No no just kidding, wasn't there today!! Sorry for the "what the???" moment, just couldn't resist a passing note that this would very likely have been an Oct 1 opening back in the good ol' days (not all that long ago, really). After a couple of freezing nights such as we've just had the faithful would just *know* it was time. The phone calls would happen the night before, the plans would be drawn up, and sometimes we'd even hit the dawn road before the phone report ever confirmed it. We were rarely if ever wrong. It's all different now of course (and I've long been on the record as more concerned about full-coverage April/May closings than novelty Oct openings) but just can't help waxing nostalgic when identical conditions cause a natural reflex of that old vibe. You either understand or ya don't. Meanwhile hey at least we know it's getting ever closer....
Kmart VT 10/1/05
- Thread starter cd
- Start date
riverc0il
New member
:lol:
i definitely was doing a :shock: when i saw the post topic. but i disagree that this would have been an opening weekend even back when kmart produced early season skiing. temps are looking to warm up and not drop back down for a while. i don't think even during the aggressive days, kmart would blow snow with a good chance that it would all melt within a week's time period. kmart did have four first week of october openings according to the season shrinkage page, but cold temps are really far off and i question how much snow could have been blown this weekend. temps never got too low here in StJ, not low enough for snow man made or natural.
i definitely was doing a :shock: when i saw the post topic. but i disagree that this would have been an opening weekend even back when kmart produced early season skiing. temps are looking to warm up and not drop back down for a while. i don't think even during the aggressive days, kmart would blow snow with a good chance that it would all melt within a week's time period. kmart did have four first week of october openings according to the season shrinkage page, but cold temps are really far off and i question how much snow could have been blown this weekend. temps never got too low here in StJ, not low enough for snow man made or natural.
I didn't say they necessarily could've stayed open but the reports of high elevation temps that I've seen suggest it would've been possible to make snow for the last two nights, which is all it took back then. Borderline, but plausible. The mandate for many years was simply to offer skiing as soon as physically possible. The old pro/con argument is seperate, I'm simply stating how it was once upon a time.
Anyway it's moot and again just a note in passing. Today in honor of the past I dug out my Tshirt that they once proudly printed up and sent to all the opening day customers stating "I skied Killington VT October 1st 1992!", printed in fall colors and framed in leaves (the "earliest possible" tradition continued for another 5 years). BTW I'm reminded from your linked page that the '92 opener was coming off a record late close the season before (6/14/92) making that year their shortest NON-season!
Daze gone by, but just to end on a positive note even the recent record late openers are only a little over a month away!
Anyway it's moot and again just a note in passing. Today in honor of the past I dug out my Tshirt that they once proudly printed up and sent to all the opening day customers stating "I skied Killington VT October 1st 1992!", printed in fall colors and framed in leaves (the "earliest possible" tradition continued for another 5 years). BTW I'm reminded from your linked page that the '92 opener was coming off a record late close the season before (6/14/92) making that year their shortest NON-season!
Daze gone by, but just to end on a positive note even the recent record late openers are only a little over a month away!
Patrick
Well-known member
cd":1v17i77p said:
Record late close in 1992 on Superstar maybe, but not for Killington. It's not even make the top 3 latest close. The latest (at that time) was June 21, 1984 - beaten by one day in 1997. But I believe you right concerning the smallest gap between late day and first day of the next.
http://216.250.243.13/discus2/messages/ ... 1054210713
Boy, already 21 years ago, I was in those record years, 1984 (May 23 lastest day that year), 1992 (June 11) & 1997 (June 15).
Pictures were posted in the archives back in 2003:
Late May 1984 (excellent year) and 85 (no so good year):
http://216.250.243.13/discus2/messages/ ... 1054405710
June 1992 and 97 (excellent year):
http://216.250.243.13/discus2/messages/ ... 1057030055
sheahunter
New member
Gotta say I really miss that early seson ritual too. What a shame. I think it's far more exciting in October than June.
yup cd i hear ya. i remember it well. calling the the k snowphone everyday and sometimes rolling the dice just heading up and guessing right. yeah the good old daze. opened as early as possible. there was a magic skiing in early october when other folks were leaf peeping. this year i don't think there's been enough cold air even for the old killington.
thanks for the memories but those days are gone. the corporate mentality now is november 10-15 just like everybody else. and if they abandon may skiing ...
thanks for the memories but those days are gone. the corporate mentality now is november 10-15 just like everybody else. and if they abandon may skiing ...
