Starting off, Thanksgiving 09
— Posted by Mark on November 25, 2009
So it's again November and we're back; I'm back. About half the patrol is on right now working the 3 runs we have open (thanks to the snowmakers!). I must say those 3 runs are in pretty nice shape and the folks out there seem to be having a fine time. The one joy of a high pressure ridge parked over the Wasatch is it makes for lovely sunny days like today. We are of course longing for snow and the adventures into our upper mountain terrain it provides. Colin, Dave and I (the Snow Safety team) would love to take some walks up high to check things out, but right now I think we're all just happy to be working.
I would like to take a moment to hop on my soapbox and mention something about safe riding habits. Remember that the terrain is limited and many people are out there of all abilities and interests. Please dial it down a bit and be aware of where you are and what's around you. It's a bad scene to get hurt or have your pass pulled this early in the season.
The snow will come and we will get busier doing what we love. In the meantime, we're all gearing up for a big Patroller's Thanksgiving feast tomorrow after work. Kris and Jimmy are hosting the event at their new house in Heber (I trust they know what they are in for!). Happy Thanksgiving, stay safe, and we'll see you out on the hill.
406 -
Not the best place for this question, but can't find an email for the Patrol. I'm a member of NSP and will be out that way at the end of the month. Do you offer discounted lift tickets with a letter of introduction?
Hope the season is going good for you guys and look forward to skiing PC.
Thanks in advance,
David
— Posted by dwalsh on January 5, 2010 1:09 PM MST
Any idea when the top of the mountain will be open? It was looking pretty good from afar last Sunday and I will be back up on Thursday.
406 replies:
Thanks for the question David; read my response to MoSno's question below which I think will answer yours.
— Posted by David on December 1, 2009 11:23 PM MST
Thanks for the response. So if, God forbid, you went three more weeks without snow how much could be opened if the temperatures were cold? Would you work on making the base deeper on a just a few runs or would you try to spread it out and open more terrain? Is colder always better or is there such a thing as too cold for snowmaking?
406 replies:
The colder it is, the more efficiently our snowmaking system runs. As I write this, it's 12 degrees at 9000 ft and the guns are running like crazy. The snowmakers are now working along the Bonanza lift corridor and things are looking pretty good for a weekend opening up here.
If we can't think snow, we may as well think cold!
— Posted by MoSno on November 30, 2009 5:26 PM MST
How come this site never gets updated? You list all these people that are supposed to be blogging on this page, I am sure you are all getting paid by the resort. Which is fine. But man this blog gets blogged at a pitiful rate.
Eric replies:
Hi Rick, you have a valid point and I do apologize for not updating more frequently (as well as missing posting your comment for so long). We're all trying to set aside time to blog, it's just that while we all are resort employees, we all have a lot of other things to do this time of year - boy, do I ever wish I was just responsible for bloggin! We hear you though and we'll try to do better!
— Posted by Rich on November 28, 2009 5:10 PM MST
If the weather is cold can you make snow on all the slopes that have snow guns at the same time or is there a limit on how many snow guns you can run at once?
406 Replies:
While my department (Snow Safety) primarily deals with natural snow, I'd still be happy to answer your question. The capactiy of our snowmaking system is such that we can only concentrate on certain areas. While those areas are large, we cannot turn on every gun on the mountain at once.
Looking ahead at the forecasts, after the 2 shallow cold fronts pass this weekend, we should at least be in colder air; good for snowmaking.
— Posted by MoSno on November 26, 2009 6:47 PM MST