Ski resorts recover from Irene

With Labor Day come and gone the feel of fall is rapidly in the air. Ski sales, fall festivals, shorter days and crisp cool evenings and mornings remind us the ski and snowboard season is right around the corner. Many of our mountain friends in New England, the Catskills and through the east are dealing with the effects of Hurricane Irene. We have one friend who works in the industry lost his house as it was consumed by a raging river. You can see details and more here as well as to contribute.

Resorts are fixing bridges that served as entrances to resort, buildings coming off their foundations, some roofs down and snow making pipes needing repair. All in all resorts are confidant they will be open on time for the first skiers and snowboarders of the new season. Season passes are on sales at great rates coast to coast.

Resorts and others are pitching in to help those in need in the various affected mountain communities.  Over the next two weekends, Jiminy Peak Mountain Adventure will be for a good cause. 50 percent of the ticket sales from the Massachusetts ski resort’s two summer activity parks, the Aerial Adventure Park and Mountain Adventure Park, will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Irene and to year-round staff members from Jiminy Peak’s sister resort, Bromley Mountain in Manchester, Vt., who were directly affected by damage caused by Irene.

In the Catskills, Hunter Mountain ski area and NY Zipline Adventures staff members on Tuesday hosted children from the hard-hit community of Prattsville, which is located less than 15 miles west of Hunter. The children participated in indoor and outdoor activities, including the NY Zipline Adventure Tower. Transportation, meals and activities were provided for over 100 children. We had a local lodge group from the Scribner Hollow Lodge help this community with meals during the initial recovery.

More and more stories are flowing in and the folks in Vermont are quickly recovering as well as working to get the message our they are open for business as the fall foliage season kicks in.

 In the Colorado Rockies we have not had the effects of any storms to create obstacles to late summer fun in the mountains. This week we had reports of a dusting of snow at ski areas from Loveland, and Winter Park to others across the region. Yes, snow making will begin as weather permits this month and October is sure to see the initial wave of ski and snowboard areas opening for the winter 2011.12 season.