So, here in Oregon, we continue to get hammered by cold storms. Last week it was snow down in Portland, and dry, deep snow up in the Cascades (16-20" new overnight): the stuff that happens once every couple of years in Oregon. Today, there is another 7" of new snow on the mountain, and snow predicted on/off for the next two weeks. Base is at 175" and is very consolidated (we have had plenty of rain with that snow): that is all-natural, non-manmade snow.
For those of you unfamiliar with the PNW, March is a winter month. Our snowpack grows on average until early April. When growing up, I skied every Spring Break, and remember 2 or 3 sunny days. The other 15 or so I can remember ranged from light snow to BIG storm. The storm track shifts typically in February/March and the jet stream moves northward (up through the Bearing Sea/Gulf of Alaska) and then creates a trough across the PNW and BC. Which means that in March, it is wet, cold, and gloomy most of the month: we don't see warm temperatures until April at the earliest (last year, it wasn't until late-June: the average temperature in June was something like 60F-brrrr).
So, Oregon in March/early April looks alot like January. There isn't much to do outside: too cold and wet to ride a bike (unless you have good gear, but most weekend warriors keep the bikes inside until mid-April at the earliest), the golf courses don't open for another month, it is 45 degrees outside every day and cloudy.
But, for some reason, people just stop skiing. WHY? I just don't understand. The skiing is great, the snow is superb! What else can they do this time of year? Sit inside and watch it rain? We get BIG dumps, and nobody is on the hill. Likewise in late April/early May, which has primo spring conditions (and the occasional good storm, followed by a bluebird day, which doesn't get any better) and again, nobody is on the hill! So many customers complain to me that "every time I come here, it is snowing and blowing" and I tell them "hey, it is winter in Oregon, which means snow, wind, and grey skies. When is the last time you saw the sun in Portland? Come back in May for some sunny skiing!". But they never do.
Now, as a skier, this doesn't bother me one bit. Hit a great spring storm late March/April, and you can ski fresh lines ALL day! It doesn't get much better! But, as a ski shop operator, it is a bit worrisome. Our business just falls away, but it is too cold for cycling and our normal summertime business, typically until May.
Can somebody help me understand this phenomenon? Bachelor used to stay open until the 4th of July, but stopped due to lack of skier interest (they are still open until Memorial Day, however). Every other spring, we think "wow, we have great snow: this is going to be a strong spring business-wise" and every spring, we see business taper off to nothing in mid-March.
For those of you unfamiliar with the PNW, March is a winter month. Our snowpack grows on average until early April. When growing up, I skied every Spring Break, and remember 2 or 3 sunny days. The other 15 or so I can remember ranged from light snow to BIG storm. The storm track shifts typically in February/March and the jet stream moves northward (up through the Bearing Sea/Gulf of Alaska) and then creates a trough across the PNW and BC. Which means that in March, it is wet, cold, and gloomy most of the month: we don't see warm temperatures until April at the earliest (last year, it wasn't until late-June: the average temperature in June was something like 60F-brrrr).
So, Oregon in March/early April looks alot like January. There isn't much to do outside: too cold and wet to ride a bike (unless you have good gear, but most weekend warriors keep the bikes inside until mid-April at the earliest), the golf courses don't open for another month, it is 45 degrees outside every day and cloudy.
But, for some reason, people just stop skiing. WHY? I just don't understand. The skiing is great, the snow is superb! What else can they do this time of year? Sit inside and watch it rain? We get BIG dumps, and nobody is on the hill. Likewise in late April/early May, which has primo spring conditions (and the occasional good storm, followed by a bluebird day, which doesn't get any better) and again, nobody is on the hill! So many customers complain to me that "every time I come here, it is snowing and blowing" and I tell them "hey, it is winter in Oregon, which means snow, wind, and grey skies. When is the last time you saw the sun in Portland? Come back in May for some sunny skiing!". But they never do.
Now, as a skier, this doesn't bother me one bit. Hit a great spring storm late March/April, and you can ski fresh lines ALL day! It doesn't get much better! But, as a ski shop operator, it is a bit worrisome. Our business just falls away, but it is too cold for cycling and our normal summertime business, typically until May.
Can somebody help me understand this phenomenon? Bachelor used to stay open until the 4th of July, but stopped due to lack of skier interest (they are still open until Memorial Day, however). Every other spring, we think "wow, we have great snow: this is going to be a strong spring business-wise" and every spring, we see business taper off to nothing in mid-March.
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