It’s Official: Mount Snow’s Closing Date is Unofficial
WEST DOVER, Vermont — With some help from big base depths, recent cool temperatures and passionate skiers and riders, Mount Snow announced last week that it would not set an official closing day. “As long as there’s snow on the slopes, and people on that snow, we’ll stay open,” said Mount Snow’s General Manager, Kelly Pawlak.
Over fourteen feet of natural snowfall this year, coupled with the vast amounts of snow produced by over 100 brand new fan guns, has amassed a healthy base layer on the mountain. Mountain Manager Elia Hamilton expects that base to last well into the Spring. Trails like Deer Run, Long John, Canyon and Standard, which have seen consistent snowmaking from state-of-the-art fan guns throughout the season, will be carefully maintained to maximize longevity.
Hamilton reports that, as of today, every single trail on the mountain is completely covered in snow, top to bottom, edge to edge. Even on notoriously fickle trails, like double black diamond Ripcord on the North Face, “not a single rock or bare spot is showing.”
On November 10, 2007, Mount Snow was the first resort to open in Vermont for the 2007-08 season, and the first resort to open in New England with top to bottom skiing and riding.
Although this season’s record amounts of snowfall are playing a crucial role, Pawlak noted that a big reason for such healthy base depths is Mount Snow’s fleet of fan guns. Peak Resorts, which purchased Mount Snow in April, 2007, spent $3.5 million upgrading its snowmaking system last summer, including 101 fan guns installed all over the mountain. The modern guns are capable of producing much more snow than their air-and-water predecessors, using less energy at the same time. Pawlak estimated that an average of four to six feet of snow is piled up on trails equipped with fan guns.
Discounted late season lift ticket pricing will take effect beginning Monday, March 31, 2008. Skiers and riders will also receive a $10 voucher good for next season, valid from opening day through December 24th, with the purchase of every full price lift ticket.
For further information on Mount Snow, visit www.mountsnow.com.