Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all our Seven Oaks friends a safe and happy Thanksgiving........we will be eating the traditional meal but also watching the snow guns all day as well. Got all the guns on again at midnight and are still running.........based on forecast we should run all day today and all night tonight before the temps shut us off on Friday........Yippee......and gobble gobble...........

Taken Tuesday morning after the first two hours

It's official !!

Snowmaking for the season started last night..........and are still blowing as of right now..........and away we go............

Time will tell......but

Time will tell......but the forecast would indicate that one week from today.......Monday, November 22........the evening temps should get low enough that we would start blowing SNOW......

.....Ready or not.......here we come..........

I am still here!

Yes, I know it has been a while since I posted........but been busy..........long days.........as is true with everyone else here at Seven Oaks........

......All the things on our list that we wanted to accomplish before the ski season are getting wrapped up.......

• new groomer has been completely gone through
• both approaches to the lodge doors that heave in the winter causing restricted door movement are being replaced today
• a roof over the drive terminal for snow tubing was started today
• new signs for each trail are about done
• the trail map sign has been modified to add Carters Crossing and Bella Bunny Surface Lift
• yesterday we started gutting the rental building so new counters and new shelves can be constructed over the next couple of weekends
• some of the new equipment for rental arrived Monday of this week
• canoes, kayaks, pfd's, trailers and buses have been stored for the winter
• the new rope tow is nearing completion
• a new fence has been constructed at the unload of the Valley View chairlift
• all the rental skis have been tuned up
• and a lot more.........

we are getting pumped for the upcoming season......

had what we think is our last wedding reception in the lodge for 2010........but still have a lot more bookings in the month of November........ranging from company retreats to retirement party........

and the paintball has been wildly busy the past few weeks.........cooler temps I guess........

getting ready to order winter Seven Oaks clothing too........

better keep moving or I won't be ready to drive the new snowcat when it is time!........just kidding.......I am always ready for that......

Like a Reunion and Christmas was early......

Sooooo, last Sunday was our annual Seven Oaks one day season pass sale and equipment swap and it could not have been nicer.......weather was great........the swap equipment was coming and going all day..........Waynes brought a lot of very cool new equipment to sell...........and a lot of YOU came to the event.......I couldn't help but think it was like a reunion.......having not seen so many of you since last March when we closed the season, it was good to get reaquainted......and I saw a lot of you seeing friends you have made over the years at Seven Oaks getting reaquainted as well........it was neat........and there were a lot of you that have recreated here in the past that decided it was time to get that season pass for yourselves and for your families.........

........now this next statement is going to sound like a real grandpa statement.......but.......more than any other year I was amazed at how so many of our youth season pass holders had hit their growth spurt over the summer making them almost unrecognizable now........keeping in mind I had not seen them for almost eight months.........man oh man a lot of you were tall........now I know I am not close to being the tallest guy around but when I go from seeing Katie and others that were knee high to a grasshopper last winter to looking me straight in the eye this year....well......it was somewhat shocking........

....and with regard to Christmas coming early........on Monday we took receipt of our additional groomer.......yep it is used...........starting in Deer Valley, then onto Mt Zion and most recently landing here at Seven Oaks..........but we think it is going to be so great to have two machines to lessen the likelihood of ever having a breakdown that would keep us from grooming daily and offering the best possible snow conditions............not to mention the fact that with two machines on the slopes we can cut the time any one of us have to spend in the groomer each day by half...... here are a couple of photos taken as it arrived ........

and as the Seven Oaks gang ........along with Paul who delivered it.........started the unloading process......by the end of the day it was reassembled and ready to be used..........cool....

......the 2010-11 winter season is getting closer and closer........got all the poles installed yesterday for the new rope tow.........will tune up all the rental equipment this week..........

Five and one half away........

.......yep, just five and one half days til our annual ONE DAY season pass sale and swap.......Sunday October 17 from 10 am to 5 pm........and Waynes from Mason City, we are told, will have more equipment and clothing for sale inside the lodge than ever before.........come one......come all........to this one day event.......and don't forget the Ski Patrol will be selling burgers from 11 to 3.........

......I think the fall leaf colors are maybe about as prime as they are going to get this year.........some areas the trees are already pretty bare........but then a short distance away is a wide range of oranges, reds and yellows.........probably will still be some color next Sunday......

......had ISU house parties in the lodge friday and again saturday night........some canoes and kayaks on the water every day too..........really mild temps for this time of year.......

......should know for certain tomorrow when the groomer we acquired will be here..........should be either Thursday or Friday of this week the last we heard.......but we'll firm that up with a phone call tomorrow........I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT......

......between tomorrow and Saturday we have three groups having company meetings in the lodge, one birthday party and a large wedding reception on Saturday........

.....drove down the new Carter's Crossing and again think the skiers and riders are going to like it......a lot........

......see you Sunday..........remember, those of you with season passes last winter can bring a buddy that did not have a season pass last year.......and you will both be given an additional discount......