Patrick
Well-known member
skiadikt":2o93brt4 said:
I totally agree, if this were the early 90s... Kmart wouldn't have opened with the temps we are having lately. I never made to K in October (mid-term exams) plus for many years the lifts would just run for a few days before everything would shut down until the next cold spell. I know, I never managed to time it right.
It's sad to say, but October skiing in the East is gone, the next month to dissapear for the skiing season will be May. If we go back 15-20 yrs ago, May skiing in the East was a sure thick at K, but elsewhere also. How many lasted past the first weekend in May this year? Killington (May 15) and Mont St-Sauveur (May 7). I thick that might be it (maybe Bretton Woods)?
However I don't uniquely blame the corporate mentality (okay, maybe a bit...but not for the same reason), but also on climat change.
Blame ASC for being cheap. New K1 would work fine as a transport lift to an extended Glades or Canyon chair. No need to reopen the extended debate on this topic from the past 2 years.
Patrick
Well-known member
Geoff":3rbixbdu said:
I have a few times in the past somewhere in the FTO archives, but the extremely hot fall with above 80F record weather Ottawa (and the rest of the East) is having would make it difficult to start up the season in early October this year.
Shit, it above 60F overnights, normal daytime high is 58F.
joegm
New member
the temp on top of mt wash in the last 48 hrs was 60 f.. an all time record... believe me i wish i was skiing at K month ago..
BUT
me thinks the energy of the protest needs to be directed towards the end of the season- when they have no excuses ( like having no snow ) like they do now...it's just not reasonable to expect them to try an open in weather like this... it's got nothing to do with removing chairs or skiing on different trails early on... it's not reasonable to open the place, ski on frozen ice chips of crapola snow and have to close it ( possibly ) becasue the surface has melted away....
it is reasonable to demand that they blow the crap out of superstar and spin til memorial day...the best time to ski!!!!! that's where the outrage should be directed.
on a side note- my buddy john has been in contact with evan dybvig.. whaleback appears to be going full steam ahead... it will be interesting to see if they can pull it off and make enough money to run it...the web site has , as it's number 2 priority ( behind a terrain park and superpipe of course :roll: ) A DEDICATED MOGUL COURSE... it's gonna be interesting.. they sent out a mass email to anyone who has contacted them asking for a volunteer effort for the long holiday weekend coming up to clear trails and labor around the hill.. here it is below
-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: EVan DYBvig <whaleback@myexcel.com>
To: "edybvig@myexcel.com" <edybvig@myexcel.com>
Subject: Newsletter
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 01:03:52 +0000
Can you believe it? Have you heard? The Whale is Back!
Just like we told you, it?s happening, Whaleback Mountain is set to open in early December of this year. Owners, Evan Dybvig, Frank Sparrow, Dylan Goodspeed, and Richard Dybvig can be seen on the mountain clearing trails, testing lifts, and scoping the terrain to develop their innovative action sports mecca.
Loads of work has been done at the mountain but we need your help to realize our dream of a December 15th opening. The Whaleback staff would like to invite you all to lend a hand in the efforts to energize our endeavor. We have organized a groundbreaking/work weekend celebration for Columbus Day Weekend! Activities begin Saturday @ 8:00 AM and finish up Sunday at sundown. We will be providing lunch, refreshments and various tools/equipment?and of course enthusiasm.
Please send an RSVP to whaleback@myexcel.com if you will be able to attend. If you could provide a list of how many people you will be bringing and when, your specific skills, and tools that you can provide we would greatly appreciate it. Most work is general labor trail clearing, scraping, and painting. If you have carpentry skills or another special skill, please note it in the RSVP and we will set you up with a task. We look forward to seeing you this weekend.
Gear up for an epic season at Whaleback and we?ll keep you posted on all the hot news.
Regards,
The staff at Whaleback
http://www.whalebackmountain.com <http://www.whalebackmountain.com/>
The Whaleback mission is to create a year round multi disciplined training center for safe progressive learning for individuals, groups, and communities. We are a group of people dedicated to creating a supportive environment where people innovate, create, and perform. We believe that personal growth is best achieved through a group of individuals supporting one another. It is with this spirit that we pursue our mission.
it should be interesting for sure.. can't see them making a run for the late season crowd just yet but u never know for the future... the base elevation might be too low....
