Despite frigid temperatures and blizzards that continue to rip through the region, resorts say skiers and riders are braving conditions at the mountains of Vermont, New Hampshire and New York to enjoy powder snow.
Below zero temperatures and frigid wind chills have been common across the region this winter. The Wild Center, which monitors weather on New York’s Whiteface Mountain, reported at 10:20 Saturday night a base temperature of 29 degrees below zero with winds of 54 miles per hour. The Atmospheric Science Research Center at the University at Albany, which monitors temperature and wind speed, says that calculates to a 73 below zero wind chill.
And where it’s not needle-piercing cold, snow storms are pummeling coastal areas from which New England ski resorts draw much of their business. But they report that skiiers and boarders are on the slopes.
Ski Vermont president Parker Riehle says there have only been a few unusual situations where lifts stopped due to wind or cold. “When the skiing and riding isn’t something that everybody wants to be doing there’s always the extra bells and whistles that the resorts are providing on the side.”
Riehle says the two-week period around Presidents Day is crucial for the resorts’ bottom line. He reports there has not been a dropoff in visits due to frigid cold, noting that skiiers have learned how to properly layer for the conditions. Riehle also finds the snow enticing visitors this year as it rivals the quality of Rocky Mountain snows. “Given the temperatures and the conditions and the lack of humidity it’s made the snow conditions, the actual quality of the snow, amazing champagne powder.”
Lyndon State College Mountain Recreation Management Professor Sean Doll says for some the cold may mean less time on the mountain, but they’re still making the trip. “An old colleague of mine always used to say there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing selections. If you dress warmly enough, cover your face, and you’re smart about it, you’re going to have a good time on the hill. What does it do to the actual ski areas? You may see some drops in numbers. This is a vacation week. For a lot of families it’s become a tradition to go hit the slopes regardless of the temperature.”
Whiteface Mountain Spokesman Jon Lundin notes that the Ski Patrol is trained to watch for people showing early signs of frostbite. He admits he often sees fewer people on the mountain when frigid temperatures occur. “A large part are families. Are you going to bring them out to the ski school? Are you going to bring them out to ski where they are going to be too cold? So overall it will affect the number of skiiers that we have on that given day.”
Away from the slopes, Stowe Area Association Executive Director Ed Stahl says people are shopping and filling local restaurants. “This last three day weekend we were totally booked. All the restaurants were packed. As I drive around I see people nordic skiing and snow shoeing and the sleigh rides are running and all the normal things you’d expect to do in the winter. About half the people who come here in the winter don’t ski or snowboard. They come here for the other winter experiences. I think people that like winter activities, they just take the cold that comes along with the sport and the activities.”
Ski Vermont says the state is on track with last year's 4.5 million skier and rider visits, the third-best on record, and could see another record year.
