Snowbowl in Flagstaff (ski resort, 2010, lease)

[KarmaPhx]

Do you guys think we will have a cold enough winter for them to stay open more than just a few weekends this season? Any weather gurus around?

I was only able to go once last year, which was a big bummer!

[Greatday]

Snow Bowl was open more than just a few weekends last year. They are, of course, at the whim of mother nature and snow -

We are the "El Nino" weather pattern - which boads well for a cold and "wet" winter - early predictions are for lot's of snow althrough the region. Sounds good for us skiers.

One might also consider Sunrise Ski Area.

We regularly ski both areas (we don't snowboard) and both are very good areas - although I must say Sunrise has more runs (they have more area of course).

[azdr0710]

after a long court battle, the owners of the Snowbowl got the OK to use effluent to make snow in lean years....I don't think they'll be geared up to do it this winter, but next winter (2010-11), the equipment may be ready...(may be wrong about the readiness).....

Sunrise has always seemed better for non-experts to me....I'm one of them.....

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Snow Bowl was open more than just a few weekends last year. They are, of course, at the whim of mother nature and snow -

We are the "El Nino" weather pattern - which boads well for a cold and "wet" winter - early predictions are for lot's of snow althrough the region. Sounds good for us skiers.

El Niño and a wet winter. (* ahem *) Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it. They predicted the same kind of wet El Niño winter for the 2006-2007 season, and it ended up being much drier than normal. I realize that these climatic patterns are tricky to predict, but the last truly wet winter generated by El Niño was the 2004-2005 season. Southern CA and Arizona had moderate rainfall & cooler temperatures as early as October, and into November during that time. So far, there's no rain or snow on the horizon, and high temperatures are breaking records. It's not looking too good in the short term.

Originally Posted by azdr0710

after a long court battle, the owners of the Snowbowl got the OK to use effluent to make snow in lean years....I don't think they'll be geared up to do it this winter, but next winter (2010-11), the equipment may be ready...(may be wrong about the readiness).....

This final decision ruled in favor of Snow Bowl, which I was very glad to hear. Snow Bowl is a business that thrives on skiiers and tourism ... and when there's not enough snow generated from Mother Nature, they have every legitimate reason to do whatever it takes to bring in the customers and make profits. If this means producing their own snow, so be it! The Indian tribes who were fighting this have no ownership or stakes in this ski resort, and therefore have no reason to protest.

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Snow Bowl is a business that thrives on skiiers and tourism ... and when there's not enough snow generated from Mother Nature, they have every legitimate reason to do whatever it takes to bring in the customers and make profits. If this means producing their own snow, so be it! The Indian tribes who were fighting this have no ownership or stakes in this ski resort, and therefore have no reason to protest.

while I'm no fan of big government, keep in mind that the Snowbowl is on public land leased to the operators of the ski area....it was appropriate, therefore, for the snow-making fight to go thru the court deal since, being public land, several stakeholders were involved....

[KarmaPhx]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Snow Bowl was open more than just a few weekends last year. They are, of course, at the whim of mother nature and snow -

We are the "El Nino" weather pattern - which boads well for a cold and "wet" winter - early predictions are for lot's of snow althrough the region. Sounds good for us skiers.

One might also consider Sunrise Ski Area.

We regularly ski both areas (we don't snowboard) and both are very good areas - although I must say Sunrise has more runs (they have more area of course).

I never said it wasn't, but it was very limited, and I wasn't able to go every weekend it was open, Moderator cut: rude

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

This final decision ruled in favor of Snow Bowl, which I was very glad to hear. Snow Bowl is a business that thrives on skiiers and tourism ... and when there's not enough snow generated from Mother Nature, they have every legitimate reason to do whatever it takes to bring in the customers and make profits. If this means producing their own snow, so be it! The Indian tribes who were fighting this have no ownership or stakes in this ski resort, and therefore have no reason to protest.

The Navajo Tribe is giving some preliminary consideration to buying the operation, to first get rid of the artificial snow.

http://www.navajotimes.com/news/2009...09snowbowl.php

[KarmaPhx]

Anyone know what the place about 30-45 minutes West of Flagstaff on the I-40 is called? We stopped a few years ago, they had 2-3 decent runs, and a place for riding big black tubes down the hill.

I hope they continue the artifical snow, IMO it's fine.