This has been a good vacation week. While the weather had a few hiccups, all and all it has been a good ski week. During the week we made snow on several trails and we fired up the guns this weekend. Mother nature also added some powder for our skiing and riding enjoyment with her storm on Friday night. Now not enough, but some is better than none. Snowmaking will continue as we head into March.
This time of the year is challenging for our grooming staff and Eb and Barry, the Mountain Managers. Decisions need to be made on grooming so as not to let things "get away from us". The temperatures fluctuate so much on different nights, that some nights they want to mountain till and other nights is strictly a power-till night. The key is making sure we don’t mountain till too long into the Spring. If the snow is stirred up too much from Mountain Tilling and then does not have time to set, it can create some real spring conditions much earlier than normal. There is always a balance, but in the end the guys always try to stop mountain tilling earlier rather than later for that reason.
The winch cat gets more on-mountain time during the spring as the snow is brought up from the bottom of the steep section of the trails. While it is important to make sure that the snow is not stirred up too much and then not be able to set, it is also a great way to use the existing snow to its fullest potential. The winch cat works on many of the steep trail sections during the spring and really helps cover up thin areas as needed.
Many people have been asking about the season and what Okemo's plans are for the spring? Okemo is a major Vermont Ski Resort and thus we will continue to fill our role. Okemo plans to stay open into early April, Mother Nature willing. Now there are many things that can happen no doubt, but you need to be confident that all of us here at Okemo will do all we can to keep skiing and riding. Okemo will be there to continue to provide the skiing product so our very important guests can have a place to take to the slopes.
Think snow and thanks for skiing and riding with us. If you want to follow what is going on from my desk, follow me on twitter @okemogm
See you on the slopes
Bruce Schmidt
Okemo GM
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