Ski Areas Report Mixed MLK Weather, Attendance

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26 January 2015

Push to The Latest: No

SAM Magazine—White Haven, Pa., Jan. 26, 2015—Ski areas are reporting steady attendance over the Martin Luther King weekend despite short interruptions brought about by inclement weather in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.

Linda Irvin, executive director of the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (PSAA) said Saturday saw strong attendance at many of the ski areas but rain and poor road conditions in eastern part of the state drove down attendance until the weather turned more favorable on Monday.

That message was repeated for much of the Northeast. Ski Areas of New York president Scott Brandi said that Saturday and Monday visits were strong, with Sunday attendance dependent on the timing of the rain—which hit southernmost areas in the morning, northern areas in the afternoon.

Ski areas in western Pennsylvania, including Seven Springs and Hidden Valley, both reported strong visitation over the holiday weekend. Both areas were 100 percent open with clear skis and temperatures in the 30s on Saturday. Irvin said the hotel at Seven Springs sold out Saturday and Sunday night.

In eastern Pennsylvania, Blue Mountain reported attendance of more than 11,000 skiers and riders on Saturday. Morgan Bell, marketing specialist, said it was one of the resort's “best and smoothest starts” to MLK weekend before poor weather and road conditions dampened attendance on Sunday. Still, Bell said on Monday more than 5,000 guests returned to the slopes, and all ski and board lessons were sold out.

Meanwhile officials in Vermont and Maine said business there was strong and comparable to previous years. Greg Sweetser, executive director of Ski Maine Association, said Saturday was sunny throughout the state and ski areas had prime snowmaking weather leading up to the weekend. Powderhouse Hill in the Southern tip of the state and Quoggy Jo, up north in Presque Isle, two areas that rely on natural snow, had good conditions and strong attendance, according to Sweetser.

“Sunday morning started off with winter temperatures and occasional sunshine which got people on the slopes, buying tickets, and beating the storm which was bearing down Sunday afternoon,” Sweetser said. “The storm track was disappointing for Maine with the low pressure tracking right through the state bringing warm air in off the ocean.”

In the Pacific Northwest, some areas received new snow under partly sunny skies while others had rain and wind. “The MLK weekend was a mixed bag of weather creating varied attendance in the region, but overall resorts have seen strong levels of family visits, lessons, rentals and kids programs,” according to John Gifford, president of the Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association.

Stevens Pass reported 26 inches and Mt. Baker reported 15 inches of new snow on Jan. 19, and another resort reported record rental business during MLK holiday, Gifford said.

However, a continued lack of snow at Mt. Ashland has since forced it to close with only a skeletal staff of five currently working there. Hiram Towle, general manager, said the area had 139 permanent and seasonal employees ready to work this winter. Mt. Ashland worked with Mt. Bachelor to offer season pass holders four-pack lift ticket package for $189, a $127 savings off regular prices.

Mickey MacWilliams, executive director of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association, said that business in Northern Michigan was strong. “We had a bit of warm weather that affected our southern ski areas a bit, a little rain on Saturday, but it cleared for Sunday and Monday and business was brisk,” MacWilliams said.

Elsewhere in the Midwest, officials say the MLK weekend saw strong attendance and good weather in much of the region. Northwestern Minnesota saw a little freezing rain on Sunday morning, but not enough to affect conditions or attendance.

Finally in North Carolina, Kim Jochl, VP of marketing at Sugar Mountain said her resort saw strong crowds skiing and riding under clear skies and moderate temperatures on a 36-85 inch base.