opening days?
December 9, 2010
71 posts
28 users
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So, as the Mid Atlantic areas *NOT* found at about 4000' start making snow, are any of them projecting an opening date yet?
Wisp, of course, will probably be working hard to open for the birthday party on the 12th/13th.
Blue Knob hinted on their facebook page that they could be opening to Midstation on the 10th.
What is everyone hearing about the rest?
T-line is indicating that they will be opening on the 11th now. They had guns going all weekend and plan on blowing every opportunity that the temps permit.
Website still says the 9th. Seems like their webcam is down, I'm shocked.
Folks in the pub said the 11th. What are you shocked about?????
From Snowshoe's Facebook:
"Alright Fans, our mountain operations team just met and made the decision to set Friday, Dec 10th as Opening Day. This will allow us to open with the best conditions possible. Opening slopes will be announced as we get closer. We know this is a disappointment to some, but will allow us to have a fantastic opening day with great conditions and a variety of terrain!"
T-line is indicating that they will be opening on the 11th now.
Mid-station only?
From Snowshoe's Facebook:
"Alright Fans, our mountain operations team just met and made the decision to set Friday, Dec 10th as Opening Day. "
Yawn/lame... we need a resort who will be a bit more like the NC areas and open with a small base but at least give skiers the opportunity to ski. They could have opened at least some of the resort about a month ago.
... Reason I say this is that before this weekend they will have at least another ~60 hrs of snowmaking and a good shot of natural snowfall before this weekend.
I actually just decided I am going to make it a point to NOT go to snowshoe this year... ridiculously high lift prices/lack of ability or at least motivation to take advantage of their elevation and cater to people who are NOT looking for a 2 mile open green run. For the same price and a little more driving time I can be in NY or somewhere where resorts actually cater to skiers. (you can tell I am cranky for SNOW!)
I was about to but decide not to post this on Snowshoe's page in response to another person regarding their delayed opening:
"I'll second Jonathan... you will have ~60 hrs of snowmaking (I am a meteorologist, know how snowmaking works and the relationship between temp and dew point = wetbulb) after the coming shot of rain (~3 inches rain+4-10 of snow) before the weekend. Even without the snow you have already made, the mountain should have the opportunity (if your stated snowmaking capacity is correct) to open at least a handful of top to bottom trails. I am assuming there is some economic reason why you are not opening, prob because this time of year is still relatively dead for ski areas."
...that is a bit optimistic don't you think...
I actually just decided I am going to make it a point to NOT go to snowshoe this year
...good decision...I decided that about 12 years ago...
Im thinking that weekend of the 11th will be opening for most areas (including local areas) with an outside chance that either 7springs or wisp will open this Saturday or Sunday (snowshoe NOT opening may provide an extra incentive to open)
[quote=langleyskier]...good decision...I decided that about 12 years ago...
Maybe I'll make it a 12 year goal.... actually looses them a lot of biz because I am the type of person that organizes all (an I mean ALL) the trips my friends and I go on. Whatever... more fun at 7 springs!
Big Boulder Park is open now
re: "prob because this time of year is still relatively dead for ski areas"
Well that would be a pretty darn good reason, as I think it does cost some money to actually run the mountain. :-) I think once they miss out on both the early season buzz and thanksgiving, they might as well wait for the early christmas wave.
However, if I was an owner or pass holder, I would be more pissed about their early closings, it seems like it would be possible to keep at least the grabhammer lift going.
Nontheless, I admit that I'll have one family trip there this year, from NC it's still a hell of a lot closer than VT. Sigh.
I also am getting cranky for snow.
ps: oh yeah, this is from a real ski resort....
Last 24 hours - 0"
Season Total Range - 174-180"
Last 48 hours - 19-23"
Mid Mountain Base - 55"
Last 7 days - 124-127"
... Kirkwood.
re: "prob because this time of year is still relatively dead for ski areas"
Well that would be a pretty darn good reason, as I think it does cost some money to actually run the mountain. :-) I think once they miss out on both the early season buzz and thanksgiving, they might as well wait for the early christmas wave.
However, if I was an owner or pass holder, I would be more pissed about their early closings, it seems like it would be possible to keep at least the grabhammer lift going.
Agreed.... I think once they miss out on Thanksgiving then the focus goes to the Christmas period. If I was a season pass holder I would be very very PO'ed
I would say Bill rocks abrupt departure isn't helping them either as they try to figure out their gameplan.
I would say Bill rocks abrupt departure isn't helping them either as they try to figure out their gameplan.
Good point, Bruce. I hadn't thought about that.
And I think pagamony's point is dead-on, too. If conditions don't work out for a Thanksgiving weekend opening, the next focus often becomes getting ready in time for Christmas week.
I have to give credit to the SnowTime resorts for aiming for a 2nd-week-in-December opening most seasons. Their elevations are too low to make Thanksgiving a realistic goal, yet they generally open several runs on or before ~ December 15.
