| 3/14/2009 | Ahhh, spring is definitely in the air but that doesn't mean the season is over. Keep the clubs in the garage, the bikes on their storage hooks and the rakes and shovels in the shed for another week and get out and enjoy some great spring conditions.
I was out mid-morning yesterday and the snow was perfect spring corn that had the magical ability to make me look like I know what I am doing on a snowboard.
Today offers up the great combination of $25 tickets, sunny skies and great spring conditions. Combine that with our Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday and Pond Skimming on Sunday and I can’t think of a better place to spend the weekend.
Don't forget about the March Madness Ski and Stay specials. Take a night next week and come enjoy the empty slopes midweek!
Mark |
| 3/4/2009 | As we approach the end of the snowmaking season it seems the team has saved their best for last. Over the past two nights they have put out some incredible snow.
If you have any control over your schedule I suggest you get here today or tomorrow and enjoy the best snow of the season.
One warning, there are some pretty big piles out there so be prepared to deal with some terrain variations but it is well worth it!
See you on the slopes!
Mark |
| 2/22/2009 | All season long we have been stressing to our team that the little things are what make all the difference.
Last Thursday, and again today, I realized that the little things we have no control over can make a lot of difference too.
Our weather is usually colder than Philly and the suburbs and we can, and often do, get snow when Philly is getting rain or slop.
Today and last Thursday our slight elevation difference between the immediate surrounding areas made all the difference and, while we received rain at my house a mere 7 miles to the north, we got a nice blanket of new snow on the trails.
I am not suggesting that you should bring supplemental oxygen for your next visit, but if it is borderline weather where you are don't write off the day, check our website to see if you are missing some great conditions. Just be sure to wax up before hitting the snow!
Mark |
| 2/21/2009 | Fresh made snow and bright blue skies! What more can I say, it is a perfect day to be at Bear Creek.
We have snow in the forecast tonight and tomorrow so conditions should be great all weekend and through early next week. Tomorrow's snow is supposed to be a bit on the wet side so wax up tonight so you aren't sticking tomorrow!
Snowmaking will continue through the early part of the week as conditions allow.
Mark |
| 2/13/2009 | It looks like the mid-winter appearance of Spring is behind us and the forecast for the coming week holds some much more normal temperatures.
Snowmaking resumes tonight and we anticipate being able to make snow every night through Monday.
The new snow will put a nice fresh coating on our deep base making for excellent conditions.
See you on the slopes!
Mark |
| 1/31/2009 | Consistently cold weather and some natural snow have allowed our snowmakers and groomers to provide some of the best conditions in recent memory.
Today should provide crisp, mid-winter skiing and riding and tomorrow will offer a hint of Spring on the first day of February.
For those of you with die hard football fans in the family, we have you covered. We are showing the game on our 15’ screen in the ballroom and 11 other TV’s throughout the facility. While they are in the lodge enjoying the game, spend the day enjoying the traditionally uncrowded Super Bowl Sunday slopes!
Mark
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| 1/24/2009 | It has been quite some time since we have had such a prolonged period of great weather and even better conditions. Mother Nature has been smiling on us and our snowmakers and groomers have been basking in the glow and seizing their time to shine.
I have, at one point or another, done just about every job there is to do at a resort. Grooming and lift maintenance were the two biggies left untackled on the to do list.
I am somewhat mechanically inclined but I learned long ago that electricity and electrical devices are beyond my comprehension so it is safe to say that the lift maintenance crew doesn’t let me near anything they are responsible for and, for that, you should all be grateful.
Three seasons ago, I decided grooming would be the next item to cross off my to do list so I hopped in a Bombardier 275 with one of our poor groomers and began my training. As some of you may have seen in the Photo of the Day, we purchased a new Pisten Bully 400 groomer a few weeks ago to replace an ailing Bombardier 275’s. I had become relatively comfortable, but far from proficient, in the 275 but with the transition of our fleet toward Pisten Bully’s, it became inevitable that I would need to learn to drive the new machines.
Last night I ventured out with Bob Hipp, one of our terrain park groomers, to learn the intricacies of the PB 400. After spending 45 minutes learning the controls and watching Bob masterfully push piles and lay down corduroy within inches of machine destroying rails and light poles, it was time for me to take over the sticks.
