Last week saw the first few inches of snow many mountains have had in weeks, only to be followed by exceedingly warm temperatures Saturday then back to lower temps Sunday. This meant riding in t-shirts on hero snow one day and boiler plate the next. Although it was enjoyable while it lasted, the warm temps make me concerned for the longevity of this season.
 |
| That's green grass behind me... |
I took a look at the base depths of most of the mountains in New England, comparing last season's depths as of January 8th, 2011 and January 8th, 2012 and was surprised by what I found: many are reporting similar, if not higher base depths than last season despite the overwhelming lack of natural snow.
While we may have been spoiled by the exceptional amount of fresh snow we had last year, the snowmaking teams of each of these mountains have been working double time to deal with this crazy weather and give us something we can put an edge in. This means operating costs are also higher than usual, yet fewer people are going to the mountains.
In past years "Backyard Syndrome" has been very helpful for the ski industry. The idea is that if people see snow around their homes they have a greater urge to go ski. However, this also works in reverse: if there's no snow on the ground here, fewer people will head to the slopes.
Christmas vacation week at Wachusett saw pretty dismal turnouts compared to last year- about a third of the customers daily. School vacations are typically some of the busiest days of the season and the numbers they bring are critical for having a profitable winter. Wawa wasn't the only mountain to suffer these reduced numbers either, the impact is nearly unanimous. Seems the only place really getting any snow can't even make good use of it: a small town in Alaska received nearly 18 feet in a recent storm and needed emergency relief to help get rid of it (click
here for more details). If only they could send some of it our way!!
In the meantime, the mountains are trying their best to draw attention to their snowmaking capabilities and any other activities they might offer as a way to entice customers. Many are offering discounts and promotions to lure people in, so if you just want to get out a ride and don't care if it came from a gun or the sky you're in luck because they really want your business. Remember: Occupy Chairlifts!
Ever been riding gondola at Stratton bemoaning the flat light and icy conditions, looked out and saw a peak bathed in sunlight not too far away? Often over shadowed by the better-known resort, Bromley should not be overlooked. The mountain boasts 43 trails winding through 163 acres of state and national forest with glade runs and park features all serviced by ten lifts. The south-facing slopes get lots of sun and tickets are $65, $57 on Sundays as compared to $87 at Stratton.
Over 100 acres of glades and 50 New England-style tight and windy trails, just the way they should be. One of the coolest things about this mountain is that it naturally separates out the different levels: the bottom half of the mountain is green trails only, while the top half has a nice mix of blues, blacks and double blacks. This keeps the noobs in their own area and not side-slip scraping all the snow off your favorite trails. They also get an average annual snowfall of 200 inches, while they may fall a little short this year they did get 4 inches in the last 72 hours which is better than a lot of places around here.
Awesome summit views of the beautiful Rangeley lakes are just an added bonus of checking out Saddleback. It's also one of the few mountains in New England to offer above tree-level riding, boasting some sweet snowfields only a short hike up from the summit lift. In addition to having some nice steep headwalls to drop down, they also recently expanded to include the stellar 44 acre Casablanca glade: only the first part of an on-going glade expansion that will be progressing in the next few years. Peak tickets are a mere $59.
