Hello Everyone –
First before we get into this week’s topic, I would like to remind you of a continuing topic of a couple of columns this season, over hyping upcoming snow storms. Now I know that ski resorts throughout the region appreciate natural snow, but when an upcoming storm is over hyped, it doesn’t do anyone any good other than maybe the grocery stores. A few days ago a weather website (that will go unnamed because I refuse to give them any publicity) announced the possibility of a return of the 93 blizzard this coming week. This is a site that the National Weather Service has actually tried to shut down or make sure that everyone knows the meteorologist is a crack pot. However this website has an unbelievable 43,000 followers.
I am here to say there is going to be NO chance of anything like the 93 blizzard happening in a few days. My point, how can so called snow gooses like this continue to get away with putting out this trash? Just because it is in print on the internet doesn’t make it true. Well I also got some advice the other day from President Lincoln letting me know that wasn’t true. It just amazes me that folks just don’t stop and think for a second, but that’s a topic for another column. For the record, the higher elevations of the Allegheny Mountains got hammered and that’s where we pick up this week’s column.
If you have been skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing this year, once, twice or a handful of times, congratulations you have experienced excellent conditions since the ropes dropped in November. But don’t look now as time is running out on this season and if you haven’t made any turns, well you know what I am saying. If you have been asleep for let’s say three months or so and just woke up today, well it has been snowing and snowing and snowing at most of the ski resorts from North Carolina to Maryland, right when it has been needed this season. Just take a look at the resort cam page on this site and you will see for yourself, it is pretty awesome out there right now.
I have been making reference to the great opportunities for all of the snow makers this year, and that has been the case, but let us not forget the groomers. They have had nothing but smiles on their faces with the type of product they have been pushing around. A happy groomer is a fine tuned slope, may I just say.
With all the snow not only at the resorts but in the major cities like Washington, DC, Charlotte and Atlanta through most of the season, the numbers of skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers have been very strong from opening day until now. In fact some resorts reported record numbers for either the Martin Luther King or Presidents holiday weekends. That means the word is getting out about just how good the conditions have been and currently are on the slopes. It also helps that folks in the cities are still seeing brown grass on their front yard and keeping the lawn mower safely packed away.
If you haven’t been fortunate enough to make it to your favorite ski resort yet this season again your time is running out. It’s inevitable the crowds are going to slow down or stop before all of the snow melts. Once again I can put any doubts that you might have aside by letting you know there is tons upon tons of snow on the slopes right now. I actually think some resorts are being bit conservative with their base reports right now, which is a huge change from seasons past. The challenge is that skiers and snowboarders just stop coming this time of the season and when there are not folks on the slopes, the resorts close for the season.
Decisions are being made right now on how long to stay open. All of the resorts at the beginning of the season have an idea of when they will close but if folks are still buying lift tickets, well it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out the lifts will keep running. In fact one resort, Snowshoe Mountain has already announced they were extending their closing date into April. I guarantee you that other resorts are looking at that decision and contemplating on following suit. But it is all up to you and you and you to make some more turns in the next couple of weeks.
By the way if you haven’t noticed, the cost of lift tickets has begun to drop to spring skiing prices, which is always good on the pocketbook. To find out the latest of when your favorite resort is going to be calling it quits for the season stay tuned to this website, but I repeat, if you want to make those final turns of the season don’t dilly or dally because the day is nearing that your will be putting your equipment away until next season. And to tell you the truth I really don’t want to hear the complaining that resorts are closing and you didn’t get a chance to go skiing or riding again.
That’s it for this week, just remember whether it be cold or whether it be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather will be. Think about it! See you on the slopes.