Ski Resorts Eye Openings

 
 

Wednesday's snowfall set the stage for area ski resorts, which are getting ready for the season.

Massanutten, Wintergreen and Bryce plan to open this weekend and one resort in neighboring West Virginia is already open for skiing.

Snow-making machinery at Massanutten Resort has been in operation for several weeks, although it's been "a little spotty" due to some warm weather, said ski operations manager Steve Showalter.

"We've been making snow around the clock since Saturday," Showalter said. "And this Saturday, at 9 a.m., we'll be ready to go."

A Critical Time

Resorts are gearing up for a critical time of the ski season.

During the 2005-06 season, ski areas in the Southeast reported 24 percent of their visitations occurred between opening day and Jan. 1, according to the National Ski Areas Association.

But low snow and warm temperatures negatively affected last winter's visits to the slopes, the report said.

For the 2006-07 season, resorts reported only 15 percent of their visitation during the opening period.

Heading into that critical period, Massanutten plans to open five ski trails, including one of the more advanced slopes, and six lanes in the snow-tubing park on Saturday, Showalter added.

Bryce Resort, in western Shenandoah County, also plans a Saturday opening, said director of skiing Horst Locher.

Four ski slopes and two tubing lanes are being prepared, he added.

Wintergreen Resort, on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge in Nelson County, plans to open two slopes on Saturday and possibly by Friday, said spokeswoman Irene Huber.

The tubing park at Wintergreen should open in mid-December, she added. This story is from www.dnronline.com


Photo from www.dnronline.com

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