Jet Stix, Powder Cuffs and Whiteface Mountain

December 7, 2008 - A date that lives in "infamy" but today's 12/7 meant the first day of skiing for the year at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY. The skiing was probably the best I have seen in years for early December. The cold weather that has hung around since Thanksgiving has been an advantage for the the snow makers. They are cranking up the snow guns to the max and opening new trails almost daily. They even opened Mountain Run, a perennial favorite for locals, on Saturday. Due to "Lake Effect" we had constant snow showers all day. It would be nice to see the sun but this time of the year all everyone wants is snow, snow and more snow. The long range forecast bodes well for holiday skiers. There should be plenty of snow and many trails to ski at Whiteface.



The eagerly awaited new addition to Whiteface this year is the much anticipated new Lookout Mountain area and the new chair to service 4 new trails. I can report that the chair is ready to go. They are making snow in the core area and then will focus snow making on Lookout Mountain.. Opening is expected during the holiday or the 1st of January. It looks spectacular.

Thirty-eight years ago, after 3 years of Army life, I was back in Colorado with an old pair of Head GS skis, Marker turntable bindings and some beat up Scott ski poles. The equipment was way out of date including the old black Lange boots. Everyone was into "Avalement", thanks to JC Killy and a guy named Wayne Wong. I hardly had 2 nickels to rub together but I managed to update my gear with a $12.00 investment in a pair of "Jet Stix" and a pair of flowered powder cuffs (to hide the Jet Stix). Who was I fooling? Now I could ski with the big boys, sitback as I sucked in the moguls at Arapahoe Basin. It was the first day of skiing in 3 years. You don't forget.

The excitement of skiing after a long summer and fall never changes. The skiers at Whiteface today were enthusiastic, excited about the snow, the skiing and just darn happy to be able to dust off their skiis and return to the sport they love. It's hard to even think about the economy, auto company bailouts, and your investments going downhill faster than your skis. It proves the point that if it snows and the skiing is good, there will be skiers. For a few hours of fresh mountain air with your best friends, you can concentrate on skiing and forget, for just a moment, life's hassles. Isn't that the reason people love to ski?

The Ski Traveler

It's Official! Snowmaking starts tonight!

When West Mountain starts the snow guns it means only one thing. Skiing is officially here and a long range forecast of cold weather assures piles of man made snow. Typically, this little mountain can cover top to bottom on 4 or 5 trails in about 4 days. The long range cold weather forecast insures that the money spent on snow making will not melt away.

This time of the the year is pretty much at the mercy of cold temps, early snow storms and the vagaries of weather patterns. It is shaping up to be as normal as Eastern, Western and European winters can be.

The Northeast: The biggies have opened around Thanksgiving with mostly man made snow but there have been a couple of early snow storms that left its mark in November. In NY: Whiteface, Gore have opened with limited skiing. In Vermont, Killington, Stowe, Bromeley, Stratton, Mt. Snow are also open but with out the natural snow, skiing will be limited to how fast snow making can cover trails before Christmas and the holidays. If it stays cold expect new trails opened daily.

Out West it's Vail, Aspen, Loveland. Arapahoe, Breckenridge, Copper and Telluride. Vail is hosting the World Cup at Beaver Creek and the downhill race this weekend on the Birds of Prey course. Still not a lot of natural snow yet and no big dumps in the forecast. However, they are getting those daily 4- 6" snowfalls overnight. It's piling up!

Farther west The Sierras and Lake Tahoe are waiting for El Nino and those wet Pacific storms to kick in. Squaw Valley and Heavenly are searching for snow. Sun Valley (my favorite) had to postpone a Thanksgiving opening due to the lack of the white stuff and cold temps to make snow.

Europe seems to getting it's share of early snow in the Alps. Val d'Isere, Zermatt and Cortina D'Ampezzo all getting the white stuff for great skiing around the holidays. Look for more snow in the Northern Alps.

If you live in the Albany,NY area check out West Mountain this weekend. Willard, Bousquets and Royal Mountain will be open too. Oak Mountain is open for tubing and will open after Christmas for skiing. Call Maple Ridge for their opening date.

Get those skis ready. Skiing is here.
See you on the hill.
The Ski Traveler