Sports

Snow Business: So Far, There's Snow in Those Hills

So far, things are pretty good.


Here is the first installment of Patch editor Chris Dehnel's Snow Business column for the 2013-14 season: 


Yeah, that rain right before Thanksgiving was just awful. Puts skiers and snowboarders in a mood on the week everyone usually gets all geared up for the season. 

But take a look at the Web sites. 

Look at the pictures. 

Some trails look like it's January. 

It all definitely changes the tone. Most resorts are either ready to go with decent conditions or getting ready for the next holiday period. It's been that cold in the higher elevations to the north and northwest. 

Here is what some of the resort representatives had to say: 

Tom Meyers, Wachusett: "It is unprecedented to have do much open so early. unprecedented so much so early. We had had, except for a couple of days solid (snowmaking) temperatures since mid-November. This is probably the best November we have had - ever - and hopefully it is a sign of things to come. We are currently working on deepening the base on the seven trails already open."

Bonnie MacPherson, Okemo Mountain Resort: "Thanks to Operation Snowburst, a $1 million investment in snowmaking upgrades, Okemo Mountain Resort is open with top-to-bottom skiing and riding on 30-plus trails this weekend."

Matt Sawyer, Butternut: "Snowmaking is underway in anticipation of a Dec. 6 opening date with special $25 first-timer learn to ski or snowboard packages."

Lori Shield, Ski Sundown: "Ski Sundown is making snow every opportunity we get, unleashing the snowmaking power of 180 fan guns and tower guns, and we anticipate opening on Friday, Dec. 6 with a quality product."

David Meeker, Mount Snow: "Mount Snow is planning to almost double its open terrain by Thanksgiving weekend and guests can enjoy a full list of events."

Myra Foster, Stratton Mountain: "The season is off to a great start at Stratton, where we opened early thanks to snowmaking and look forward to a good, snowy winter … so far the Farmer’s Almanac has been right!"

Rich Edwards, Catamount: "Catamount’s focus over the next three weeks is on providing more open terrain for the Christmas/New Year holiday period."

I'm with Myra. Go with the almanac. Then enjoy a stellar season. 



Chris Dehnel is a local editor for Patch covering Vernon and Tolland in Connecticut. He has been writing about snow sports for more than a decade and is a past-president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association. 


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