November 22nd - opening update
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I had an opportunity to go on a hike this morning and check out the snowmaking progress. It was nice and cold again last night and the snowmaking team did a great job.
Here is a picture of Village Bypass, just below the top of Chair 7, with Wilson Peak in the background. Wilson Peak is 14,246 feet tall and is located in the Lizard Head Wilderness.
![IMG_0775[1].jpg](http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/photos/sample/images/328/425x239.aspx)
Here is a picture of Upper Village Bypass, Chair 4, Wilson Peak in the center and Sunshine Mountain (12,930 feet) is on the left over the trees. Snowmaking is complete in this area. All that is left to do is for the cats to come in, spread the piles and groom it out.
![IMG_0778[1].jpg](http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/photos/sample/images/330/425x239.aspx)
Below is a picture of a SMI Super Polecat snowmaker. We have several different types of snowmaking machines but these babies really build a pile fast if the tempuratures are right.
![IMG_0784[1].jpg](http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/photos/sample/images/331/425x239.aspx)
Here's a SMI in front, with several Ratnik air/water guns behind. This whole stretch of Village Bypass had almost no snow on it yesterday.
![IMG_0785[1].jpg](http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/photos/sample/images/332/425x239.aspx)
Here is a picture of a HKD snowmaker. We have some really nice piles now on Boomerang.
![IMG_0793[1].jpg](http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/photos/sample/images/333/425x239.aspx)
Here is a picture of The Beach at the bottom of Chair 4. This pile is looking good enough to build a maze area.
![IMG_0794[1].jpg](http://blog.tellurideskiresort.com/photos/sample/images/334/425x239.aspx)
The bottom line is that we are filling in the gaps on the priority route off Chair 4 very nicely. We have one fairly large gap on Upper Village Bypass from the top of Chair 4 down to the top of Chair 7. We won't be able to open this weekend but the probability of opening next week is very high now.
Now for the really good news. Check out the Snow Advisory that was posted this morning for our area:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
344 AM MST THU NOV 22 2007
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...
SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS
344 AM MST THU NOV 22 2007
...SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST
FRIDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A SNOW
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST
FRIDAY.
A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION TONIGHT AND
EARLY FRIDAY...BRINGING WIDESPREAD SNOW TO THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.
TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH
THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS ALONG SOUTHWEST FACING SLOPES. THE SNOW WILL
DECREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY BY LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND
LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING. COAL
BANK...MOLAS...RED MOUNTAIN AND LIZARD HEAD PASSES THROUGH THE SAN
JUAN MOUNTAINS WILL ALL SEE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ON
FRIDAY.
Here is a picture of the cut-off low working it's way toward us now
I sure hope this storm comes true! I'll post another update again on Friday.
Please feel free to post a comment.
Have a wonderful holiday and pray for snow. - Dave