The weather looks cooperative for at least making at night for the next week. Some serious cold behind that. From web cams HV and 7s have guns blazing now. Lets hope it continues.

Wisp reports making snow some of the beginner runs and Squirrel Cage and the Face expert runs.

Mnut has snow guns blazing on ParaDice, Southern Comfort, and the tubing runs. Fun to watch on the new webcam that rotates.

Wgreen is waiting, as is Bryce.

It is perfect snowmakin' weather in the valley...I got 17 degrees, relatively light wind, and low humidity at my house on valley floor...looked like timberline was making snow at base,lower sally and lightnin' yesterday (footage of timberlines deck on their webcam....so hard to see whats going on with snowblowing, but discussions on their "official" facebook page about webcam and openings seems to tell the story)...never got out of the low 20's yesterday here in valley...whitegrass turned on their guns and we got about 2"-3" everywhere yesterday (not sure what it did last night)...canaan valley resort not making snow...

Hv "tweeted" that their goal is to open this weekend. Hopefully the weather holds.

Wintergreen finally updated their winter blog. Talking about starting snowmaking later this week if daytime temp predictions are cool enough. The big new tank project isn't quite finished yet.

http://wintergreenva.blogspot.com/2012/11/snowmaking-update.html

Do you guys think any of the SnoTime resorts will be making snow tonight? Or this week? I know last year many of us were highly upset at their failure to believe that snow making temps were not going to be here for days on end and they were going to have to go back to the old days of making the snow when the temps drop and deal with it via grooming or piling snow up when the temps rise. I just wonder if that mantra is going to stick in their heads this year or if they lost enough pass holders who felt hosed in the beginning of the crappy season last year. Any thoughts?

From their webcams, it doesn't look like they are blowing snow tonight. Perhaps they will later in the evening, but I'm not holding my breath. I've got an Advantage card, so I want them to make as much snow as they can as well.

I'm sure they will do everything they can to have a decent number of trails open for Christmas week as that is a big money maker week if they have the trails open, but I doubt they will work hard to get open much earlier than that.

Plans change. But per someone who works up at Liberty, they are currently planning on opening ~Dec 10 (Mon.) I think staffing is as much an issue as snow making.

And doing a quick check, looks like a 5+ day warm-up starting next weekend, so any snow they (WT, Liberty) made this week risks melting.

While I agree with you on the possibility of a 5 day warm-up. I hope they realize that this is a similar pattern as to what happened with the snow making last year. Bryce decided to blow snow into huge piles for a week. Wait out the warmup week and then blow snow for a few nights the next week. They groomed it out and then had a solid snow base to open up 2 weeks prior to any of the snotime resorts. By the time the snotime resorts were opening with 3 or 4 trails Bryce had their resort just about fully opened. I realize Bryce is a small resort with only a few trails. Call it luck, call it ESP, but Bryce made the snow when the temps allowed and it helped make their season better.

I expect the usual places will make snow as often as they can. Today and Tuesday do not bode well for sno-making due to high humidity, but later in the week, things should dry out enough for most to make at a minimum, in the evenings. T-line has a good start on making, which is good. I hope they have at least WL and Sally open from the top on opening weekend. Gives the boy scouts a larger selection. Much better than last year.

As of yesterday(Sunday 11/25), Massanutten also reports snowmaking on Lower Southern Comfort, Geronimo and Nutten-to-It. Here's their description:

UPDATED 11/25/2012 -- Massanutten made snow Friday night, all day Saturday and still making as of 9am Sunday. We will need colder weather to make enough snow to open the Ski Area, but keeping thinking cold. If weather allows, we plan to open the Ski Area on December 8th. Please keep an eye on this page for weather and snow-making updates.

*****

Glad they're starting up but sorry to see that it'll be nearly 2 weeks until the projected opening.

East of the Allegheny Front, though, I count any open day before December 15 as gravy.

Woody

Wisp currently has their birthday celebration set as the 9th and 10th, so that is their likely target date for opening up. It sounds like 7 Springs will try to open this weekend.

another thing they aren't making, is much progress with the "improvements". Based on what it looks like right now, it will be a miracle for the tubing park, and new little lodge, magic carpet, etc open this year at all. And how about that pallet of concrete just sitting uncovered in the snow that is now hardened?

