Inching Forward (And Closer Than You Think)

Editors Note: I have not left much space for Andy to get a post in lately, so I have added his latest report below. But it’s basically unofficially official – I’ve heard it from enough sources to say that Alpine Meadows will open for the season on November 22nd, most likely just running TLC to the mid station. Lift ticket sales are now showing online from November 22 through 27th for $75 daily. Based on the webcam shot below, race teams either already trained to today or will train today because those are race skis out there on the Sun Deck. I saw a slew of Alpine Meadows peeps at Mount Rose this morning and we are all looking forward to being at our home mountain soon. – Mark

A good friend of mine stopped in to my office this morning for a quick visit. It turns out he was heading to the locker room to see if he remembered his locker combination in anticipation of opening day. Of course opening day is still a few days away, but no one wants to be held up, or embarrassed on day one trying to open their locker and failing as everyone else heads out to the lift. I was motivated to join him, picking up my skis and poles on the way in hopes of leaving them in the locker. I also wanted to see if I remembered the combination to my locker. I am sure I have written it down and placed it in a safe place, but the heck if I can remember where that safe place is located. Success took a while, but after ten or twelve tries the locker opened. It would have been embarrassing to have left with my skis and poles because of a failure to open the darn locker.

When we arrived at the lodge parking area, we were treated to an interesting show. At first I thought the maintenance crew was working on the gondola cable as they were hanging just below the cable between two gondola cars. As it turns out, it was members of the ski patrol practicing evacuating gondola patrons in case an emergency should arise during the ski season. They were all well attached to the cable or gondola car, but it did look a little frightening as they prepared to evacuate someone. We did not stay long enough to see them actually lower someone from one of the cars, but it felt reassuring knowing that our professional patrol appeared to know what they were doing. I suppose I would prefer to be stuck in an enclosed gondola car waiting to be rescued rather than sitting on a chair at the top of the Summit Lift in a full on blizzard.

All of this activity, and other projects that I am buttoning up, give me confidence that we are inching toward opening day. A little snow has been falling turning some of the surrounding area white, but thus far the amounts have been minimal.

Enjoy your day,

Andy