Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone........well, at least the snow isn't going to melt with these temps.......and a lot of you are coming everyday regardless of the temps.......

It was certainly a busy year at Seven Oaks with a new trail, larger pond, rework of the Valley View chairlift unload, lots of weddings, wedding receptions, reunions, parties in the lodge, each month's Friday after Five, canoes, kayaks and river tube floats on the river, lots of tent campers, daily mountain bike riding and the races, paintball groups, skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing.......whew.......but it was great and it was fun.

Enjoy your New Years Eve and we'll see you this weekend......

Happy and a Prosperous New Year to each of you.........

........and to my little friend Landon..........have a GREAT year........

Christmas break is half over

Well here we are rapidly approaching the end of 2009 and the traditional Christmas break is right at the half way point. We are open tomorrow from 10 am to 6 pm then friday from 10 am to 9 pm...........then normal weekend hours on saturday and sunday.

It was certainly a pretty day today to be on the snow. Sunshine, a few snowflakes and temps in the low 30's ........it just doesn't get any better.

I am told everyone really likes the big hit that was made yesterday.......and the barrels.....right Nick?

Now my little sermon..........tomorrow night is New Years Eve.........so DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! Think about it.......make some alternative plans.......and stay safe.......

See you on friday......

More snow and more snow...

Monday night the team made more snow.......getting more depth on Willet's Way and Kenzies Korner and Central Park...........plus more on the Drop Zone. After shutting down the guns this morning and a full groom, more features were put in the park including a much larger kicker at the top.........and the "blue barrels" are back too..........

So more snow was made last night..........no snow is being made tonight.......guys need some sleep......and the temps are going to rise thru the night to reach tomorrow's expected 30 or 31 degree temps..........and..........more snow is coming from the sky tomorrow.........yippee......

Should be fantastic tomorrow........

Great crowd enjoyed winter recreation at Seven Oaks today.......in spite of the temps........Iowan's are a tough and hardy group aren't they!......

see you Wednesday.....

It was a beauuuuutiful weekend

Snow Christmas eve and Christmas day was a real blessing.........that and Joel grooming it in from 1 am to 5 am before returning home for a quick snooze and opening gifts........

Saturday was wonderful.......blue skies, calm winds........and Saturday night to get another 3 inches of powder was a real bonus.

Set up Saturday night to make snow.........and then.......

I arrived at Seven Oaks to find Joel and Kris already in the shop........been there since 1:30 am .......working on a major breakdown of the snowcat......which got fixed and running at 8 am......but wait there is more........had a snowgun tip over in the middle of the run at 2 am so it was of course shut down.........so we got the gun righted, then removed it and all the other guns from the trails.......then started grooming........ready to open at 11.......

I sure am in no position to make any negative comments about the snowgun as I have done it twice in the past couple years myself......ooops! :)

that is not an everyday start.........thank goodness........but it can happen.......and does.......but our job is to keep it behind the scenes and ready to welcome you to Seven Oaks. Thanks to a great staff at Seven Oaks.......we got thru a rough start by everybody doing their thing and getting all the issues addressed.

What a great group we have at Seven Oaks.......and to hear it again and again from people who I don't even know.......saying great tubing staff.......great ski and snowboard instructors......such a helpful bunch operating the lifts and in rental.....the food service group always has a smile......your ticket people sure know what is going on and are so patient......really..we do hear it a lot......and ......it warms the heart.....

Sunday was also beautiful on the slopes........

gotta go........

Post Christmas Blues......

It is the day after Christmas and we definitely have sunshine and blue skies at Seven Oaks this morning. Now and again we get a couple of snowflakes drifting down to add to the approximate 8 inches we received on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Here is a peek down Elwoods Hideout......

Your view after getting off Valley View chairlift and looking north west.....We are going to make more snow on Kenzies Korner and Central Park tonight.....

The top of Abbys Alley....

Got everything groomed.......left some powder on the sides.......

So if you have the Christmas blues come on out to Seven Oaks for some of our blue sky riding, tubing and skiing today.......

It is a tough call....but closed Wednesday Dec 23

After all these years in the business, it is still always a tough call to make.......but we decided to CLOSE SEVEN OAKS ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23.

Of course we were already scheduled to be closed Thursday and Friday........Christmas Eve day and Christmas day.

We will open for business Saturday morning December 26......

Tried to make snow Sunday night and again Monday night but it was too warm and too humid.

We don't want employees or patrons risking ice covered roads tomorrow and nobody wants to play or work all day in the rain or sleet so that was the logic we used to make the decision to close.

School on site today and were right on schedule for a day of skiing. Beautiful for them.

Weather forecast for Wednesday and Thursday appears to give us every form of precip other than what we want..........only on Friday does the forecast show snow statewide........

we'll be ready for Saturday.......

later......

