So, the leaves are falling, the temperatures are getting cooler, and my neighbor asks me what kind of ski season do I think we are going to have this year? I have seen the NOAA forecast, the Weather Channel forecast, and of course the Old Farmer’s Almanac ,and they all seem to say different things. I hear about another El Nino season and whatever that means is up for debate. So, when my neighbor asks me…….I simply say- ” let me consult my crystal ball and find out.” We both laugh at that one and move on.

I can tell you one thing aside from the weather. The ski seasons are changing and not all due to climate change or global warming or fickle weather systems. They are changing financially. Skiing is big corporate business now with day tickets looking to be a thing of the past. Who wants to pay $300.00 per day to ski at Deer Valley? You have to think ahead, figure out where you will ski and buy the appropriate season pass. Personally, I have an EPIC pass for skiing locally and two IKON passes for Janet and me when we go out west. You have to sign up early and get in on the early season rates. Also – the corporations who run the ski areas now want their money up front for budgeting purposes and they are willing to part with a small bit of profit to make the passes palatable in the early season. Definitely the way to go but skiing is changing. The large areas are managed locally but the steam behind them are large financial corporations who could care less about skiing culture and more about the bottom line. Just the way it is. They are responsible to shareholders who in many cases may not be skiers. We are also going to be charged for parking in a lot of areas. It is becoming more and more expensive, and you really need to manage your position in the ski world today and plan ahead. Just heard that Black Mountain up in New Hampshire will not be opening this season due to costs. Another family run ski area who struggled but lost with rising costs to run a ski area. More and more it is the big, deep pockets of corporate America who have the money to pump into the ski areas and make things happen.

You even have to plan ahead to ski at our local areas. Vail Associates are running the show now with the EPIC passes and the corporate culture is creeping into the operations. The family feel of the old days is gone and you can see decisions being made in Broomfield, Colorado that affect things here in the Laurel Highlands. I can tell you one thing, no new equipment or clothing for me this year. The skis are waxed and sharpened and ready to go. The clothing is clean and I am going to save some cash by using what I have for this coming season. Sure, I will ski locally in the rain because in the Mid- Atlantic- that’s the cards we are usually dealt. But I will continue to ski west and that planning took place in April. The big corporations know up front what the McCloskeys will be doing. And with the current scanning systems, they will also know what runs we like to ski, how many times we ski them and what our total vertical feet is at each area where we use the passes. The corporations are data geeks and love all of this information which translates to marketing- specifically aimed at Janet and me. Just the way it is folks.

So, if you are new to skiing, don’t let me discourage you. Life changes and we all have to adapt to the fact that most things are getting way more expensive. If you want to ski or like to ski, you make sacrifices to do so. You make it work. Because as I always say…..” you could get hit by a bus tomorrow.” There are no guarantees in life and really- we all should take advantage of anything that we can. Life is short. Enjoy it. Just plan ahead. The crystal ball looks a little cloudy today, but I satisfied my neighbor with my ability to be non- commital. I really don’t know what to expect. I have suggested some things to Vail Mangement and received a nice email in turn telling me that everything is on the table. They are looking at their first year and have been trying to see what the plan ahead is for the three areas that they manage and own locally. But I do know that those decisions will not be finalized by anyone here in Pa. Those decisions will be made by corporate and their think tank is a long way from Western Pa. For that matter it is a long way from most of the areas that we ski. The family run ski area and the locally managed ski areas are a thing of the past. But ………… Think snow and thanks for reading.