Paula

Paula.............it is time to get those skis out!!!!!!!!!
ed

Champagne Snow

It is not often you get snowmakers to stick around and ski after a 12 hour shift of snowmaking. But that is what is going on this morning........ tuly some powder skiing out there this morning.
ed

What Have We Become?

In our eyes, we as Americans think of ourselves as a hearty bunch. Not only do we view ourselves as self-supportive, but many of us feel we are caretakers for the rest of the world. Is that an objective or subjective opinion????????
Cathy, my wife is taking a world cultures class and has shared some interesting thoughts with me. Many other cultures see us as lazy, self-consumed, extravagant and irresponsible. It is even to the point where they despise us and laugh at us. Interesting, in view of how we feel about ourselves isn't it?
In view of some events that I encountered in the last 24 hours I have to question how objective our views truly are when we evaluate ourselves.
Event #1-We had a DARE after school program scheduled for last night. I made a decision to hold the event despite the questionable weather that the media was forecasting. I based the decision on my evaluation of the local weather that was actually ocurring and the input I got from customers coming in as to how the roads were. I was chastised and called names because I was putting in danger the lives of young kids who had to go out on the dangerous roads. Over 100 families made the trek out and everyone we questioned said the roads were generally fine.
The media had people scared to go out of their homes. And where is the responsibility of parents to perhaps use a little caution and be responsbile for their own actions instead of blaming someone else for what is happening in their lives.
Event#2-Local school cancels a ski trip for today because the media was calling the weather bitter and dangerouly cold. Our legal environment reinforces that nobody needs to be responsible for their own actions...... you can always blame someone else! Several other groups did show, had a great time, nobody got frostbite and at 11am the temp was 14 degrees and the windchill was 5 degrees. Hardly a temperature that would scare someone from the heartland that is made of the tough American fiber that we all are born with. When it is cold, you put on proper clothing and enjoy.........after all it is winter.
We have let the media drive our lives..........do not go outside.......stay in where it is warm and sit in front of that TV.........that will keep you active and healthy!!!!!!!!
We let the legal environment drive our lives........no need to be responsible for your own action......you can always blame and sue someone!!!!!!!!

What Up???????

Just when ya thought that January was done....... all of a sudden February thows us a 64 degree day from out of nowwhere!
Oh well, we still have a 24-52 inch base throughtout the entire area. Glad we made snow 8 of the last 9 nights and skiing is still great.
On top of that we have snwo and snowmaking weather coming soon!!!!!!!!

Sanowmaker's Diary

8:30 pm-Snowmakers meeting, current temp is 24, humidty 54%
8:45- Fire up Pump #1 and warm up tower fan guns
9:00- Fire up tower fan guns & Deploy marginal temp sled fan guns
9:15-Start the 15 minute interval checking of guns running and temp check
9:30-Fire up 2nd pump and 8 deployed sled fan guns.......temp is now 23, humidty 56%
10:00-Temp 22, humidity 58%....1 of the sled guns has poor nucleation and must be brought in
2 other guns have water leaks and must also be brought in for work.
10:30- Nucleators cleaned and gun back out and working, 2 leaking guns looked at: one fixed
the other will have to wait for day crew
10:45-1 leaking repaired gun back on line
11:45-temp 19, humidity 64%......time to start up sticks(6) and 320's(4)
12:30 am- temp 16, humidity 72%.......time to deploy balance of cold weather sled guns and
start up 3rd pump
1:00- decide to leave 2 guns off line as flow and pressure is optimal
1:30- temp 15, humidity 74%......all going well, snowcat is fired up to start pushing snow
3:00- temp 14, humidity 76%.....all looks goods, pushing with cat is going well
4:00- temp 13, humidity 77%........winds are starting to mis-behave, they are calm, light and
variable causing some concern about guns icing themselves up
4:30- Winds have shifted from northwest to southwest.......several guns must be moved
immediately, must pull snowcat off so all can help moving guns
5:15- all problems guns moved, 2 had icing problems and had to be brought in to shop.
6:00- Wind shift has caused rise in temps and humidity, must start tearing guns down sooner
than normal.......
6:15- Groomers are on the hill, day shift is in and tear down process is under way
7:00- all is turned over to day crew, temp 19, humidity 74%..... time for a cold one

Time Crunch

Wow.........I have not bolgged for a while. Now that we have gotten some snowmaking weather, it seems like I have time for nothing else. Do not get me wrong, Putting in some 15 hour days is not a problem when it comes to getting a chance to make some snow. I am not complaining.
Despite today being the 49th straight day with above normal temps, at least the last few days has at least been closer to normal.........whatever that really means. We started making snow last weekend and have been running every night since. Tonight looks like the best night in terms of temps as temps tonight are to fall into the lower teens, which actually is very normal for early February.
We have laid down about 2 to 3 feet of fresh snow throughout the entire area and everything looks great. We have a fun-filled weekend planned with our Snowbound Beach Party. Saturday night we have a great cajun band playing...... We're Late and Smell Like Beer is their name and they are a blast..........They play 7-11pm in the lower lodge on Saturday. I have seen them many times and they are always a fun time. Blog ya later.
ed

Sucks to Be a Snowmaker

The economic plight that an unusually warm January impacts many people that are connected with Winter Outdoor Recreation. None are more affected than those who make snow for a living. A typical January reaps a snowmaker about 200 hours of wages. This year they have earned a measly 42 hours of pay. As Op and Scott told me........it sucks to be a snowmaker.
Yes it does.....
ed