Driving a groomer is fairly simple, add in the tiller and it becomes quite a bit more difficult. Throw in the blade and a wannabe groomer can get themselves into trouble pretty quickly. Last season, I had raised my level in the 275 to the point I could use the blade to push small piles of snow and cover up bare spots and more importantly, my own mistakes.
The Pisten Bully is a far different animal than the forgiving 275. The 400 has more power and a much more aggressive blade. After a few passes tilling up and down Kodiak, I decided I was ready to put the blade to use. I found myself carving out swimming pool sized holes in the snow faster than I could react and then spending far too much time trying to fill them back in. It really heightened my level of appreciation for the guys that lay down a perfect surface for us night in and night out.
Next time you are enjoying a nice smooth carve on some fresh corduroy say a silent thank you to Gerald, Jim, Andy, Bob, Alan and Dean. On the flip side, next time you ride over a rough spot and wonder what those guys must have been doing last night, you can likely thank me for that!
Mark
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| 1/16/2009 | All I can say is Wow! It is rare we get nights like last night and it always amazes me at the amount of snow we can make in such a short period of time.
I have gotten a few inquiries about the snowmaking schedule, so here is the explanation.
The snowmaking strategy during prolonged cold snaps is designed to provide the best conditions day in and day out. Freshly made snow during cold snaps maintains its quality for two to three days before it begins to deteriorate. If we made snow every night at these temperatures we would drain the ponds completely in 2 to 4 days based on their current pond levels and refresh rates. This would require us to wait 6 to 10 days before the next snowmaking window. While this produces large quantities of snow in a short period of time, it does not provide quality conditions over a long time period.
The forecast is for at least 10 nights of cold weather and we have a plan in place to utilize our water resources to their fullest potential. To do this, you will see us make snow on the coldest nights which guarantees the highest rate of conversion from liquid to solid and minimizes evaporation which maximizes production. The net result in quantity of snow produced is greater than making on the warmer nights and we end up with better conditions over a longer period of time.
Mark |
| 1/4/2009 | What a great weekend to hit the slopes. The stars have finally aligned in our favor and the weather has been very cooperative for our snowmaking team. The conditions were excellent yesterday and I would expect them to be even better today after another cold night of snowmaking.
The Eagles play today at 4:30pm. Bear Creek is a great place to be for fans and non-fans. For the fans, we have 8 big flat screens ranging from 42" to 65" for you to enjoy the game.
For the non-fans, you get to enjoy the great conditions while the fans head into the bar or head home to catch the game!
Mark |
| 12/31/2008 | Our groomer's have done a great job keeping the trails covered during this recent warm spell. Luckily, the weather swings in our favor for the next week or so and we plan to take full advantage of the New Year's gift.
Snowmaking will begin tonight around 9pm. With a forecast low of 15F, our snowmaking team will be able to really produce.
Come out today and tonight and ring in the New Year with some new snow. Come back every day to see the conditions get better and better as we make snow every night in the near future.
Mark |
| 12/26/2008 | I am constantly amazed by the ability of our snowmaking system and the snowmaking team to recover from big rain events.
Two days ago we received over an inch of rain followed by 55F temperatures and high winds through the night. The groomers worked wonders to get the hill in great shape for yesterday.
Overnight last night, the snowmakers went to work and laid down a nice fresh coating across the mountain and the groomers were able to get Sasquatch and Extreme open for the first time this season!
Mark |
| 12/25/2008 | Happy Holidays everyone!
Santa brought us a lot of rain yesterday and and through the night. The good news is we didn't lose too much snow. We will likely be able to make snow tonight and then starting again mid week next week.
The conditions should be pretty nice today and I would anticipate them to be even better tomorrow.
Mark |
| 12/23/2008 | BC Ironworks has launched a new website! Get up-to-the-minute reports about what's happening in the Bear Creek terrain parks. This page contains information about the parks, the crew, events, photos and even videos! Check out the new website at WWW.BCIRONWORKS.COM!
