Eaglecrest Ski Area is enjoying its best stretch of wintry weather in almost a decade, said Charlie Herrington, marketing manager for Eaglecrest.
As of Monday, the City and Borough of Juneau-owned and operated ski area had received snowfall for 30 consecutive days, Herrington said. That’s included more than 11 feet since Jan. 26.
“We have soft powder snow all over the mountain, and it’s pretty awesome,” Herrington said in a phone interview.
The snowy stretch has coincided with an increase in business for Eaglecrest.
Daily lift ticket sales are up almost 68% over the past 30 days compared to the previous 30 days, Herrington wrote in an email.
He said that’s especially impressive since the previous 30-day period included Christmas break, which means more business days. Typically, Eaglecrest is open Thursday-Monday, but during Christmas and spring breaks, it opens daily.
[More snow, more runs open at Eaglecrest]
Food and beverage sales are also up 64% in the same time frame, Herrington said.
“The last time we had a winter this good was 2011-12,” Herrington said.
Surging sales are good for the ski area’s financial picture. Eaglecrest’s revenue is augmented by city support since CBJ owns the ski area.
Last year, it received about $1 million from the city last year, which allowed it to basically break even, general manager Dave Scanlan previously told the Empire. There are plans to expand the ski area’s summertime activities to bring in additional revenue.
There’s a decent chance the flakes continue to fall, too.
Pete Boyd, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Juneau, said a “very active” weather pattern this week could produce more snow at Eaglecrest.
Boyd said a system moving into the area Tuesday and into Wednesday will likely mean warmer temperatures and rain at lower elevations but snow for Eaglecrest.
He said the mountain could see between two and six inches of snow. He said the snow will likely be joined by gusts of wind of up to 40 mph.
Then on Thursday, a stronger system will bring in more rain and possibly warmer temperatures. However, Boyd said that could still mean snow for the top of Eaglecrest.
“It’s enough where at the top of Eaglecrest, they may be getting another good hit of snow. This is a super rough estimate, but maybe getting up to 10 inches,” Boyd said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if we got at least a little bit of a wintry mix moving further up the mountain.”
A low-pressure system is expected to close out the week, which could mean drier weather and decreasing temperatures, which Boyd said could lead the slushy stuff expected to fall Thursday to freezing.
In light of this season’s snowfall, the Slush Cup, an event that’s been canceled more often than not in the past five years, is poised to make its return.
[New event fills in for canceled Slush Cup]
Last year, the late-March pond skim event was replaced by a festival, but Herrington said it seems there’s been enough snow for the Slush Cup to make a safe return.
“As it stands, yes, 100%,” Herrington said.
• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.