Great weekend...

Good attendance Friday night and Saturday.......and the Late Nite too........ DJ had the music cranked last night........and a new Red Bull fire barrel was broken in.......cool laser cut sides....

Got in the groomer at 5:15 this morning .......yep that's AM.....to start getting everything turned to cordouroy again.......hardly needed it.......snow was awesome.......then the snow started coming down and talk about tough to see.....it was.........but we managed and it was really a beautiful snow......ended with about an inch.

Weather forecast looks really favorable for making snow at night and skiing/riding during the day. Remember we are closed Monday and Tuesday but open Wednesday this week from 10 am to 6 pm...........then it is time for Christmas and families......so we are closed Thursday and Friday....Christmas eve day and Christmas Day.............looks like snow Wednesday and Thursday........pretty significant accumulations.........with wind........makes traveling horrible those two very popular days but should make skiing and riding on Saturday after Christmas unbelievably good.......We will reopen Saturday December 26 at 10 am !

First school here Tuesday......

Making snow tonight for sure.......... last runs to open is Central Park and Kenzies Korner so we will focus on those.......

As I write this I keep looking outside to see a steady stream of people coming to PLAY ON THE SNOW today.....

later........

News Flash

Elwood's Hideout is now open......

Late Nite tonight......

End of story......

Holiday Schedule coming right up

This entry is a quick attempt to make everyone aware of the days we open and closed and the hours we are operating on the days we open during the holiday stretch.........which is coming right up...... this time period we have more changes than any other time so pay close attention, write it down, put it on the fridge, check our web, give us a call or whatever you feel you need to do to remember................here they are.......


Wednesday, December 23, 2009 10 am - 6 pm

Thursday, December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve Day Closed

Friday, December 25, 2009 Christmas Day Closed

Saturday December 26, 2009 regular hours

Sunday, December 27, 2009 regular hours

Monday, December 28, 2009 10 am - 6 pm

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 10 am - 6 pm

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10 am - 6 pm

Thursday, December 31, 2009 New Year's Eve 10 am - 6 pm

Friday, January 1, 2010 New Year's Day 10 am - 9 pm

It is Thursday and here is the upbeat update

Snow tubing was finished today and ready for Friday Night tubers.

Most of the snow on the Drop Zone has been pushed out and more will be made on that trail tonight........ready for features at the bottom to be set tomorrow and ready to use tomorrow night.

A significant amount of snow exists on Elwoods Hideout and more will be made there tonight also. We will push out the snow on Elwoods and groom it Friday night so it can be used starting Saturday......

The Freeway was widened some this week since last Sunday.....

That only leaves Central Park and Kenzies Korner to finish and the temps look very favorable to do just that in the next few days......

Saturday night is Late Nite !!!

see you friday night.......

weekend two coming up

Temps caused a snowmaking shutdown mid morning yesterday.........we'll more than likely resume snowmaking tonight.

In the meantime, guns were relocated and snow had to be pushed and groomed. Last update I had was that tubing was getting close to being completed.........then the groomer was moving to drop zone for friday night.

come on friday..........

update

Started making snow again Monday morning.......cold.......great snow...........great as in volume and great as in powder.............looks like we will move some guns off tubing after lunch today and get snow started on Elwoods Hideout and move some of them to join the four already on the Drop Zone.........they will stay there all day and tonight too.........gonna go DEEP on the Drop Zone so we have lots of snow for the features..

......and just think it all started less than two weeks ago looking like this......

........so that's it for the update........remember tubing will be open Friday night........

oooooooooops........wrong tube pic..........this one was from last August........I mean Snow Tubing will open Friday night...........

And remember we have the first Late Nite this coming Saturday Night.

Seven Kids at Seven Oaks

First time all seven grandkids were skiing and riding on the same day and at the same time at Seven Oaks....on Saturday....took 40 minutes to round them up off the slopes and get them all to stop for a quick photo.......geez!

I think it is great that they are all starting so young........age two is a good time to begin learning the sport for life.......same age all my kids started learning.......remember that kids five and younger ski free (one for one) when we are open.......and on Sunday we make that age eight and younger........one for one.........so get those kids off the computer and come teach them to ski.......or let us give them a free mini lesson........

Also had a friend of my son bring his six year old out Sunday for a quick ski trip on his BIRTHDAY.........so I gave them a quick ride in the snow cat when I was pushing snow on the tubing hill......I think that will give Aiden a story to share in school Monday.....

Snow making should be great this week.......can't wait to get back on it........but every trail we open is more time in the groomer.......every day for the rest of the season. .........we groom every day.........to give you the best conditions possible.......

