Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

The weather outside is delightful! Snowguns are blastin, Mother Nature is rejoicing, and it's cold and blustery. It's winter! This morning's snow will taper off to sun this afternoon, but then clouds roll back in for tomorrow and then (drumroll please) the snow arrives! Early indications from Accuweather are for 2-4 inches through the night, with an additional 1-3 inches coming Monday. Our friends at weather.com are throwing around the possibility of a foot or more. Only time will tell - stay tuned to the snow report for more info.

When does Jackson Gore open?

Huge question this time of year! What a lot of people don't know is that we have agreed not to begin snowmaking operations at Jackson Gore until December 1st. Why you say? Well it has to do with bears. Yes, I said bears.

There is a 30-day buffer around which to protect a bear migration corridor that exists atop the mountain at Jackson Gore. The date by which the bears are supposed to be "clear" is November 1 - so add thirty days and we're at December 1st. Enter Okemo snowmaking.

Right now our target date to open that base area is by Friday, December 7. (Of course, you all know that is contigent on weather - that goes without saying right?) Following closely behind will be opening of the snow tubing park and the snow playground, which we currently target for December 22. As always, stick close to the snow report for developing details.

Oh, and I almost forgot: The Ice House. We've been building the base layer of ice and I believe we're up to about an inch. The ol' rumor mill suggests maybe this weekend? Who knows, only time will tell.

One last thing: it's snowing. Life is good @ Okemo.

2007 - Best Year Ever

Not to steal the fame from VH1's "Look who's having the best week ever", but Okemo's having a fantastic 2007. We finished with one of the best spring skiing years in history, and winter arrived quickly again with great snowmaking temps and a little help from Mother Nature. On the events side of things, the season is off to a good start. We had our "What I Learned This Summer" Rail Jam this past weekend. With over 80 in attendance we saw people throwing down huge tricks and some people that obviously didn't learn anything all summer (check out http://community.freeskier.com/videos/video.php?video_id=295). We're working our way toward the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge and the Rome Rail Jam for the weekend of the 8th and 9th, and the events don't stop then! Stay tuned to the events calendar for updates.

Also, don't forget to check out the line up at the Sitting Bull on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 3-6pm. We're bringing back the old favs and adding some new talent to the roster as well.

That's all for now - back to work for this guy - and then out on the slopes tomorrow morning for the free Nordica Demo's!

We All Know One

It's that friend, family member or co-worker you know who sees your excitement and passion for snowsports, but who always has an excuse for why they don't try skiing or snowboarding.

"I don't have any equipment ... it's too expensive ... it's too hard ... what if I don't catch on right away and I feel stupid ... what if I invest all that time and money into lessons and then don't like it? ... it's been years since I've been on skis ... I tried it once but I don't think I'd remember how to ski ..."

The list goes on and on.

Okemo just put an end to the excuses! From now through Dec. 21, 2007, anyone age 7 and older can learn to ski or snowboard for free. I don't normally read minds, but I know what you're thinking ... "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is ... there's got to be a catch ... this has got to be some scheme to turn my friends into marketing victims of some pyramid scam ..."

See, there you go - sounding just like your friends with all of their excuses.

The truth is, there's no catch, nothing to buy, no brand-loyalty brainwashing or anything. It's simply a complimentary group lesson package that anyone can take advantage of. It includes a level 1 or level 2 group lesson, specialized beginner rental equipment and a lower-mountain lift ticket ... all for FREE.

Still skeptical? I would be too. Check out the details and see for yourself. Cheers!

Helping each other is important

Many thanks to all who helped out on the Okemo cares and Shares day on Sunday 11/25 The following comment was sent to me from the Black River Good Neighbors in Ludlow:

"I don't know if you get this kind of input, but I am VERY THANKFUL to Okemo this evening, after the food drive today. We inventoried 1,001 items that will be used in the food baskets. We took approximately another 350-400 items back to the store for distribution, as they were not items for the Christmas dinner baskets (not on our menus). thanks and congratulations on a job well done." - Ray - Black River Good Neighbors.

Thank you to all the Okemo Staff and Okemo Guests who supported this great program. I can't thank you enough for making this such a success.


Bruce Schmidt
Vice-President & General manager
Okemo Mountain Resort

Not a Slave to Fashion

Okay, so I do make an effort to stay reasonably current with the fashion trends - I mean, I'm not out there in neon colors or anything (Although I have to admit I was during the '80s). And I really just don't get it when it comes to sagging pants - but hey, every generation needs to make its mark. But the outfit I saw yesterday made me do a double take and compelled me to hug a total stranger. In the right setting, I would have thought I was seeing a real live Big-Foot, but this Yeti was wearing ski boots. When I realized I wasn't actually in any danger, I couldn't resist hugging this six-foot teddy bear. The hooded feaux-fur jumpsuit was not a costume or a homemade get-up. It's part of Spyder's 2006 line of outerwear ... and I hear that it's reversible (and very warm). Cheers!

Sensational Sunday

Supberb skiing and snowboarding suddenly spread to Solitude and sunny South Face Sunday! Simply slip into ski boots and slide on sumptuous soft snow. So sorry for sesquipedal sentences of snake sounds - such silliness! See snowreports!