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Blue Knob All Seasons Resort will flip the switch on their chair lifts this weekend as the recent cold weather has allowed the resort to get some slopes ready for skiing and snowboarding.
While there is limited terrain, the resort will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and plans to open on weekends only until closer to the Christmas holiday.
Last week, area ski resort operators had yet to set opening dates as they awaited for cold weather.
"We need a good stretch of consistent cold temperatures of 28 degrees or less with low humidity," said Blue Knob resort spokeswoman Donna Himes.
That stretch of weather came this week, and resort operators across the region are keeping their fingers crossed for a good skiing season.
Overall, conditions should be good, especially later in the season, said AccuWeather meteorologist Joseph Bauer.
"We are going into an El Nino year, that means temperatures will be a few degrees above normal and precipitation about average. December and January may be a little warm to keep snow on the ground, but later in the winter, the trend should change, as storms will push more into our neck of the woods," said Bauer, who predicted the area will have more snow at the end of the season.
"The second half of the winter will bring better conditions for snow," he said. "People will have to be patient."
The El Nino could be helpful, said Brett Cook, vice president and general manager of Seven Springs Mountain Resort and Hidden Valley Resort.
"We're headed into an El Nino winter, which could be a good thing if we have cold air and moisture collide to bring us abundant natural snow like the winter of 2009-10," Cook said.
Tussey Mountain Ski Resort in Centre County is hoping for an early to mid-December opening, said spokesman Aaron Weyman.
"We are keeping a close eye on the weather and will be ready to begin snowmaking as soon as conditions permit," Cook said, noting the resort will share its opening dates roughly a week before opening.
Mixed results
Last season produced mixed results at area resorts.
Seven Springs operated skiing and snowboarding for 123 days, the longest season dating back to 2014-15.
"Last November's snowmaking efforts at Seven Springs resulted in the deepest snow base we have ever had that early in a season, and we were able to ski into April," Cook said.
The 2022-23 season at Tussey Mountain was average.
"We didn't receive the amount of natural snowfall that we would have liked, but we were provided with enough cold dates to make a solid base that allowed our season pass holders, youth learn to ski and snowboard programs and race programs to get outside and on the snow," Weyman said.
Blue Knob had what Himes called a "difficult season with lots of challenges," as the resort received only 45 inches of natural snow compared to a historical average of 140 inches.
"We were excited at the start of the season, because we were the first in the state to open on the day before Thanksgiving. We stayed open through the Thanksgiving weekend but due to warm temperatures, were unable to maintain our snowpack or make additional snow," Himes said.
The resort was able to reopen on Dec. 17, but over the Christmas/New Years holiday period, Blue Knob lost two days due to extreme cold and wind.
"In January alone, we lost 10 days due to lack of snow because of rain and warm temperatures," she said of the state's highest skiable mountain.
Improvements made
This year, Seven Springs invested in energy-efficient snowmaking to help open more terrain earlier in the season and maintain terrain throughout the season. Projects included new snowmaking pipe, seven new snowmaking stations and 15 new HKD Viper snowmaking guns on Village Trail. There are 12 new energy-efficient HKD Impulse R5 snow gun towers on Tyrol Slope and two new Pisten Bully 400 snowcats to enhance the resort's grooming fleet.
Hidden Valley invested in a new snowcat and new energy-efficient and strategic snowmaking improvements with the installation of four new Techno Alpin TR8 fan guns and new snowmaking valves.
Both Seven Springs and Hidden Valley upgraded their safety equipment including new AEDs that feature versatile pads suitable for both adults and children, and user-friendly bilingual instructions through audio and visual cues.
At Blue Knob, improvements include additional drainage on Jack Rabbit, Lower Mambo Alley and Run Out; replacement of approximately 800 feet of snowmaking pipe on Jack Rabbit, Stembogan, Mambo Alley and a few other slopes; reconfiguring water flow to increase snowmaking efficiency on Deer Run, Run Out and Stembogan and refurbishing the interior of the Blue Knob Conference Center, Himes said.
At Tussey Mountain, the biggest change is the installation of a new point of sale system will have RFID cards replacing lift tickets and season passes.
"These cards will be scanned at the chairlift, the rental shop and by our snowsports instructors for ski and snowboard lessons. Our visitors will be able to purchase passes online that will load on to their pass so that they can arrive at the mountain and go straight to the slopes, and their timed session will begin as soon as they are first scanned," Weyman said.
Also, a remodeled bar inside the lodge that will expand seating, bar space and highlight views of Mount Nittany and the rest of Happy Valley. A new bar and seating area on the back deck for those wanting to stay outside also will debut, Weyman said.
'Always awesome'
"We're optimistic heading into every winter season. We spend a lot of time on operational plans and contingency plans each year," Cook said, noting the resorts are committed to snowmaking to provide skiing and snowboarding opportunities.
"It's never hard to be optimistic about the upcoming ski season, because every ski season is always awesome," Weyman said. "We feel very fortunate to have the level of snowmaking operation in place that we have, and know that all we need is a period of consistently cold weather to get some of our own snow made to get the slopes open."
Optimism is the name of the game, Himes said, noting all seasons bring challenges.
"We are always optimistic that we can meet them," she said. "The weather is definitely something that we cannot change, so we try to prepare to make the best of whatever the weather or other challenges may be each season."