BUT
me thinks the energy of the protest needs to be directed towards the end of the season- when they have no excuses ( like having no snow ) like they do now...it's just not reasonable to expect them to try an open in weather like this... it's got nothing to do with removing chairs or skiing on different trails early on... it's not reasonable to open the place, ski on frozen ice chips of crapola snow and have to close it ( possibly ) becasue the surface has melted away....
it is reasonable to demand that they blow the crap out of superstar and spin til memorial day...the best time to ski!!!!! that's where the outrage should be directed.
on a side note- my buddy john has been in contact with evan dybvig.. whaleback appears to be going full steam ahead... it will be interesting to see if they can pull it off and make enough money to run it...the web site has , as it's number 2 priority ( behind a terrain park and superpipe of course :roll: ) A DEDICATED MOGUL COURSE... it's gonna be interesting.. they sent out a mass email to anyone who has contacted them asking for a volunteer effort for the long holiday weekend coming up to clear trails and labor around the hill.. here it is below
-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: EVan DYBvig <whaleback@myexcel.com>
To: "edybvig@myexcel.com" <edybvig@myexcel.com>
Subject: Newsletter
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 01:03:52 +0000
Can you believe it? Have you heard? The Whale is Back!
Just like we told you, it?s happening, Whaleback Mountain is set to open in early December of this year. Owners, Evan Dybvig, Frank Sparrow, Dylan Goodspeed, and Richard Dybvig can be seen on the mountain clearing trails, testing lifts, and scoping the terrain to develop their innovative action sports mecca.
Loads of work has been done at the mountain but we need your help to realize our dream of a December 15th opening. The Whaleback staff would like to invite you all to lend a hand in the efforts to energize our endeavor. We have organized a groundbreaking/work weekend celebration for Columbus Day Weekend! Activities begin Saturday @ 8:00 AM and finish up Sunday at sundown. We will be providing lunch, refreshments and various tools/equipment?and of course enthusiasm.
Please send an RSVP to whaleback@myexcel.com if you will be able to attend. If you could provide a list of how many people you will be bringing and when, your specific skills, and tools that you can provide we would greatly appreciate it. Most work is general labor trail clearing, scraping, and painting. If you have carpentry skills or another special skill, please note it in the RSVP and we will set you up with a task. We look forward to seeing you this weekend.
Gear up for an epic season at Whaleback and we?ll keep you posted on all the hot news.
Regards,
The staff at Whaleback
http://www.whalebackmountain.com <http://www.whalebackmountain.com/>
The Whaleback mission is to create a year round multi disciplined training center for safe progressive learning for individuals, groups, and communities. We are a group of people dedicated to creating a supportive environment where people innovate, create, and perform. We believe that personal growth is best achieved through a group of individuals supporting one another. It is with this spirit that we pursue our mission.
it should be interesting for sure.. can't see them making a run for the late season crowd just yet but u never know for the future... the base elevation might be too low....
riverc0il
New member
i hate to go off topic, but that whaleback site is slick and the concept seems really well thought out. i think whaleback is starting to get some buzz. but i think like crotched, it's going to take two seasons to really take off and get the word out about what they are trying to do there. they have a great location and ideal setup for what they are trying to do. i hear the whaleback glades are really sweet and i had been planning on earning turns there before the current project took off earlier this year. best of luck to them.
Mark Renson
New member
Tony Crocker":2uz4dcdy said:
Problem with that is that I dunno' if there would be enough room at the top, there as it gets pretty steep and rocky up there and it would also mess up Catwalk, a fun little adventure from the top.
Face it, October and November simply ain't ski season unless you count scaring the fecal matter outta' you on a Ribbon of Death - a sheet of bulletproof porcelain comprised of compressed Frozen McSludge, scraped off by 9:20AM. Any good day ya' get during those months is simply gravy.
As we know, April is a month ocurring during the real ski season 8) .
woodi7259
New member
Give me the ribbon of death and I'll ski it. I know conditions are quite subpar but in my mind any day I can ski is a good day. After months of sitting here thinking about skiing the sooner I can start again the better.
But I guess since until recently I did most my skiing in pa i kinda got used to skiing a ribbon of death all year.
But I guess since until recently I did most my skiing in pa i kinda got used to skiing a ribbon of death all year.