OPENING DAY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

We are open with beginner skiing and riding on Upper Dobie and the Loggers Alley Chairlift.  Lift tickets and GLS packages are discounted 30% along with the option of a 4hour or 8hour ticket.  Operating hours are 9a - 8p today and 10a - 10p Christmas Day.  These discounted rates reflect limited terrain open and will adjust as we open additional trails.

Winter returns on Wednesday with cooler temperatures and the possibility of a few inches of Natural Snow.  Once snowmaking temperatures return, we will concentrate on opening Eagles Swoop, Lower Dobie and both cross trails ASAP.  These trails are close to completion and only need a little more snow to get open.  The weather forecast starting Wednesday night supports around the clock snowmaking.  We anticipate opening additional terrain almost daily beginning later this week. 

Tubing Update-  Opening day for the Plunge looks like Saturday.  Please keep checking this report for details about opening plans and when tubing tickets will go on sale online. 

See you on the snow!

Opening Monday 12/23

Skiing and riding for the 2012-2013 begins tomorrow!

We will open Monday 12/24 at 9am and close at 8pm, skiing and riding on 3 beginner trails and operating 1 chairlift.  The open trails include: Upper Dobie, portions of Potato Patch, Upper Cross Trail and Lower Cross Trail.  Operating hours for Christmas Day will be 10am until 10pm.  With limited terrain, we will offer a 30% discount on lift and GLS packages and both a 4 hour and 8 hour ticket session.  These discounts will be available for the first few days and will be adjusted as we open more terrain.

Snowmaking should resume on Wednesday, allowing for additional trail openings later in the week and over the weekend.  Eagles Swoop and Lower Dobie are almost ready and we have already started making snow on Tyro, Sunrise and portions of The Highlands.  The snowmaking improvements are working great, and the weather forecast predicts around the clock snowmaking temperatures starting Wednesday night.  As soon as temperatures allow, we will be making snow and opening more terrain.

The Plunge tubing park will require additional snowmaking and is expected to open for the weekend, please check this report later in the week for opening information.

SNOWMAKING PROGRESS

Everyone,

Great snowmaking conditions with overnight lows in the 20's.  The snowmaking system is running incredibly well, allowing us to pump more water than ever before.  Overnight, we passed the 5,500 gpm mark beating our previous system max of 4,000 gpm.  The additional water allowed us to make snow on Eagles Swoop, Dobie, both cross trails, Potato Patch, Tyro, Sunrise, The Plunge and The Highlands.  More that 160 guns running at one time!

Temperatures are going to creep back up tomorrow into Monday before stormy weather moves into our area for the first part of the week.  Weather forecasters are talking about the possibility of some natural snow before temperatures fall off dramatically 12/26.  Christmas week is forecasted to be nice and cold allowing for round the clock snowmaking.  All of this cold air will allow us to provide great surface conditions and open terrain quickly. 

We are doing everything we can to open before 12/26.  Check this message for the most up to date information. 

MAKING SNOW!

Cold air arrived as the wet weather moved out, allowing temperatures to fall throughout the night.  The current temperature at the ski area is approximately 29 degrees (6am).  Temperatures will remain low for the next several days allowing us to run our snowguns hard.  We plan to make snow every minute we can in an effort to open before December 26th.  This message is the best place to find the most up to date snowmaking information and our opening schedule.

WINTER ARRIVES THURSDAY NIGHT

Weather Forecasters are talking about a pattern shift that will allow Winter to arrive later this week and remain in place.  Overnight Thursday it should be cold enough to fire up our snowmaking system and start laying down snow.  We are 100% ready to go.  All of our new snow guns, the pump house and water tank are online and tested....all we need is cold.

Opening Day prediction - December 26th.  The weather forecasts supports opening by 12/26 with the possibility of opening sooner.  Like all of you, we want to be on the snow now.  Cross your fingers and toes for cold weather. 

MAKING SNOW!!!

We fired up our guns around 6:30pm last night, concentrating our snowmaking efforts on Eagles Swoop, Dobie, The Plunge, Potato Patch, Highlands and both Cross Trails.  The system performed extremely well with approximately 2 million gallons of water converted to snow.

 

 

 

Today's high temp of 40 will likely force a mid morning shutdown.  Once temperatures drop back below freezing, we will resume snowmaking.

OPENING DAY UPDATE: Opening day is looking like sometime after December 19th.  Weather permitting, we will do everything we can to open before 12/22.  We want to be sliding as badly as you do.  Keep checking this message for the most current information about our opening plans, slopes status and snowmaking progress. Weather forecasters are talking about a transition to Winter early next week along with the threat of a coastal storm.  Cross your finger and toes for freezing temperatures!

TANK UPDATE:

Tank fill status as of Tuesday AM.

Tank status as of Wednesday AM - all most full!

 

 

As of this morning, the tank is full and doing exactly what we hoped it would.  Overnight we used our new tank to provide additional water for our snowmaking system.  Tonight we will begin recirculating our tank water through our chiller system in an effort to bring snowmaking water temps down.  Current water temp coming out of our valley lakes is 54 degrees.  Converting 54 degree water to snow is tough and overall snowmaking production suffers.  Cold water is a key component to increased snow production!  

SNOWMAKING UPDATE



December is starting out warm, however, this is not all that uncommon for VA.  Temps are expected to moderate in coming days allowing for the possibility of overnight snowmaking.  We are ready to go as soon as temperatures drop below freezing.

  

With limited snowmaking hours in this weeks forecast, opening day is likely to be December 14th or 15th.  Please check this report for the most up to date information.  We plan to open as soon as the weather allows.   

 

Pumphouse Progress Update:

 

The original snowmaking plant is ready to go allowing us to begin making snow as soon as the cold air arrives.  The new pipeline expansion is complete, tested and helped us make some snow last week.  The new pumphouse and water cooling plant should be online by 12/15.  Everything is coming together to help make this the best snowmaking system in our region.

 

BIG Pumps require BIG power! 





 

3,000+ gallons per minute of water cooling requires BIG water coolers!

 



Tank Progress Update:

Our new 5 million gallon water tank is scheduled to be filled this Friday. At a fill rate of 2,000 gallons per minute, it will take 41 hours of continuous pumping to get the tank full.

If you are wondering how big our new tank is, these 2 pictures should provide a good idea.

 

 

The concrete truck in this picture is not a toy.

 

The excavation required blasting and removal of approximately 26,000 cubic yards of material.