As the General Manager of Okemo
it is expected that I know many things.
When it is going to snow? When is a trail going to open? When will winter arrive? Do I know so and so who works in this
department? The list goes on. Now I
would say I know most of the answers, or can use my wit and wisdom to convince
someone I think I know, but the truth is that I am only as good as the
employees who work with me. Okemo is
actually another word for TEAM and that is what we have here. I talk about snowmakers, groomers and the
mountain operations staff a lot, but there are so many others who make my job
easier and do so much to make the Okemo experience what it is. During this Holiday season it is even more
important to be grateful for all that everyone does in our lives, and I will
surely say that there are so many who make me look good and make Okemo what it
is.
I will answer some of the questions I got this week:
When will Sachem be open?
The plan is to head there next
week after we leave the bulk of Jackson Gore. The snowmakers will continue to
make snow in Jackson Gore to get more skiing in that pod as well as the base
area, but a bulk of our snowmaking capacity will be heading to other areas such
as the middle of the mountain, main base area and towards Rimrock.
When will snow be made on Nor’easter?
Nor’easter takes a lot of snow,
so we like to begin there when the temperatures are going to be in the single
digits or low teens for an extended period of time. Between Nor’easter and Upper Chief, the plan
will be to begin on one of them as soon as there is some extended cold.
How many trails for this weekend?
The plan is up to 40 slopes and
trails with 8 lifts. Jackson Gore will
be opening this weekend with all the services from the Jackson Gore base area.
What is going on with the Terrain parks?
We want to get the terrain parks
open as soon as we can. Again, it becomes an issue of snowmaking
temperatures. The park staff has done a
great job with making things work on Sapphire, but it is not ideal and we understand
that.
When will the Waffle Cabin open in Jackson Gore?
Saturday!!!!!
As always, keep the questions
coming on Facebook, our competent staff will get right back to you as soon as
we can. We are all in this together and
it is because of the great Okemo staff and you as skiers and riders that make
Okemo what it is!!! Think snow and Happy Holidays.
Feel free to let me know how we
are doing and enjoy the snow.
Bruce Schmidt
Okemo GM
