What's going on with Hickory?

I've only been there once, a few years back. Hit it on a Saturday after a big Thursday drop. Had way too much fun falling again and again. Really would love to go back. I know it's weather depended , but is the management team ready when/ if the snow is deep enough. Does anybody know?

I would be surprised to see Hickory open this year.

Harvey wrote

I would be surprised to see Hickory open this year.

Tell us more, why so?

I am sure they ran out of money after the past couple horrible winters...if that is true its really sad.

It says its open:
http://www.huntermtn.com/

I think the thread is about Hickory, not Hunter.  Of course Hunter is open.

I would disagree that the last two years were bad.  Of course last year sucked ass, but I consider 14-15 to be a good year.

14-15 was late right?  These resorts make all their money from Xmas to Presidents Week....we haven't had a good early start to the ski season in a very long time.  This December could change that.

I always judge how good the season started based on how many lifts ski areas opened by Christmas.  

Our last really good December was 2010-2011.  13-14 had a pretty good start also, but a pre Christmas thaw.  12-13 had a crappy early December, good Christmas, but then two major January thaws.  14-15 had a good November, but a bad December and a big thaw during Christmas.  January and February were very good.  I think only one thaw in that time.  March was also pretty cold, and Mountain Creek was open into April.

I always put much more emphasis on cold and snowmaking than natural snow, and all the mountains that I frequent, and frequented in the past (except Gore) can open almost everything with zero natural snow.  I think the only Whiteface trails without snowmaking are River Run, Empire, and Blazer's Bluff.  

I agree with Chris.  Care to elaborate, Harv?

Upper Cloudspin has pipes but they have not made snow on that trail in many years so I suspect there is some issue with the pipes. They do sometimes blow from Parons over the edge to get some snow on the rocky section on the top.

Off topic, but the last time they blew snow there was I think 10-11.  It's in an old conditions thread on here.

Hickory has zero snowmaking, so they need not just cold, but a good snow year to get open, and that wasn't the case in 14-15.  We had some storms, but most terrain was opened on snowmaking.

snoloco wrote

I always judge how good the season started based on how many lifts ski areas opened by Christmas.  

I think it's a lot more about profit (ticket sales/food & beverage) than how many ski lifts are running. Of course there is generally a correlation between conditions and sales. Here it's not as much about snow making as much as actual snowfall, if we get the natural then people start going skiing. If everything is brown except ski runs than people prefer other activities.

RA I think that is true for occasional skiers but die hards know when there is snow on the hill.  While I have not been there what I have read about Hickory it seems re like a real hard core market they serve.

So does anyone out there have a connection to Hickory management?
I know in years past trail work days were posted here. Somebody must know someone.
If enough snow drops do they have a plan?
Well we have at least a month to find out I guess.

I should have been smarter about my original post.

I'll reach out to determine what info, if any, I can share.

I drive past Hickory a few times a week and I haven't seen any signs of activity there.  I volunteered there a few years ago and after that I used to see a few of the guys around town and so I had a feel for things but I haven't seen anyone I know in at least a couple of years.  I've been meaning to drive up to the lodge and say hi so I will make that a mission for the next time I pass through Warrensburg.  I did see their main work truck parked at the Ford dealer in town all summer (which was odd because in past years they always had something going on in the summer that would call for using it), I doubt that it was there because they had traded it in.  

Hickory is a really cool place and I am lucky enough to have gotten to ski it after a big dump when it was closed (since we were working there we got to spin the lifts and took turns making a few runs!)

Sadly I don't have a good feeling about it and I will be very surprised to see it officially opened.

snoloco wrote

I think the thread is about Hickory, not Hunter.  Of course Hunter is open.

I would disagree that the last two years were bad.  Of course last year sucked ass, but I consider 14-15 to be a good year.

Oops I must be tired.  Need more sleep.

He hasn't been there in a while.

 http://poststar.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/shawn-dempsey/article_50acdbb4-94f1-54d1-8b8e-dc733c660b8e.html">

i did not get a call for trail cutting this year. knew that was not a good sign.

Maybe it's reached the " throwing good money after bad " stage ? Shame.