They did install new water lines and some new boom-arm guns but nothing is connected or tested.

If it was a private resort it wouldn't be so bad, but if you pay wv taxes, which is what is paying for it, you are allowed to be extra critical

agree 100%

are they gonna open at all for the season...did they even really open last season?

but what I'm lookin' at right now is a bunch of lowland hills openin' up with more terrain before these valley "resorts" open up,,,even with the huge temp difference advantage up here...I understand business demand and all but at some point you got to try to cash in on the huge deal that surrounds christmas/new years crowds, but more importantly the return customers from the initial holiday season visits...

Chaga,

They had the pipe trenches open for a long time, so my hope is that they would have tested the waterlines before they backed filled the trenches. Back before Sandy, I was at happy hour with someone who works at the resort and he stated that the improvements were going well and he was very excited about the upcoming season. We started talking about how dry the fall had been and he mentioned that at least one (or maybe two?) of the existing snowmaking ponds had been removed for the new teaching area and the new tubing area. When I asked if the the pond that leaked had been fixed, he didn't respond which isn't a good sign.

The contractor seemed to be behind schedule, so "Sandy" turned into the perfect storm (excuse) for the contractor. He can get an time extension, as well as more general conditions $ from the state due to the delay. The contractor also seemed to have left all of their old equipment, materials, open trenches, etc. unprotected in hopes that it would be damaged in the storm so they could get another change order, as well as an insurance claim. Damn contractors.

Tucker, You better get to work, you've got change orders to pay!!

I would think the contractors get hit with a big fine for not finishing on time, at least thats what Fed contractors have to deal with.

Looks like the snow tubing and ski school areas are fully covered, but obviously can't see how deep on the webcam. Haven't really started on Geronimo. One of the new webcam views shows all but the top of Geronimo and it's still just grass. Nice to have regular updates on the Mnut FB page.

Wonder if the new owners of Wintergreen are scrambling a bit.

So it looks like Liberty, WT and Roundtop are all blowing snow at this very minute. Wednesday night November 28th into November 29th at 3:00 am. Spraying the snow from fan guns instead of moving in with the ground guns and piling up what they can to make it through a few days warm up. What does this mean? It means that they are testing their system out for the season. Making a trial run and making it look like they are catering to our needs and wants from last year. What are they really doing? Blowing a dusting all over the grass trails which will dissolve by 2 in the afternoon on Thursday November 29th. So did they take any helpful hints from Bryce last year? I guess not. They should be building piles and leaving them to sit through the warmups. Then blowing again when the temps reach the lows they need. We will see who opens first and with how many trails. Let's just wait and see. I'll back off for now. I know I am over anxious to ski, but I also know how many people were pissed off last year at their failures and I expect to call them out on it every chance this year should they not do the right thing again. At least they are making a attempt this season compared to last. Obviously last year was a black eye for their snow-making abilities.

I always enjoy the snowmaker/weatherman comments at this point in the season. We're all experts! ..it is a forum, so keep them coming.

7springs was ok today. I ran off on my board into untouched areas and almost paid the ultimate price. On skis , which most of you seem to ride, I'm sure you know what I mean. That sticky stuff that looks like powder, is manmade and almost rips you out of your boots.

On a board, it's a bit different, if you are transitioning an edge or trying to hold an edge over crud and hit this stuff, it can feel like the hand of god is trying to push you into the worst kind of fall you can have on a board.

Lets hope that they can hold onto what they have through this warm weather. Such BS I tell you. Not looking like we are going get any damn snow for at least another month.

Hopefully Snowshoe will open more terrain this week, might head back up there next weekend with some friends.

Oh well, all the snow that Mnut put on the ground in late Nov. is pretty much gone. They certainly aren't going to open on Dec. 8.

Wintergreen posted a Mountain Message on Dec. 4. Sounds like the new snowmaking equipment will be ready to go mid-Dec. They are hoping to open Dec. 14 or 15. Assuming of course it cools down enough in the next week.

i heard wintergreen has the new snowglobe (R) earth bubble technology which will maintain a chilled air bubble over the ski slopes thus permitting year round skiing on a consistent two foot base. well, that's what i heard....

