Thanksgiving Day ski opening is questionable
Snow forecast for today
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
Wes Roberts, a Sun Valley snowmaking expert, keeps the snow
guns roaring on Bald Mountain above Warm Springs. (Express photo by Willy Cook)
Only a week away from the planned opening of Sun Valley Co.s Bald
Mountain, the resort is faced with a dilemma unseasonably warm temperatures and an
extreme lack of natural snow.
On a typical, cold autumn day, Sun Valleys snowmaking system will
pump 3 million gallons of water onto the slopes in the form of icy snow, Wes Roberts, Sun
Valley Co. night shift snowmaking supervisor, said during a tour of the mountain yesterday
morning. On Monday, however, high temperatures allowed less than 1 million gallons to be
pumped through Baldys 522 computer-controlled snowguns.
"Weve heard people talking around town about how we should
be making more snow, but they dont understand," Roberts said.
"These temperatures weve had this last week or so
arent worth very much. If the temperature drops, well really be okay, but
well keep hammering it out and end up with something."
Records kept by Sun Valleys snowmaking system, the largest
computerized snowmaking system in the country, clearly show whats been wrong,
Roberts said.
Since Oct. 15, the temperature has been above 32 degrees for 443 of 495
hours. The measured temperature dropped to an interval between 18 and 21 degrees for only
two hours during the 22-day period. And thats as low as its gotten, according
to Sun Valley Co.s computers.
The
snow guns were roaring Tuesday morning on Lower Warm Springs. Sun Valleys night
shift snowmaking supervisor Wes Roberts said the amount of snow there took seven to eight
days to make. When temperatures are cooler (more normal), the same amount of snow can be
made in one or two days. (Express photo by Willy Cook)
When asked if the area will be able to open on Thanksgiving Day as
scheduled, Roberts answered, "Its hard to say. I think well have
something open, but its hard to say how much."
He said the goal is to open Lower Warm Springs and Lower River Run for
Turkey Day.
Sun Valley spokesman Jack Sibbach said there havent been any
reservation cancellations yet, but in the next day or two, the company will start calling
its anticipated guests and telling them of the current conditions.
"Well start telling them theres a possibility that
there wont be snow for Thanksgiving," he said, "and then well
probably start to get some cancellations."
Despite the warm weather and lack of snow, many locals arent
lamenting the loss of another ski season yet. In fact, most dont seem to be worried
at all. Theyre just trying to get the last few bike rides or hikes before the snow
and cold arrive.
Bob Gordon, owner of Formula Sports on Main Street in Ketchum said
hes "really enjoying" the fall weather.
"I kind of see it as a blessing either way," he said of
warmth and snow.
"The winter is long, and I dont mind seeing the summer
season extended a little bit. Summer is short and sweet, and its nice to have a
longer fall."
Gordon said his business, which sells skis, boots, bindings and skiing
accessories in the winter, is doing well so far this fall.
"I havent seen any downward spiral. However, if were
not up and running by the 10th of December, well see a downward shift of
business," he said.
He added he views a Thanksgiving Day opening as a bonus.
Gordon stressed the importance of a good start to the ski season for
the entire ski industry, not just Sun Valley.
"If other states dont have snow, people will just keep
golfing all season. Theyre tuned into their surroundings," he said.
And so far this season, most of the industry isnt faring so well.
Last week, Park City Mountain Resort in Utah canceled its World Cup ski
races and United States season opener, scheduled for Nov. 18 through 21.
According to Laura Murphy, Park City marketing director, temperatures
have been in the 70s in the Park City area. The races were moved to Copper Mountain and
Beaver Creek, Colo.
Crested Butte, Colo., is also ailing. The resort, nestled among the
towering Elk Mountains, had to bump its opening date from Nov. 19 to Nov. 24.
Whistler/Blackcomb Resort in British Columbia, on the other hand, is
doing better than average. Its first snows fell on Oct. 28 and the area now has
about three feet at mid mountain.
Blackcomb Mountain opened on Saturday and Whistler is scheduled for a
Nov. 24 opening.
According to Larry Holt, a meteorologist with the National Weather
Service in Boise, a change in the weather pattern should arrive today.
The large, unmoving high pressure system that has been sitting on most
of the Rocky Mountain West is starting to move off to the south and east, he said.
Holt, in fact, called for snow above 6,000 feet today.
He said precipitation has been "very dry," but not a record.
As for the 30-day outlookHolt said Idaho should fall into a
pattern of slightly below average temperatures and slightly above average precipitation.
Maybe, just maybe, locals will be able to finally put the mountain
bikes away.