I always love Go Figures's emphatic words. I didn't realize that our team was stupid, so it's always good to learn something.

The reality is that our snowmaking plans are just that, plans that get modified based on conditions to put out the best product possible for the guests we expect. We might follow the plan to go to North Lynx first or we might as we are considering now going to Snowball and Spring Fling if we can have a high probability of getting North Lynx by December 27th which is when the biggest number skier visits are expected from that point through January 3rd. The goal is to have both ready. Spring Fling and Snowball are really important vacation trails and the North Lynx chair takes a lot of pressure off of the Gate House chair and it gets people into SlideBrook.

The snowmaking on Gate House is coming in well, so we should move over to Middle Jester and Lower Organgrinder late Friday or Saturday.

One thing we are also going to be doing this year is grooming Birch middays on Saturdays and Holidays. We will close it for an hour and let those you don't get up early experience some fresh afternoon grooming.

win wrote:

One thing we are also going to be doing this year is grooming Birch middays on Saturdays and Holidays. We will close it for an hour and let those you don't get up early experience some fresh afternoon grooming.

NICE!

Personally I hope Upper Panorama will be open. I like skiers left, but occasionally will drift over to the right if it's not too bumped up.

In any case I'm glad they're blowing on NL. Keep them guns going.

One question. Will SBX be going this weekend?

win wrote:

I always love Go Figures's emphatic words. I didn't realize that our team was stupid, so it's always good to learn something. The reality is that our snowmaking plans are just that, plans that get modified based on conditions to put out the best product possible for the guests we expect. We might follow the plan to go to North Lynx first or we might as we are considering now going to Snowball and Spring Fling if we can have a high probability of getting North Lynx by December 27th which is when the biggest number skier visits are expected from that point through January 3rd. The goal is to have both ready. Spring Fling and Snowball are really important vacation trails and the North Lynx chair takes a lot of pressure off of the Gate House chair and it gets people into SlideBrook. The snowmaking on Gate House is coming in well, so we should move over to Middle Jester and Lower Organgrinder late Friday or Saturday. One thing we are also going to be doing this year is grooming Birch middays on Saturdays and Holidays. We will close it for an hour and let those you don't get up early experience some fresh afternoon grooming.

Wow. Interesting.

I've been a loud advocate for prioritizing Birch ahead of building big base depths on Steins, but I wouldn't go so far as to consider blowing on Birch ahead of getting Snowball/SF/RE reliably open for the holidays. Given the limitations of the system, it will be an interesting race, as discussed in this forum several times this fall (and last fall, and the fall before that....). Even with optimal temps, it will be until Friday/Saturday before you can move off GH pod back into the cruising terrain off Bravo. Lower Jester is long, as is Lower OG. That's another 3-4 days right there, bringing us to Tuesday/Wednesday. Then you have to hit VH Traverse, Snowball, Spring Fling, which is just as big a task if not bigger. That's another 3-4 days. Everyone better pray for snow, b/c best case scenario has Snowball/Spring Fling ready just as the holiday crowds arrive, and that means ignoring Birch, Murphy's and Upper Birdland to get there.

It's about the capacity.

Our wonderful owner writes: "One thing we are also going to be doing this year is grooming Birch middays on Saturdays and Holidays. We will close it for an hour and let those you don't get up early experience some fresh afternoon grooming."

What a great idea! I personally don't mind how it bumps up during the day, but it can get a bit "Downspout" on that trail later in the day--this approach will prolong Birch's role as a pressure-valve escape for Gatehouse! I'd recommend the same treatment for OG, but don't want to seem greedy!

Fourwide wrote:

Our wonderful owner writes: "One thing we are also going to be doing this year is grooming Birch middays on Saturdays and Holidays. We will close it for an hour and let those you don't get up early experience some fresh afternoon grooming." What a great idea! I personally don't mind how it bumps up during the day, but it can get a bit "Downspout" on that trail later in the day--this approach will prolong Birch's role as a pressure-valve escape for Gatehouse! I'd recommend the same treatment for OG, but don't want to seem greedy!

Agreed. While I like Birch any way I can get it, a midday touch up, will be much appreciated by the wife and other more recreational skiers.

As far as getting a good dumping of snow, there doesn't appear to be much of any significance on the horizon.#$%^&
Maybe a little LES or upslope, here and there, but no big storm.

I think they need a winch for OG, which would be a problem for people going to Jester.

Lake effect is currently cranking in Moretown. Snowed all day at the mountain. Keep the faith.

Thanks as always John for keeping us really in the loop or should I say snow!

I'll assume that everyone was just rolling with gut busting laughter so they couldn't see my actual question, but will the Slidebrook Express Chair be open this weekend to ferry back and forth?

So, enjoy the first day of Ellen! Leave a few lines for us weekend warriors!

MntMan4Bush wrote:

I'll assume that everyone was just rolling with gut busting laughter so they couldn't see my actual question, but will the Slidebrook Express Chair be open this weekend to ferry back and forth?

Good question... I'm not positive but don't think so. Plenty of snow in the basin, though. As has been stated here in the past, the other lifts are priority #1 before SBX and with limited inspectors in the state, everyone has to wait their turn.

Last year, its opening was delayed due to lack of snowpack, then due to high winds which did some damage. Hopefully we'll see it turn during holiday week.

shadyjay wrote:

MntMan4Bush wrote: I'll assume that everyone was just rolling with gut busting laughter so they couldn't see my actual question, but will the Slidebrook Express Chair be open this weekend to ferry back and forth? Good question... I'm not positive but don't think so. Plenty of snow in the basin, though. As has been stated here in the past, the other lifts are priority #1 before SBX and with limited inspectors in the state, everyone has to wait their turn. Last year, its opening was delayed due to lack of snowpack, then due to high winds which did some damage. Hopefully we'll see it turn during holiday week.

Whatever. there is no way that thing is running this weekend.

looks like we are getting the shaft on the storm this weekend. should make for an interesting drive home.

Got first chair at Ellen....amazing snow over there. First tracks on Hammerhead and Lower FIS. Exterminator, Bravo, and Encore were amazing. Did I mention Tumbler and Cliffs? And pretty much the entire upper mountain was awesome. Elbow was great.

summitchallenger wrote:

Got first chair at Ellen....amazing snow over there. First tracks on Hammerhead and Lower FIS. Exterminator, Bravo, and Encore were amazing. Did I mention Tumbler and Cliffs? And pretty much the entire upper mountain was awesome. Elbow was great.

Was there from 11-2:30... runs on groomed terrain were fast. A fellow employee joined me and I was able to check off Exterminator/Lower Exterminator/Way Back for the first time ever. We also hit up Tumbler and The Cliffs, in addition to Cruiser, Northstar, Which Way, Rim Run, Elbow, and Lookin' Good. Coupled that with the bluebird skies and unlimited visibilities made it one fine day to open Mt Ellen for the season. Only "iffy" spot was on Straight Shot, but the 2nd time I went to the bottom I did so on Crackerjack.