Day three of this season

Snow groomed beautifully this morning. Rebuilt the landing off the box last night and changed up the unload on Valley View last night when we closed so it would freeze in....then groomed at 8 this morning. Busy day yesterday and starting off good today as well. Just got out of the groomer again after pushing out the four HUGE piles of snow at tubing and the decent pile at the bottom of drop zone. Fun....

Temps look great for snowmaking every night this coming week. Little doubt on drop zone and tubing being ready friday night. Also trying to have Elwoods Hideout ready too.......but we will have to see how all the snowmaking goes.

Corporate Christmas party in the lodge one night this week, then two smaller gigs as well.....but the snow must go on.....

remember the first Late Nite is this coming Saturday night.

later

Another one behind us

Another opening day is behind us and it was GOOD. A lot of winter enthusiasts were here last night and all were anxious to get on the snow. Staff was clicking right along to get all those last minute items addressed before we opened the doors and it went off like clockwork. I ran out of time to get all the snow pushed at the top of the Freeway ........so we went into grooming only. There is an incredible pile of snow at the very top of the trail. The trails open this season are the most we have ever had open on our first day.

Snow guns have been running on snowtubing and Drop zone. The bottom half of drop zone is covered and now the steep and most difficult part will be covered......and it started last night. I certainly expect by next friday the drop zone will be open with features and at least one jump. .....and of course the Cyclone Chair will also be running.... Tubing should also be open next friday.

Did you see the forecast? Nice temps this weekend and then Monday night it drops into single digits.........good snowmaking.......then for the weekend we get warm again........kinda like we ordered it......AND DON'T FORGET OUR FIRST LATE NITE IS NEXT SATURDAY.....DECEMBER 19

Got several new pieces of Seven Oaks clothing in yesterday too. Several are already sporting the new look....and the neon stuff is really bright.

Had a big box and one rail set up for last night and I actually got to witness the first rider of the season on the box and the first fall off the box as well........same person!

Met a guy last night that has the same name as our newest trail "Elwood's Hideout"......what a small world.

Riders.......at the unload of the Valley View make sure you move to the side to strap in.........don't want you to get nailed by more coming off the chair behind you.

gotta get to work.......

a lot of comments......from you........from me

Where to start?? The snow and the WIND have stopped and things are settling down. Seven Oaks got about 12 inches between Tuesday night and Wednesday. I was laughing as I was thinking next year we may only sacrafice the skis to the snow gods in December and save the snowboard for early January. Wow, it was quite the storm wasn't it. Wonderful fresh snow but the wind was nasty.

As is probably the case in your yard, the wind made the snow drift..........no snow on the ground in one place and move over a couple feet and it is piled high. Well the same is true at Seven Oaks on the trails that we did not already have covered with snow.

Snowguns are being turned on within the hour and will run all day today and all night tonight. Our emphasis is on the Freeway..........cause Abbys Alley and Schoolyard have plenty of snow right now. We will not have drop zone, kenzies korner, central park or elwoods hideout open tomorrow .......

We do plan on putting a couple of the smaller features out for Friday opening........we must remember two things.........we have to share the trails that are open .......and you need to start small..........but it won't take too long to get the other trails open and the full park in full swing.

Opening tomorrow.......Friday December 11..........at 4 pm and going til 9 pm........then open all day normal hours on saturday and sunday.....

I will post on the blog our Holiday hours and schedule in a couple of days........

We will also be letting you know when some of the Barnstormers are going to be on site for signing autographs.........and snowboarding.......

gotta go.........think snow.........be safe........see you Friday......

more snow

• shutdown snowmaking early a.m. today
• snow has fallen from the sky all day and still coming
• snowmaking pond is refilling with water
• groomer is on the snow blending in the new snow and trying to keep it from flying to DSM when the wind picks up in a couple hours
• plan as of now is to make snow again starting tomorrow night.
• as soon as I know the plans for rails and boxes on friday night I will post the plans here...so stay tuned.

last I saw Seven Oaks was in the 12 inch or more zone for today/tonight.

Did you know we lay down a minimum of 12" of snow to operate the snow groomer? takes a lot to keep the tracks out of the dirt and grass below.

later..........

a couple pics just after dark last night

All the Areco snowguns have been moved and aligned along the west side of the trail called Freeway........temps were not real cold yet so the guns are producing at about 50%......but as the temperatures continue to fall, the water flow is increased.......more snow.......more snow.....


And this picture is of one snowmachine still on the School Yard last night putting the finishing touches to the snow depth there.......

more later........be careful today......

Sacrifice to Snow Gods really works.......with pics

You know on friday night we had the first annual sacrifice of snowboard and skis to the snow gods to the bonfire (Frost did a great job with his poem by the way) .......and geez it must have paid off.......it must really work......it must be real.......cause we got a 2"snow fall last night, cold temps last night so we could make snow and thru all day today so we could make snow and still blowing tonite........and what - - 8 to 12 inches coming tomorrow and Wednesday morning.......

