Colorado Edge

I spent the last day and a half in Denver for our state trade association's, Colorado Ski Country USA, annual meeting. We had a variety of presentations and work group sessions on a wide range of topics including communications, news, climate change, artificial intelligence, safety, attracting skiers and parking. The meeting is always valuable and educational and it is always fun catching up with our peers from other resorts.

The highlight of the event is the closing reception and Double Diamond Award ceremony for top industry staff. We were honored to have two employees receive awards. Mary Corrigan was awarded the Food and Beverage Professional of the Year and Scott Bickel was awarded the  Ski Patroller of the Year. Congratulations to those two. We are very lucky to work with such fine people.

......And the skiing is especially good this morning.

Alright, we have all had a few day break. Time to get the skis and snowboards out again. We will be turning the Lenawee Mountain, Black Mountain Express and Molly Hogan chairlifts Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The cat drivers tell me the snow is still in excellent condition. 

One of our Ski Patrol Supervisors took this photo of a mountain goat on the Summit this morning.  I think they are attracted to chairlifts.

Check out the top diagram prepared by Joel Gratz at Opensnow. There is a lot you can read into it. The snowpack is 290% of normal for June 2. It doesn't mean the snowpack is huge, it means it hasn't really started melting yet.

The second diagram from USGS shows our nearby Snake River is well below its long term median. Over the last few days, its flow is really starting to jump. Rising streamflows equals increased melting of the snowpack.

The last diagram is our NOAA forecast for the next few days. Each day we should see high temperatures in the upper 50's  (I suspect maybe higher). The Snake River flow will continue to rise and, before too long, will be well above its long term median.

I am ecstatic that Pali, Beavers and Zuma Lifts were all still open today, June 2. That is much later than I ever would have guessed. Looking at these diagrams, I think our timing for consolidating operations to 3 days a week with Black Mountain Express and Lenawee Mountain Lifts is pretty good.

See you Friday. I'll keep my eye out for Lake Reveal.

After Sunday, June 2, Summer Skiing begins (I know it is not technically Summer, but it is Summer for us). We will be closed Monday thru Thursday and then will re-open for the long weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That pattern will continue through at least June 23. 

Many people have asked why we are closing those four days. We really try and match operations to business levels. While folks still skiing and riding are incredibly passionate about this sport, there are not quite as many of them still making turns in June. Many of our employees are moving on to their Summer jobs. With fewer visitors in Summer, we have found that by consolidating our business into those three days it works out better for both the business and the employees. I certainly appreciate that many of you wish we were skiing seven days a week.

During the closed days, our snowcat crew will be quite busy. We anticipate water to really start flowing in places. The snowcats will be opening water bars and managing the snow. We will have the snow very torn up for a few days and then will put it back together again by Friday.

As a result, uphill access will be closed Monday through Thursday. If conditions are still good, uphill access will re-open Friday.

It is May 31st. I can't believe how great the place looks.