We are in COUNTDOWN.......

Weather has been pretty cooperative the last couple days and nights so we have made a LOT of snow.........pretty cool to see the white trails as you travel highway 30......

.......did a marathon snow push Monday and Monday night........so Abby's Alley, Carter's Crossing and School Yard are 98% ready...........meaning all we have to do is a final groom on these trails.......then on Tuesday we pushed out all the snow on the Freeway......and with the snow made last night........which I have not seen......there will be enough to open it as well.......and I think Friday morning we can PROBABLY get some of the Rail Yard open too........

.....had problems with the PB240 fuel system Monday night so I switched to the PB260 to finish pushing and grooming..........yep.......it definitely has more horsepower........which comes in real handy when you are pushing a twenty foot pile of snow up a 70% grade.........love it........ps......did get the 240 running again......thanks to Kris........

.......got some hoodies and long sleeve T's in, lots of retail stuff came in too.......and we got a couple pair of red or black sweats in with Seven Oaks printed on the rear end........just to see if anyone likes them.......or not.........

......last weeks FAF was a good time........WOW......what a bonfire the team put together for the sacrafice........and Frost did a great job with the "reading" during the event.........

......I promise I will get some pics on the next post......

......did I tell you what a rush it is to start pushing pile after pile of pure white snow that is piled about fourteen feet deep.........it is great.......

Joel and Ken held the food service team training Monday night........what a great group we have ready to serve you this winter.........

.....just wait til you see the changes we made to the RENTAL SHOP........even I can't believe it is the same place........and the new rental equipment is awesome.........

......So let the countdown begin.........two and one half men..........no ........two and one half days and we will open for the season........2010-2011.........we will do all we can to give you the best conditions possible........

......oh yeah,,,,,,,make sure you tell Ken you like his new ride........

Quick update

Yep, we were able to make snow all day Thursday.....Thanksgiving Day.......and Thursday night.......BUT then the temps rose and stayed too high......preventing any snowmaking on Friday and Friday night and Saturday and Saturday night and Sunday and looks like too warm tonight again........

......that's pretty normal for November.........pretty spotty on the snowmaking........but with what we did run for hours we have a lot of snow..........one more good night and the schoolyard will have enough.........probably two good nights and abby's alley will be very close to having enough......

......looking at the forecast we have some nights that the guns should run full on.........however there are also predicted lows that while we can make snow we will be throttled back to about 50% of full capacity.........

......but we WILL get there........don't count on this blog entry as date certain but if I were to guess right now, I would say we will open Friday December 10........but stay tuned........and we will certainly send out an eblast when we are sure........

.......got some new long sleeve T's and hoodies in stock..........more coming.......

.....have employee training this afternoon.........takes us about 5 hours of classroom and hands on to cross train all the outdoor winter employees......... it is thorough and detailed......but for the new team members it is a lot to absorb.......

.....have Friday after Five this coming Friday.......don't forget the offer we gave everyone at the season pass sale day for this FAF........and we will have the second annual sacrafice of skis and snowboard to the Snow god again.........it will be fun.........

think snow.......

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......