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Massanutten 2017-18

marzNC

Angel Diva
Massanutten is actively working on the process for increasing the water supply for snowmaking. They also could use more water for the mountain golf course. There have been several times in the last few years when Mnut could not make full use of a cold spell for snowmaking because the snowmaking pond was too low. The automatic snowmaking guns installed in the last 4-5 years can put out a lot of snow in a very short time.

The Virginia Dept of Environmental Quality recently published a public notice asking for public comment on a Draft Water Withdrawal Permit for Massanutten. The comment period is 5/28/17 to 6/27/17.

"Great Eastern Resort Management, Inc. has applied for a permit for the Massanutten Resort Surface Water Withdrawal Project to meet the Resort’s water supply needs for snowmaking and for golf course irrigation. The permit will allow the applicant to withdraw water from Quail Run and to install associated water lines for transport to the Resort’s snowmaking facility on Massanutten Mountain and to Painters Pond, an impoundment of Stony Run. The permit will also allow the applicant to withdraw water from Painters Pond for snowmaking and golf course and ski slope irrigation, and to withdraw water for golf course irrigation and back-up supply for snowmaking from an on-site pond (Woodstone Lake) on an unnamed tributary to Quail Run. The proposed activity would affect permanently 0.05 acre (64 linear feet) of Quail Run for installation of a new intake. Installation of the water line would result in temporary impacts to 0.1 acre of palustrine emergent wetland and 68 linear feet of a stream channel. The activity proposed in the permit will affect Quail Run, Stony Run, and unnamed tributaries to Stony Run in the South Fork Shenandoah River watershed. A watershed is the land area drained by a river and its incoming streams. DEQ’s preliminary decision is to issue the permit."
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Massanutten clearly expects to have more water for the 2017-18 season. The newsletter sent to Massanutten timeshare owners in the spring includes an announcement about "building a reservoir and constructing a water pipeline for increase snowmaking efficiencies and gold course irrigation" Carved in Stone, 2017, Edition 1. Will make a big difference. The article noted that "in December [2016] alone, we lost the potential to pump an additional 12 million gallons of water leading into the holiday period because of low pond levels or we were out of water." That meant they couldn't take full advantage of the cold snap to jump start the season.

For comparison, the giant water tank that Wintergreen built a few years ago has a capacity of 5 million gallons.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Stopped by Massanutten on the way home from a long weekend in the Poconos with an old friend. Got to see the pipe that is being installed along the road. Looks like might widen the road a bit on the hairy turn, which would be good for the days when the road is slick because of a snowstorm or ice storm.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Mnut is clearly starting to think about the winter season.

Sounds like there will be more snowmaking power in addition to 50% more water because of the new pipeline. Looking forward to watching the webcams!

From the 10/6/17 press release posted on Facebook:

" . . . Construction of a new, 2-mile-long water pipeline began in January 2017 and is scheduled to be completed and ready for the upcoming winter season.

“The additional water supply will allow us to better maximize our snowmaking opportunities and greatly improve snowmaking efficiency,” said Kenny Hess, Director of Sports & Safety. “We have also retro fitted some older snowmaking equipment for improved efficiency and added additional snowmaking equipment to our fleet. . . .”
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Massanutten put out a pretty long press release about the upcoming season. Besides the pipeline, there are a few other new features. There is a new Max-3 ski school morning program for ages 4-6. Great for kids who aren't really ready for spending an entire day on the slopes. Can still do the full Mountain Cruisers starting at age 4 for those who are ready.

Early-Bird Season Passes
Until December 1st, save yourself some money and take advantage of these great early bird discounts for Massanutten Resort’s 2017-2018 season (typically December-March).

Adult Full Season Pass | $405 if purchased on or before December 1. $450 after December 1. Unlimited skiing/snowboarding. Valid every day that the slopes are open, no restrictions. Purchase yours here.
Student Full Season Pass | $338 if purchased on or before December 1. $375 after December 1. Unlimited skiing/snowboarding for those of school going age (Ages 6-18 and up with ID). Valid every day that the slopes are open, no restrictions.

Special Value Pass | $235 Valid Sunday - Friday any time (excluding Christmas Holiday December 25, 2017 - January 1, 2018) and after 4 pm every day of the season. Also valid any time opening day through December 24, 2017, and March 1, 2018 through end of season.

Season Pass Add-On Options
Enjoy unlimited skiing & riding at Massanutten Resort with the Bike Park Season Pass add-on option for all ski season pass holders.
Bike Park Season Pass Add-On | $150 (Original Price: $240)

New Youth Lessons
Massanutten’s Snow Sports Learning Center inspires children to actively learn skiing and snowboarding in a fun and safe environment. Whether you’re looking for a first-day experience or an advanced lesson that can improve technique, Massanutten has a program for you.

NEW! Mini Riders
Mini Riders is Massanutten Resort’s new youth program for snowboarders ages 4-6. Mini Riders will explore snowboarding movements on and off the snow to help develop the balance and coordination necessary for independent riding. Each group is limited to 3 students and includes a 4-Hour Slope-Use Ticket, Equipment Rentals & Helmet, and Supervised Instruction (9am-11am).
Mon – Fri | $85 Sat/Sun/Holiday | $105

Mountain Cruisers
Massanutten also offers a comprehensive youth instructional program for beginners and intermediates in both skiing (ages 4 to 12 years) and snowboarding (ages 7 to 12 years). The Mountain Cruisers package includes an 8-hour slope-use ticket, equipment & helmet rental, lunch, and supervised instruction (9:30am-2pm).
Mon – Fri | $120 Sat/Sun/Holiday | $145
Mountain Cruisers often fills up weeks in advance so reservations are required. For your convenience, you are now able to reserve your lesson online anytime after Nov. 1.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Hoping the snow guns can get going during Thanksgiving week after the rain blowing through this weekend.

