It is that time when we all get
a little more aware that the seasons are changing. The angle of the sun is
lower, there is more wind and the days are shorter. So that must mean skiing at Okemo won’t be too
far away! I can tell you that things are
in heavy duty prep mode all around the resort.
The forecast for the next 10 days looks to be true fall like. Temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s, frosty at
night and some dips into the high 20’s at times.
The big question I get this time
of the year is when will Okemo begin snowmaking? The question is never easy to answer with
certainty, as there are so many variables.
What I can tell you is that we are watching both the short term and long
term weather forecast and how the patterns are potentially going to play
out. Our target date for snowmaking is
sometime next week. There looks like a
few cold nights early next week, and then some moderation with colder
temperatures retuning the first week of November. Okemo is planning on firing up the guns
heading into November and this may be towards the end of next week.
As we talk about snow guns, the
new HKD SV-10’s are in place and about ready to be turned on. Work is finishing up in the snowmaking pump
stations as is getting all the hoses on the guns and testing some repaired
water lines. Other projects finishing up
are the new seats on the Green Ridge Triple, Load test on the Northstar is
done, Squeels on Wheels barbecue has been moved to the base of the South Face
Quad, Lifts and carpets tested and state approved, Rental shop carpet replaced,
painting done and new skis and boards unboxed and bindings set, snow plows put on
the trucks, groomer tracks put back on, and the snow tubing tubes have been
checked for leaks!! Those are just a
smattering of the work that is going on.
Stay in touch with the Okemo
Facebook page and web site for the most up to date news on snowmaking
operations and the Blog will now be updated more often to keep you informed!!
Thanks for reading and we can’t
wait to begin skiing and riding with you all!
Bruce Schmidt
Okemo GM
