White Pine to open Tubing Hill after Thanksgiving
by White Pine Resort
November 24, 2016
White Pine Ski Resort has announced it will open the tubing operation this Friday and Saturday November 25th and 26th. A $20 opening special is on offer for unlimited rides on the tubing hill from noon to 4pm on both days. Family ticket is $50. "After Thanksgiving the kids are looking for something to run off their energy and have some winter fun" said Tim Scott, White Pine’s General Manager, "we receive so many calls each day from people wanting information on opening. Now we have something to offer."
The decision to open follows a busy week of completing all the last minute projects on the mountain, the annual pre-opening lift inspection by key members of the United States Forest Service and insurance company personnel, as well as a full day of training for incoming and returning staff for the 2016/17season. Part of the pre-opening exercises is a lift evacuation, held last Saturday. White Pine Ski Patrol plus local emergency services, Tip Top Search and Rescue (TTSR), United Fire Department and EMS all come and take part so they are prepared if called upon to assist in the unlikely event of a malfunction or breakdown with skiers on both lifts.
As to predictions for a mountain opening, "we keep an eye on the NOAA website each day," stated Scott "this week looks promising with a storm approaching from the Pacific, and Winter Weather Advisories in effect for the Western Mountains in the early part of the week. Snowfall in mid-October, with over 15" on the top of the mountain, had our expectations high for an early season opening, however an unseasonably warm November has meant it is too early to predict". White Pine relies on "snowfall from Heaven" and has no snow making facilities.
This winter, White Pine has shifted the 4 day weekly operation to Friday through Monday. There are a number of Federal holidays and school ‘in-service teacher training days’ on Mondays, leading White Pine owner Alan Blackburn to make the change for this season. "We had so many calls last winter from parents wanting to send children skiing on Mondays, that we felt it was a logical move in response to customer requests," said Blackburn. "We will continue our tradition to open daily for 18 days through the school Christmas break from Friday December 16th to Monday January 2nd".
As well as the tubing hill opening this Friday, Saturday, White Pine will open the Grill on the main floor and Waggon & Horses Bar on the upper floor.
Following snowfall Monday, the owners of White Pine have decided to open Little Spirit lift for the season on Friday December 2nd from 9am-4pm.
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