Massanutten is promoting the discounted price for Full Season Passes before Dec. 1. 10% off, no blackout dates. Same deal as recent years, but first time I've seen it promoted. The Special Value Pass is the same price as it's been, $235, and good essentially anytime except Saturdays from 9:00am-4:00pm, including holiday Mondays in Jan/Feb.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Massanutten announced Dec. 15 as Opening Day. Should have more than a week of snowmaking nights before then. Perhaps even a day or two when snow guns will be on during the day, at least on the upper mountain. The first week will be daytime skiing only. Night skiing scheduled to start on Dec. 22.

I have my season pass. Planning to start skiing at Mnut during the Demo Weekend Jan. 6-7.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
It's winter at Massanutten on Dec. 8, 2017!

Screen Shot 2017-12-08 at 7.45.47 AM.png

Blowing on Geronimo too! Plus the usual the base teaching area, Southern Comfort, Diamond Jim, probably Showtime, and the tubing hill. Having a larger water supply clearly makes a difference for building base at the beginning of the season.
Screen Shot 2017-12-08 at 7.44.05 AM.png
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
It's 27 degrees at Mnut and snowing both ways this morning! Natural snow coming down steadily and sticking, with snow guns on as well. Today watching the webcams around the southeast and mid-Atlantic is going to be great fun.

All natural snow on the slope at the base that becomes the big terrain park next to the J-bar. Snow on the hut where the tubes are stored for snow tubing.
Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 9.32.00 AM.png
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Sunny and cold at Massanutten this morning. The webcams are a bit covered with ice so not a good view of the trails, but there is clearly still snow on the roofs.

There is a relatively new link to a Wunderground station on the mountain. Makes it easy to see the temp difference between the surrounding Shenandoah Valley and up on the slopes.

Screen Shot 2017-12-10 at 8.58.20 AM.png
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Lost track of how many hours Massanutten has been able to make snow continuously, but pretty clear that there will be more trails open than perhaps ever has happened in mid-December on Opening Day this Friday, 15Dec2017. Day skiing only for the first week, then regular season hours starting Dec. 22. Having a little help from Mother Nature certainly helps. Not only extended cold but even a few inches of natural snow over the weekend!

Screen Shot 2017-12-11 at 7.57.40 AM.png

The new weather station link goes to a webpage that even provides historical weather stats. :smile:
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
What a difference in the past week in terms of temperatures at Massanutten. Having way too much fun with the Wunderground data. Major snowmaking started on Dec. 8, with 3 inches of snow by the end of the storm over the weekend.

Screen Shot 2017-12-11 at 12.00.17 PM.png
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Snow guns were on by 5pm yesterday. It's 15º as of 7:30 this morning so there is a possibility of continuous snowmaking until Thu morning, at least on the upper mountain. The added water supply is making a big difference for this extended, and unusually cold, couple days when the initial base needs to be built.

Temperature at Massanutten for Dec. 8-13, 2017
Screen Shot 2017-12-13 at 7.46.23 AM.png

Massanutten teaching area at 7:30am, 13Dec2017
Screen Shot 2017-12-13 at 7.35.52 AM.png

Looking up Southern Comfort (green), with Lift 6 and Diamond Jim (black) up top (left)
Screen Shot 2017-12-13 at 7.36.33 AM.png
 
Last edited:

marzNC

Angel Diva
Finally noticed that Massanutten has added the option to buy lift tickets online in advance for regular season dates, starting on Dec. 16, 2017.

Opening Day, Dec. 15, will be early season rate. Save a few bucks over the midweek rate.

Snowmaking is happening on Upper Showtime. So could open on Friday with Geronimo, Southern Comfort, Upper and Lower Showtime, and Diamond Jim. That would be fabulous!
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Manage to adjust my travel schedule so I'll be at Massanutten's Opening Day. Only skiing first thing in the morning. Should be fantastic for mid-December. Very cool to be able to make use of my season pass in December. Haven't done that in quite a while.

Early season rates for Dec. 15 only. Regular season was always scheduled to start on Dec. 16 and runs through early March.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Lots of snow on the slopes at Mnut this morning! Never skied snow whales on Southern Comfort before. They only groomed one strip. I'm sure there will be a lot more grooming tonight before the weekenders show up. DJ and Snowtime were fun but definitely variable conditions. Was a day that required concentration.
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
So Mnut had good snowmaking weather for about a week Dec. 9-16. Included a few days where the snow guns could stay on all day. Opening Day was Dec. 15.

Screen Shot 2017-12-21 at 10.52.55 PM.png
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
A few pics from Opening Day taken between 9:30 and 11:00am.

Geronimo (green) behind the lift
Massanutten 15Dec2017 - 1.jpg

Snow whales on Southern Comfort and Nuttin To It (greens)
Massanutten 15Dec2017 - 2.jpg

Diamond Jim (black) had variable conditions from a few slick spots to nicely groomed to a few chunks
Massanutten 15Dec2017 - 3.jpg

MarzNC at the top
Massanutten 15Dec2017 - 4.jpg
 

marzNC

Angel Diva
Temps at Massanutten are in the 20s today after dipping below 30 around 4:00am. Slopes won't opening for holiday sliding until noon as is the norm for Christmas Day, but the snowmakers and groomers are working hard this morning. Best news is that they will be starting on Mass Transit, Yee Ha, and Paradice. Having those trails open by the demo weekend Jan. 6-7 will be great.
 

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