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By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@leader.net
Monday, March 03, 2003 Page: 3A
A winter that has dropped double the normal snowfall on Northeastern
Pennsylvania has resulted in happy skiers and snowboarders, which, in turn,
makes for happy ski resort operators.
And thanks to that abundance of snow, skiing and snowboarding aficionados
can anticipate an extended season, said one resort spokesperson.
“It certainly has been a very strong season for us. This December was our
second-best on record,” said Dave Kulis, director of marketing and sales at
Camelback Ski Area in Tannersville.
The National Weather Service reported that 21.5 inches of snow fell at the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca during the month of
February. The normal February snowfall at the airport is 9.8 inches.
The story’s been the same in December and January as well. This winter’s
local snowfall has totaled 68.7 inches, compared to a 35-inch normal season
average.
All that snow translates into good skiing and good business.
Kulis said Camelback has between 60 and 90 inches of snow on its trails,
although some of that is man-made.
The resort doesn’t save money by cutting back on its normal snowmaking
operations when there’s an abundance of natural snow, Kulis said, because
adding powder to the trails on top of the natural snow tends to help extend
the ski season.
But the preponderance of precipitation does tend to prompt more people to
visit the resort, Kulis said.
“A lot of natural snow is a major factor in getting people excited about
skiing and snowboarding. Population centers – urban areas like Philadelphia
and New York City – had a lot of snow too, and that helped get people in the
mood,” he explained.
Marybeth Alunni, spokeswoman for Montage Mountain Ski Area in Scranton,
said business there has been brisk as well.
“It’s obviously been busier than last season, and even a few seasons
prior,” Alunni said. “I most definitely see an extended season, at least
until the end of the month.”
Alunni said it’s hard to compare this winter’s business with last winter’s
because of last year’s “drastic and inconsistent” mild weather. “But
compared to three or four years ago, it’s even above those numbers a little
bit.”
Not only have the snowfalls been abundant, but they’ve been well-timed,
Kulis said.
There were major snowstorms just before Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day, and Presidents Day. All the holidays included long ski and snowboard
weekends.
Alunni said many folks who traveled to the resorts on those weekends
decided to extend their stays because of the additional snow.
And although late February and early March have brought some slightly
warmer days and nights, Alunni doesn’t expect the higher temperatures will
hurt the ongoing ski season. In fact, it makes for great conditions for those
learning to ski and board, she said.
“For those who have never skied before, it’s a great time to try. In fact,
I’ve spent today working on discount packages for an extended season,” Alunni
said.
Alunni said midwinter skiers can expect a “fresh, fluffy powder,” which
makes for faster skiing, while spring skiers can expect a “more loose and
granular” snow, which makes for slower skiing conditions.
“It’s great for a beginner. The difference (in the snow texture and
handling) is kind of hard to explain. You just have to come up and try it.”
Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.