~Bear Creek Marketing |
| 12/21/2008 | The snowmakers and groomers really did an amazing job last night getting the trails in shape and lift mechanics and attendants have really been tested with back to back ice storms.
All their hard work is paying off. I just snuck for a few runs and was greeted with the best snow of the season so far. Grizzly and Black Bear are definitely the stand-outs with soft, silky snow edge to edge.
With single digit temperatures in the forecast tonight and tomorrow night things will only get better!
Mark
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| 12/20/2008 | So the 8" to 10" of snow never materialized yesterday but the good news is we did get a few inches of sleet and freezing rain that added to the base and, after the groomers are done with it, actually rides pretty well.
In addition, we got the guns fired up around 3am and will have some fresh made snow on top of the corduroy so today should be pretty nice.
The added bonus is we were able to make enough snow to open F lift today, a day earlier than anticipated, and tickets will still be $25 for Saturday. Sunday we go to full price so come take advantage of the bargain today.
The plan is to make snow tonight, tomorrow night, all day Monday, Monday night, possibly Tuesday and definitely Tuesday night. By the end of this stretch we should be covered edge to edge all over the mountain!
Mark |
| 12/14/2008 | After a rainy week, our snowmakers have been working around the clock since late Friday to get the slopes back in great shape. They can definitely work miracles!
After the last 38 hours of snowmaking, we anticipate opening more terrain for Monday, 12-15-08 and adding more park features. It should be a great day to be at Bear Creek!
Mark |
| 12/8/2008 | As anticipated, we had a great night of snowmaking last night and should get great production through the day today and most of the night tonight. It looks like we will have an early shutdown due to a warm front moving in with some freezing drizzle around 3am on Tuesday.
It looks like we will have to weather some rain on Wednesday but Thursday through Sunday morning looks like non-stop snowmaking. If that holds true, we should be able open up most, if not all, of the mountain by next weekend!
Brad and his team along with Dustin have done an awesome job getting the slope covered.
Mark |
| 12/7/2008 | Opening day has arrived! We have been so close for quite a while and we have all been anxious to get out on the snow and play.
Conditions look good for opening day and will only get better as the week progresses. It looks like we have snowmaking temperatures 5 out of the next 7 nights so look for more terrain to open soon! In the meantime, boot up and hit the slopes and get your season started!
Mark |
| 12/5/2008 | Brad and his team were able to make snow starting early this morning and we are going to continue through the day today and tonight. If temperatures permit, we will likely make snow tomorrow day and night, Sunday day and night and Monday day and night. We will begin making snow on the entire mountain beginning this evening around 6pm!
We anticipate having a chairlift operating tomorrow from 9AM to 3:30PM for participants in the Instructor Training Clinic only. The lift will not be available for other guests or team members.
We are planning on a 10am opening for the general public on Sunday and will operate until 10pm. We will open with Cascade, Kodiak and possibly Black Bear. We will be selling extended day lift tickets for $25.
We will offer private lessons for guests who are intermediate level or above. We will not be offering beginner lessons until we open Cub Run or Drifter. We anticipate having those trails as well as other terrain off of E and F Chairs open by mid to late week.
Rentals will be available on Sunday at regular rates.
Saturday we will still be offering the hike park and jump line from 10am to 3pm and ticket cost will be $10.
Mark |
| 12/3/2008 | Last night was marginal up until 3:30AM when we saw a nice drop in temperature and wetbulb. We stepped up production from then until 8AM when the temperatures and wetbulb began to spike and we had to shut down.
Tonight looks like it is out of the question but tomorrow night through Monday night look very good and we hope to be able to run around the clock at least one day during the period.
If everything pans out, it looks like there is a chance for a Saturday or Sunday lift opening. Either day will be the earliest opening date since the opening of the area back in 1967/68!
Expect to see snowmaking on the entire mountain beginning on Thursday night and continuing as long as weather permits.
Mark |
| 11/30/2008 | It is Sunday morning and the snow has already switched to rain here. Looking at the forecast, we are expecting a brief break from 8am until 10am or 11am followed by heavy rain. The snow has a nice glaze on it now so we have decided to keep the groomer off the snow to try and preserve what we have.