Here are a couple pics taken today

this one taken standing out the door of the rental building looking at School Yard........

this one looking from the lodge south at Abbys Alley....this trail had one to three feet of snow before we blew last night, today and the 2" we got from the sky.......

this one looking at the untouched pile of snow on Central Park.........nope .....sorry Seven Oaks fans, the Central Park trail won't be open this weekend.....but I have to remind you these pics were taken today December 7 and on Saturday November 29 it was 60 DEGREES.......

this one looking at Twigg........one of the sleep deprived snowmakers flexing his muscles on top of the gigantic pile of snow........pride........pure pride.......

ready or not here we come FRIDAY......see you there..........but remember the slope style......start small.......get in shape first after a long snowless spring, summer and fall.......

until later.......

sorry no pics but......

i do have some pretty good news. Just finished a whirlwind weekend at Seven Oaks. Friday night was our FAF with the bonfire and the sacrafices........first annual........and the snowmaking was in progress the entire time.

then the fun........started warming pretty early Saturday morning so we shut down the snowmaking and started to address a couple......no make that three.......snow making system problems..........

twelve hours later, three holes later, three repairs later......we were done spending the day in the mud and ready to restart the snowmaking which we did.

I spent saturday night pushing snow on abbys alley.......it had a monster twelve foot pile in it at the middle of the bend........it was awesome pushing it out . Then today i pushed out last night's snow and started grooming. Also pushed out the snow at school yard.

at this time I would say abbys alley is 95% ready and school yard is 60% ready. Both should have enough snow when tonight is over........then the guns are all moving to the freeway.

so right now it looks like (about 99% certain) we will open for the season of 2009-10 on Friday DEcember 11.....we want abbys and the freeway and school yard available to use friday night........so keep checking.........and i will keep posting. setting or rails is up to Joel and Ken........so at this time I am clueless but will try to update when I know "the plan". Then next week we will focus on the snow tubing hill.

hard to believe that seven days ago it was 60 degrees!

get the equipment tuned up cause it is getting closer by the hour.......and we are pumped........and tired so I am going to get some sleep......

another update

Just got an update on last nights snowmaking. Started at 5 pm.......by 11 pm all guns were running maximum snowmaking.........I am told the difference in the past 12 hours is huge.......we will keep pounding away.........takes about 100 hours minimum to get enough to open some runs.....

don't forget to come to FAF, bonfire, live music.......and more.

oh yeah, did you see the forecast for Tuesday.......will the major snow hit us or just southern Iowa.........it would be fine with me if it targeted Seven Oaks........

I am greedy........want more

I know I am not the only one wanting more snow.......did get a good flurry this afternoon that got the streets and sidewalks white.......and guess what.......

It is 5 pm on Thursday, December 3 and the SNOW GUNS ARE BACK ON AS THE TEMPS HAVE DROPPED..........will try to get more pics in the morning for all of you.

Go big or Go home..........

Yep, the game is ON

Here are photos taken over the first 10 hours of snowmaking starting last night........enjoy!

At the schoolyard......


At the base of Cyclone chairlift......

At the crack of dawn........

All that is SNOW>>>>>>>sweet sweet snow.....

Getting some depth.......this pile is about two feet deep......

More will be made tonight......and maybe all day tomorrow if the temps stay down.......remember Friday after Five tomorrow night.........with the ski and snowboard sacrifice made to the snowgods at our bonfire.......

Yep, it's snowing at Seven Oaks

Just checked. Temp is 25 and the snow is blowing at Seven Oaks. Will report in the morning to you again.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..........well, at Seven Oaks it is.

Drop baby drop

It is 5 pm and the temps have slowly dropped to 31 degrees. Pretty good amount of cloud cover probably means it will be a slow drop tonight.....but rest assured all the guns are in placed and hooked up, more staff arrives at 6 and again at 8 pm so we will be ready to throw the switch when it gets right at 26 degrees....... WE ARE EXITED!

F*I*N*A*L*L*Y

Finally it looks like tonight is the night.......cold enough to blow snow.........and while it may not get way down there for temps.......it does appear everyone agrees it will be cold enough tonight.......and it does appear that everyone's forecast agrees there will be several nights of snowmaking temps.......in a row..........let's go get 'em........

Joel and Steve and Marty and Twigg and Bob.......are all ready to spend time making the trails white ...........and Rick is ready to spend time in the groomer.........I need my groomer seat time fix.......been months now you know.......

We will keep you posted on our blog, on our phone answering service, on facebook and soon on the home page of our web.........

"At Seven Oaks we start each season with a single snowflake and end with a thousand memories"..........come make your memory at Seven Oaks soon.