Woody
Folks in the pub said the 11th. What are you shocked about?????
I am shocked that tline doesn't have a webcam running at this critical juncture. Lightning looked white from the top on the dollycam, a resort cam might be a really novel, unique marketing idea for them to try, build some excitement for their customer base. Probably very expensive though i'd guess hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Newsflash - Liberty is going to TRY to get the guns going as early as tomorrow night. With the new computerized snow making, that means opening potentially as early as this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed!!
Newsflash - Liberty is going to TRY to get the guns going as early as tomorrow night. With the new computerized snow making, that means opening potentially as early as this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed!!
Good for them! would love to see some snowtime snowmaking.
I'm still thinking they blast away as soon as this rain moves out and shoot for opening mid-end of next week. Agree with others that, for the Snowtimes, we could ask for nothing more than an early December opening..... Shoe on the other hand, not so much
As for Tline, Canaan, wintergreen, and most of all Shoe... get WEBCAMS!!! Any clue how many times per year I visit 7Springs/Wisp/Whitetail's webpages to look at webcams and therefore how much more likely I am to ski there/book packages on their website?? Every laptop made today comes with a webcam standard and new phones can broadcast live to the net, the investment is nil. "Photos of the day" are BS.. i could take pictures in my backyard from the right angles and make it look like epic ski conditions.
To add to Lskier, temp and humidity will not allow round the clock operations before the weekend, but there is plenty of cold dry air on the way, so next week, weekend is a better bet.
Not sure what the weather is like right now in the DC area, but it is raining here (60 miles south of Snowshoe) harder than I've heard it rain in a long time. AND it has been raining like this non-stop now for over an hour, on top of the light rain we've had all day. News channels around here are putting up flash flood watches like crazy. I hope that the Shoe has snow left after tonight.
I sure hope this system isn't a sign of things to come
....From Denis's "Snow loungers" thread...
Those guys are going to be miserable with a gully washer of Rain 1st but then as I posted 2 days ago...
"Watch that rain turn to snow wed morn up at Canaan...7am sharp..'
From early wed morn on they will be some happy Loungers with a few inches here..another there...A few more later this weekend..Then maybe some heavier amounts next week..
BOUT TIME!!
What you doing up this late David?...you going to be up at 7am sharp to watch the rain turn to snow on the DS Cam?..That would have givin you 4 days advance notice..ya can't beat that!
Temperature went from 54 at midnite up at Timberline down to 32 degrees at 646 am this morn..there is snow in the air & as far as I am concerned today is opening day to the winter of 2010/11...Let the games begin!
PS...Yes..I was a tad late on my (4 days ago post) of a rain to snow, 7 am Sharp, turnover...Sue Me...ya can't get blood out of a Flake!..
Not sure what the weather is like right now in the DC area, but it is raining here (60 miles south of Snowshoe) has snow left after tonight.
Rain. Horizontal Rain.
Not sure what the weather is like right now in the DC area, but it is raining here (60 miles south of Snowshoe) has snow left after tonight.
Rain. Horizontal Rain.
Changed over sometime this morning (probably exactly at 7am
). There's a nice dusting on the ground now and it is still slowly coming down.
I actually just decided I am going to make it a point to NOT go to snowshoe this year
...good decision...I decided that about 12 years ago...
I must be a slow learner, I only stopped skiing the Shoe 5 years ago. Prior to this, I had skied the Shoe on over 100 occasions.
I actually just decided I am going to make it a point to NOT go to snowshoe this year
...good decision...I decided that about 12 years ago...
We go maybe once a year on WV day when anyone with a valid WV drivers license skis for free. We usually end up drinking more than skiing anyway.
Is the 9th the official opening date for Timberline?
...call 1 800 snowing (timberline toll free number) and ask, because I don't think anyone here is going to know for sure, I don't think timberline has even decided for sure...
Given the current weather, I wonder if anyone plans on being open this weekend or during the week next week?
Springs will be open Saturday via a mountain employees facebook post. I'm waiting on a call for comformation. I know they are doing a rail jam for sure, but it would be nice to get a chair ride in.
BB - they have a video on their home page confirming your post.
They are opening on Sat.
Congrats 7 Springs! Think im going up the weekend of the 18th.. hopefully they start snowmaking on the north face asap (or have started)
Yeah, just got my phone call. Guess I'm not that important.
Well, as it stands, looks like my first turns of the season will be occurring this next weekend (the 11th and 12th)! Time to get the skis out and prepared. I am so stoked to finally get out there again.
Sure is a confusing Conditions report on their page, a mix of last March and today??
I'd go if they really are open tomorrow.
Heh I was planning on 7springs tomorrow
*wonders if the extra hour each way would be worth it?*
(See PJ, WV learns 3rdP)
Blue Knob saves me an hour each way over 7 Spgs.
