As announced on their website, Twitter, and FB pages, 7S will be open this weekend.  They'll be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9a-5p. Ticket prices are $61 adult and $48 for kids.

Unclear what'll be open, but they'll be have some good snowmaking weather, with really cold weather tomorrow thru Friday which should allow for some round-the-clock snow making.  They did at least say they're not expecting North Face to be open. Hopefully they'll be able to get most of the front side open.

No word from HV or BK yet, though BK's latest post implied they wouldn't be open this weekend.  It'll be a good snowmaking week at least.

I'll be up there Friday somewhere - depending on what and where opens up this weekend. Hope to see some of you!

Super

I'll be on the road from Evansville, Indiana. I'll probably wait until Laurel opens, depends on the weather.

Based off the webcams, Instagram, and past opening days, expect the 6-pack, cortina, and Tyrol chairs to be running. They will service Wagner, Stowe, Fawn Lane, Phillips Run, Cortina Trail, Stowe Trail, Artic Blast, and Santa's Beard.

BK confirmed they will NOT be opening this weekend.

Only one up in the air is HV at this point, though if they haven't said anything by now, I put a low likelihood on them too.

superguy wrote:

Only one up in the air is HV at this point, though if they haven't said anything by now, I put a low likelihood on them too.

VERY LOW

I’ll bet they’ll be open on Friday. They were held up in the bade area from making snow because of lift repairs. There is a good amount of man made elsewhere on the mountain.

Guns are back on at 7S and HV. 7S also put out a new website, and the hours are now showing open 9a-9p this weekend.  That conflicts with FB, so I asked for clarification on it.

RT is going to start blowing snow tomorrow, but won't be opening this weekend. They're looking to start stockpiling snow to get a jump for when the cold stays more consistent.  Good move on their part.

snowsmith wrote:

I’ll bet they’ll be open on Friday. They were held up in the bade area from making snow because of lift repairs. There is a good amount of man made elsewhere on the mountain.

I may have spoke too soon.  Looks like 48+ hours straight snow making temps up this way.  It's friggin cold and going to be colder on  Turkey day. 

Go HV Go !!!

Verts on the front sides of 7S and HV are about the same, aren't they?

Another update: 7S confirmed extending their hours for this weekend, adding night and twilight sessions.  Skiing will be 9a-9p Fri/Sat, and 9a-5p Sun, with Twilight starting at 1p and Night starting at 4p. Prices are $66 for all day, $61 for twilight, and $36 for night. Sunday is $61 all day.

An unusual and persistent patch of warm air must be hanging over Laurel because there are no signs of snowmaking there.

I am guessing they’re shooting for a holiday time opening so you won’t see snow making start until December. I was told that 7S and HV have 12,000 season pass holders. I don’t think the season passes for just LM has grown large enough to initiate 7S to open the resort earlier.

snowsmith wrote:

I am guessing they’re shooting for a holiday time opening so you won’t see snow making start until December. I was told that 7S and HV have 12,000 season pass holders. I don’t think the season passes for just LM has grown large enough to initiate 7S to open the resort earlier.

I think you hit the nail on the head.

Classic chicken and egg problem.  Not enough pass holders to warrant opening up, but people won't buy passes if there's nothing to ski on either.  Their pass may be cheaper, but they have a shorter season and less terrain than the other two - and more limited snow making.

LM's still pretty new to the fold compared to HV and 7S.  They may need to suck it up a little early on to get people out there and get those passes sold. Take the short term hit to make the mountain more viable for the long run.

I know there's a core group that loves the mountain, and that's great.  But they gotta be open to get more people out there to discover and love the mountain too.

Not enough eggs.

Need to feed the chickens something so they'll stick around and lay more eggs.

Shifting gears, guns are going on Tyrol and possibly Avalanche. I'm thinking they may get most of the front side open less Goose Bumps and Village.

superguy wrote:

Verts on the front sides of 7S and HV are about the same, aren't they?

I would guess they are pretty similiar somewhere around 400-450ft. The best terrain at 7S (gunnar chair) probably wont open for another month unfortantely.

So FWIW snowshoe actually changed (increased) the hours of the junction and a few other things after the printing of this week on the mountain...apparently occupancy was close to 30% tonight. When it’s cold people think about skiing...

fmi1 wrote:

superguy wrote:

Verts on the front sides of 7S and HV are about the same, aren't they?

I would guess they are pretty similiar somewhere around 400-450ft. The best terrain at 7S (gunnar chair) probably wont open for another month unfortantely.

Yeah, Gunnar, Giant Steps, and Alpine Meadows were my favorites. Ib was thinking if they were both the roughly the same for early season and both were open that I'd hit HV as the lines would likely be less.

I used to love skiing the old Alpine glades before they cut the new portion of Alpine for the jump line. However, if you ever get to ski the new portion before the begin building out the jumps, it's a very nice run

Just read on HVs website that they are opening on Saturday.