It’s been a frustrating first half of the ski season at Eaglecrest Ski Area as low snow has kept skiers and snowboarders from accessing the whole mountain.
But a pair of snowstorms last week and some mad-dash preparation from employees allowed Eaglecrest to run a full complement of lifts this weekend. It was the first time in over a month and just the second day this year visitors were able to access the whole mountain.
General Manager Dave Scanlan, in his first year at Eaglecrest, said the weekend took a little weight off his shoulders. Eaglecrest sold 160 day passes as of mid-day Saturday, the ticket counter reported.
“The season’s pass holders have been so patient waiting for this to happen, and everybody,” Scanlan said.
Eaglecrest was able to run the Porcupine chairlift for many days this year, but that lift caters to beginners, allowing access to two short, gentle slopes at the bottom of the mountain. The Ptarmigan lift, the only one to run to the top of the mountain, was run for only the second time this year on Saturday. It allowed expert skiers and boarders access to well-loved, higher-elevation runs.
“All the expert and advanced skiers and boarders have just been chomping at the bit to get to the top of the mountain. To be able to do it in blue skies is just as good as it gets,” Scanlan said.
Two separate storms, one on Tuesday and one Thursday, brought in about 20 inches of snow at Eaglecrest in 36 hours last week. The snow came in “just right” Scanlan said, with a little higher water content than expected.
With staff working reduced hours operating fewer lifts most of the season, Scanlan had to marshal his resources in a hurry to prepare for the weekend. A thin cover of snow at the top of the mountain challenged snow groomers, who usually need a little bit more to pack down and smooth out runs.
“There was just enough snow for the snow cats to get up and do the work they need to do to make this happen,” Scanlan said.
Employees even packed garbage cans full of snow to the top of Ptarmigan lift to help fill out the unloading ramp.
Fist bumps and shakas abounded in the Ptarmigan lift line Saturday.
Skier Will Geiger said the snowpack was thin, but it was good snow. Terry Hinkley, a bit older than Geiger but an accomplished skier, said the skiing was good but “not so good for my legs.”
Another storm could move through this week as the National Weather Service is calling for snow Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Scanlan said he and Eaglecrest staff hope to keep all four lifts in operation next weekend, but that’s predicated on what mother nature brings.
Eaglecrest will have updates throughout the week on what lift operations might look like for the coming weekend, Scanlan said.