Called both Blue Knob's #s and both are busy.
Astounding how hard potential customers have to dig to get info from places like BK and T-line....
Got through, recording says the 10th
Heh I was planning on 7springs tomorrow
Really?
Why not hate to miss opening day (can't go Sunday anyways)! You sound suprised, if you're there I will buy you a Foggy Goggle Lager, new specialty brew from Pennsylvania Brewing.
This just in, sources from Davis WV suggest that Timberline will in fact open, from the top, on Thursday Dec 9.
This just in, sources from Davis WV suggest that Timberline will in fact open, from the top, on Thursday Dec 9.
Nice. I'd be there if I didn't have a bazillion tests before Christmas Break.
Not to be outdone by a Dec 9th opening. From Snowshoe's FB:
"BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Our Mountain Operations and Management Team has determined that 14 slopes will be ready with a 20-24" base for WEDNESDAY, DEC 8th at 9am!! We've moved up Opening Day by 48 hours! Get those skis and boards waxed, the season is here!"
Whitegrass is officially open today making it the 1st ski area in region to do so...Gotta love that Canaan Valley Snow bunny!
......& its gonna keep going..& going..& Going!!
PS..OPPS..Didn't know that 7springs opened yest...good for them!
Springs was really good yesterday. The grooming on the front side was a little iffy but besides that absolutely awesome. Especially the park set up in the foggy goggle. On another note looks like the Wisp has belly flop open. Could have done a lot more from looking on the drive past. Poor performance by them, but at least they let the kids get out and play.
I hear an announcement from Whitetail is imminent.....Liberty and Roundtop will announce by Tuesday
Springs was really good yesterday. The grooming on the front side was a little iffy but besides that absolutely awesome. Especially the park set up in the foggy goggle.
Yeah really good Saturday I'll bet it was even better Sunday. The snow was, umm, variable. That jam they had going on was nuts.
WISP is openning on Thursday, December 9, 2010. I'm not sure how many trails will be open, but they've been blowing on 16 trails.
Is anyone besides, Whitegrass & the Shoe going to be open on Wednesday?
Jimmy is like Redman. No pictures of him, no pictures taken by him.
Jimmy is like Redman. No pictures of him, no pictures taken by him.
At least we have a pronoun to use. We should be grateful.
DRUM ROLL.....
WHITETAIL OPENS THURSDAY @ 8 AM
LIBERTY FRIDAY
ROUNDTOP FRIDAY
Just announced
Saturday at the Springs was a bit rushed according to some due to the Jib fest. Sunday was really nice. Ungroomed Tyrol and ungroomed Stowe made for a good second day out workout. It was bit colder and windier than Saturday.
Just read the Snow report Friday & Saturday 9am to 10 pm and 9 to 4 on Sunday. Oh Boy !
The ridge has gotten 15 inches of light powder as of this morning and it is to snow through Wednesday. Typical La Nina weather a few inches everyday until Lake Eire frezzes in January.
DRUM ROLL.....
WHITETAIL OPENS THURSDAY @ 8 AM
LIBERTY FRIDAY
ROUNDTOP FRIDAY
Just announced
Whooo - hooo! See you there!
Woody
I understand that Martin Radigan has a few shots from the Jack Frost festivities on his website martinradigan.com...rumor has it that there may be a few of the goateed one. (:^O)>>>
No worries, just a little bit of my jealousy showing through.
Are you going to Wisp on Sunday or will you be at Tline?
...there may be a few of the goateed one. (:^O)>>>
Well whaddya know about that?
Thank you Mr Camp...didn't get to see you up there but I did run into Mr Brothers. It was great to see the familiar faces! I knew that was him on yur website from a few weeks ago.
... I knew that was him on yur website from a few weeks ago.
Ahhh, the ol' Bike Doctor jersey.
Hope to see you soon,
the boy and I will be skiing somewhere this weekend, too many choices all of a sudden.
This is sure looking good right now too.
David,
Thanks for the post. Definitely gets the jucies flowing!
The Colonel
The rope drop this AM
Where on earth is that, Brook?
Sure looks like a basin trail at Snowshoe to me -- Gandy Dancer or Spruce Glades perhaps?
Thats right off Skidder behind the Stage heading towards Spruce Glades.
Now that I see the picture of Redman I think I raced some Boardercrosses against you here at Timberline sometime around 2000.
Now for my quick opening day TR.
Whiteout was the only thing open here at Timberline this morning. It was well groomed and great for a few turns. Look for the same conditions as they open more trails through the weekend.
As for off trail conditions there are a few tracks at the Mountain and I've done one short test elsewhere and though it's rideable you are hitting bottom at times. IMO saturday will warm up just enough to settle everything in creating a nice base for the next storm coming through Sunday.
Where on earth is that, Brook?
yep B.Bruce called it, gandy dancer
