorado or Vermont. So my season may be coming to a quick end. There was a time when there was an effort to extend the ski season at 7S until April. With the bottom liners at Vail, I don't see that happening even if we had good weather. Kind of depressed.
It sure has been a weird but mostly decent winter. Just nothing in between or normal. One of the longest cold snaps I can remember in quite a while, but when it hasn't been absolutely freezing, it's mostly been mild. The long range forecast is not encouraging.
snowsmith wrote:
Looks like the season is coming to a quick end. HV and LM are already switching to Spring hours at the beginning of March. And the long range forecast for the 1st week of March looks miserable for western PA. And due to some family health issues, I am not going to be to slip a trip in to Colorado or Vermont. So my season may be coming to a quick end. There was a time when there was an effort to extend the ski season at 7S until April. With the bottom liners at Vail, I don't see that happening even if we had good weather. Kind of depressed.
^ no the long range isn't great, but maybe another hit of snow locally sun-mon. HV actually made snow in certain areas this week (tuesday?) so it doesn't look like they're "calling it" just yet.
It's been either a freeze or super mild. I made the big mistake of bringing up my corvette to HV last thursday when it was super mild (thinking I could get away with it for the weekend, dumbass mistake) only to get hit by decent snow on sunday. I had to go back and dig it out and drive it gently home this week.
However, I'll say at least in the laurels, this is one maybe not for the books, but certainly better than the last few seasons. My legs agree.
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