Mid-February Snowmaking

We turned on all of the tower snow guns last night and we also made snow last week as well.  One of the advantages of investing in additional tower guns like we did this past year is making snow during times like this.  Yes, the power and efficiency of tower guns helps make more snow in the fall and open runs earlier in November & December.  However, after rain events like we experienced this past week, it's pretty efficient for our team to turn on the snowmaking system with more fixed tower guns rather than placing portable guns.  We did add a couple of the portable guns in key locations last night too, but most, if not all of the tower guns we have around the resort were running most of the night last night and into this morning.  

Our grooming team is out now grooming in the fresh snow and we are planning to have great snow conditions heading into this President's holiday weekend.  Don't let the spring-like weather from this past week fool you into thinking that winter is coming to and end.  We still have a deep base of snow and we plan to have the Village open with great skiing & riding for several more weeks.  February and March are probably the best months to get out and enjoy the Village. 

 

Triple Chair & Back Bowl Update

We are still waiting for the restraining bars for the Triple Chair.  At this point, we have to assume that the new restraining bars may not arrive this season due to continued supply chain and related issues or least arrive later this winter.  It was our hope to run the Triple Chair with restraining bars this season but that may not be the case for at least a little while yet.  Our lift team still needs a few more days to complete some final maintenance tasks on the lift and get it ready.  Unfortunately, it won't be ready this weekend.  

We are confident that we can have the chairlift ready, without restraining bars, in time to open starting Friday, January 13th, that is our goal.  That would also mean that the Back Bowl would also open the same day.  We have been making snow back there for weeks now and plan to make more snow later this week. We still need a few days to finish snowmaking & grooming to get the runs ready.  

Thank you for your patience on this, we are excited to get the Back Bowl open, hopefully, on January 13th.  If there are any further updates we will let you know. 

**We are also still in need of more lift operators.  If you know of anyone who would like a fun, part-time job this winter, please point them in our direction**

Triple Chairlift Project

For the third year in a row, we have invested into a large chairlift improvement project. In addition to new motor project on our #1 quad lift, we are also hoping to begin a big project with our Triple Chair on the east side.  I say "hoping" because continued supply chain issues have delayed the delivery of post of the equipment & parts needed for this project. 

Basically, what we are doing are installing new 2-part chair hangers themselves as well as adding restraining bars to the chairs. That will mean that every lift at Welch Village will have restraining bars. We are also slowing the lift speed a bit and removing a few chairs from the line.  That should mean easier loading and a better overall experience using the chairlift for guests. 

All parts and equipment were ordered last spring about the time we closed.  We were told that they would arrive in October.  Some did.  We are still waiting for some parts and we are hoping this project will be done in time for the holidays. Thank you for continued patience as we improve this important chairlift. 

Opening weekend runs & lifts

Our snowmaking crew has done an outstanding job getting a few runs ready for opening weekend and our entire team is still hard at work today getting this place ready to open for the season.  Here is what we know will be open starting Friday. 

Runs: Lookout, Long Way Home, Paul's Trail, Fowl Play, Harley's Hollow (East Side), Heidi's Hollow, Terrain Park w/ a few features, as well as one side of our larger magic carpet beginner area. 

Lifts: #2 Lookout Quad, #4 Cannon Valley Quad, Zero Beginner 2-person chair, Rope Tow, Magic Carpet. 

*This is first time we have ever opened a run on the east side (Harley's Hollow) and the both the Rope Tow and Magic Carpet available 

A few other notes: 

- We have the snow to open both Sweeny and Nanny's Nob.  However, we ordered a new electric motor for the main drive of the #1 quad chairlift.  Of course, because of supply chain issues & delays, we just received the motor.  Our crew needs about a week to install the motor and conduct  the necessary inspections and tests.  We are planning to add the #1 quad chairlift and Sweeny & Nanny's Nob sometime late next week. 

- Jaxx is not open yet.  Jaxx parking lot is CLOSED.  

- Black Diamond Bar and food service will be open with a limited menu. 

- Our season pass office will be open two hours prior to the ski area opening this weekend for pass pickup. Get here two hours early if you don't want to wait in long lines. Please be patient with us and our staff, thanks. 

-WV Passholders only and Halloween ticket vouchers only Friday and Saturday. Thank you passholders!

All trails this weekend and for the time being in the early season are skiing one classification up in terms of difficultly.  Please be advised that Lookout, normally a blue trail, will be skiing more like a black trail for the first two weeks at least.  Harley's Hollow & Long Way Home, normally green trails, will be skiing more like blue trains etc

From all of us at Welch Village, have a Happy Thanksgiving, and we'll see you this weekend. 

Opening Day 2022-2023

Welch Village will open for the 2022-23 season on Friday, November 25th, the day after Thanksgiving.  

We were thankful to receive snowmaking temps this last weekend and early this week but the conditions were not ideal.  Much more ideal snowmaking temps are headed this way tonight through Monday of next week.  The best of those snowmaking days coming Friday - Sunday this coming weekend.  

We are choosing to leave guns running on the hill and pile up the snow in many places and offer a better skiing and riding experience for all of you for the following weekend.  his is our goal with opening day every season, to offer the best early season skiing/riding experience possible. 

The day after Thanksgiving is always our target date for opening and we are happy to be able to hit that target this season. 

More details will be coming soon for opening weekend.  What we can tell you is this: 

• We will be open Friday, Nov. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 26th for Welch Village Season Passholders ONLY.  We will also accept Halloween ticket sale vouchers.  Industry Passes will not be accepted on these days.  Lift tickets will not be available for these days. 
• We are planning to make lift tickets available for Sunday, Nov. 27th
• More info coming early next week regarding which runs, lifts etc will be open. 

The forecast looks awesome for snowmaking the next few days.  Season Passholders will receive more information via email and social media on when and how to pick up their season pass cards. 

Another season at Welch Village is just around the corner....get ready!

 

New Tower Guns

We received our 10 new TechnoAlpin TT10 tower snow guns units.  Two separate trucks with 5 guns a piece.  One truck arrived yesterday, the other today.  These things will not only make a lot of snow, they also look really cool.  If you are a Transformers fan, it almost looks like 10 Bumblebees just landed in our parking lot. 

We have 6 foundations installed and ready for 6 towers and we are hoping to get as many of these tower guns installed in the short window of time we have until the start of our season.  Stay tuned.  It's exciting to have these machines on our property and snowmaking temps just around the corner. 

Portable guns on the hill

Our fleet of portable guns are in position and our team is waiting for cold temperatures, which look like they are going to arrive sometime late Friday or early Saturday.  When the temps drop this weekend, the Village will start turning white.  Right now, it looks like we will get several days & evenings of snowmaking weather into next week if current forecasts hold true.  Still too early to predict an opening day but I would start getting your stuff ready, it won't be long now...

New tower guns?  We are still waiting for them. A big shocker....there is a slight supply chain delay.  We are hoping to see them late this week or early next week.  Good news is that the pits that they sit on are here. Several pits are already ready for tower guns when they arrive.  Below is a pit (footing) on Fowl Play that is patiently waiting for it's new TT10 tower gun.