Heading back to Snowshoe this weekend with my buddy, who's last ski trip there ended up in a torn ACL. Looks like they will be shoring up the terrain that they opened already and hopefully adding at least a couple more runs. Might hit Wintergreen 23-24 depending. Then on the 28 its off to Mammoth and AZ Snowbowl!

Debating on SS this weekend. Watching the weather closely. If the rain (weekend) holds off I think I'm a yes.

They are making more snow tonight and maybe Thu night too.

From the forecasts Ive been seeing, it looks like it is getting pushed a bit later. It was supposed to rain/snow during the week but now it isnt until the weekend or later. Thats what Im hoping anyway, got a Powderidge lined up and dont want to get rained on at all.

Looks worse today than it did yesterday.

NOAA WEATHER

70 + 60% chances of showers on Sat + Sun.

Bah Humbug

Great, looks like Ill be packing some booze. Sad face.

I've been tracking this as well...at least the saturday daytime forecast calls for less than a tenth of an inch. I'll probably make the call about whether to go or not sometime Friday afternoon.

Same here. Son has wrestling practice until 6 PM Fri so I can make the call at 5:55.

Nice thing about "being a guy" is we can pack our stuff in 5 minutes and hit the road.

I'm having a blast at Snowshoe! 21 trails open, 50's and no rain all day. Seems the rail jam is not happening? No crowds to speak of. Slopes seem better than opening weekend and these new Smoke Ti's are like Indy cars. Def glad I took the chance to come up, Powderidge > Mountain Crest.

Thanks for the encouraging report, GMZ! Glad to see somebody found good skiing somewhere this weekend. We need the ra!n, but it's making today pretty miserable.

Enjoy,
Woody

We just endured a lousy week and lousy weekend for snowmaking across the entire Mid-Atlantic, but at least there should be a bit more water in the holding ponds.

Come Monday night, conditions should be good enough for overnight snowmaking everywhere. Finally.

Git 'er done !

Woody

Got the guns going at t-line. They will not open on the 13th as advertised. Hopeing to do it on the 14th. Warmth and rain really put a dent in their base as it has everywhere. If there is another change in plans, I'll let all know.

Open this weekend mid-station only for your incoming groups?

Think WL will open on 12/22? (I am assuming no way it will open this weekend.)

T-Line webcam looks good!

Real Nice!

WOW - that is Real Nice .

Looking good, trying to figure out a 3 day midweek trip for Feb might give TL/CV try.

Mnut fired up the snow guns on Dec. 12. I'm hoping to have something to slide on next week. First ski day for me and my daughter is supposed to be Dec. 19. Will drive up to Mnut regardless since we enjoy the area and other stuff at the resort.

Back up plan is a day trip to Davis, WV.

Timberline actually updated their website! But you should know that:

"Throughout the region"

What about 50 miles South East of the Valley? Plenty of slopes open there.

Fred does a wonderful job at trying smear other resorts (mostly just Snowshoe) on the Tline Facebook page.

Oh well . . . I suppose Wisp is another possibility. Their website says opening on Dec. 15.

$35 for Wisp Trail and Belly Flop. Definitely not worth it...

Mnut and Wgreen are blowing snow this morning!

I'm at Mnut. Met a family on Tue who went to Snowshoe for a day trip yesterday. Beginners who bought equipment after a scout trip last winter to Tline. I decided to wait until we come back in Jan for our first ski day.

Wintergreen tweeted opening on 12/26 weather permitting. The ski season is starting out bad for the resorts...but if they can get decent snow down fast they have a longer holiday period than normal this year.

Mnut has lots of snow guns on this morning. Even started on the terrain park for the first time. Snowmaking all day yesterday at the top for DJ. Given the predicted daytime temps, may be able to keep making snow at the bottom all day long.

Website was updated to say that they are hoping to open on Dec. 24. Timeshare check in days are Fri, Sat, Sun. That means some families come to Mnut for Christmas at the resort.

Mnut and Wintergreen will be open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. A few beginner runs only.

For Mnut, that will allow them to run the Slopesliders full-day ski school for kids. Snowguns were still on at the base around 9:30am but it was warming up quickly.

The last day for Early Season rates at Mnut will be Dec. 30. They managed to get Showtime (blue) open to mid-station today.

Wintergreen started charging regular rates on Dec. 28. Got Acorn open for Eagles Swoop. Talking about Highlands opening soon.