Unfortunately, that means we will not be opening the parks today.
We do plan on reopening from 3pm to 8pm.
Mark |
| 11/27/2008 | It was another disappointing night for snowmaking last night. With forecast lows between 25 and 27 and actual lows of 32 with 88% humidity we were unable to make snow.
We are currently one good night of snowmaking away from opening three trails from the top of the mountain. Looking at the forecast, there is a possibility of snowmaking on Friday and Saturday nights. When we fire up again we will begin making snow on the entire mountain.
Unfortunately, tonight's predicted lows are now up to 31F. The guys will all be checking in around 7pm to make sure nothing has changed, but it looks like they may get the night off.
Until snowmaking temperatures arrive, we will continue to operate with the hike park and tubing park jump line. The hours will be:
Friday – 10am to 3pm
Saturday – 10am to 3pm
Sunday – 10am to 3pm
Access is free for all pass holders and $10 for non-pass holders.
Food will be available in the Grille and Trail’s End Friday and Saturday. Sunday we will be opening the Mountain Eatery for the season.
Mark |
| 11/23/2008 | The hike park opens from 10am to 3pm today. There are 4 features set up in the base area. Admission is $5 for non-pass holders and free for all season pass holders.
Snowmaking went well last night and we got good production for the second night in a row. We still don't have enough snow to connect the dots from top to bottom but we will be opening the tube park line tomorrow and will have the tubing magic carpet running for access. We will also keep the hike park open in the base area. Hours and pricing will be announced later today.
Tonight looks like the last night of snowmaking for a few days. We hope that we are able to put enough snow down to open at least one trail from the top but there are still a few sizable gaps in coverage.
For those asking why the guns shut down early, with 45F to 46F water, almost as soon as the sun comes up, the majority of the water droplets blown by the guns stop freezing and we do more harm than good. If the temperature of the air was 5F to 8F colder or the water was in the mid 30'sF we would be running all day long on days like yesterday.
Mark |
| 11/21/2008 | Our low last night was 28F with 85% humidity. Needless to say, with the warm water, it was not a great scenario for snowmaking.
We will not be able to open on Saturday, but we are still hoping for Sunday. I will post tomorrow to update on the possibility of Sunday.
The rail jam is still on for tonight, so come out and take advantage of the snow we have made!
Mark |
| 11/20/2008 | I wish I had definitive news, but we did not get the production we had hoped for last night.
The predicted low of 23F never materialized and Brad and his team were left to battle it out with constantly fluctuating temperatures that were marginal at best.
As of today, we are unable to predict whether we will have enough snow to open Saturday. Tonight, Friday and Saturday nights all look very promising. We will have a definite answer regarding Saturday by tomorrow morning.
If we are unable to open Saturday, we will try to open Sunday if conditions permit.
Think really cold thoughts!
Mark |
| 11/19/2008 | We had a good night of snowmaking last night. Our temperatures fluctuated between 26F and 29F during the night and the team and system worked great. The water is still 46F so that is hurting us a bit but it should get better each night.
Good production tonight will be critical for a Saturday opening. We hope to start around 6pm this evening and go as long as we can in the morning. We do have to shut once the sun starts peaking out due to the warm water otherwise we run the risk of making a huge wet mess.
I will update again tomorrow and hopefully will be able to share some great news!
Mark |
| 11/18/2008 | Here it is November 18th and we are looking at the potential to be open by the weekend! This would shatter the previous record for earliest opening day by more than 2 weeks!
Tonight we will be making snow on Cascade (including the tubing jump line), Black Bear, Kodiak and Cub Run for the next few nights. We are using every tower gun on those trails and all our wheeled guns.
Our hope is to have a great set-up for the rail jam on Friday night and some lift serviced terrain for the weekend.
The ground has firmed up nicely and the forecast is for light winds and cold temps. The only wildcard is water temperature. It is still hovering in the high 40's so the impact of that remains to be seen.
I will post another update tomorrow after we get a feel for what kind of production we get tonight.
Mark |
| 9/08/2008 | Can you smell it? Winter is coming soon! The snow jobs are getting ready to begin, and we are all getting geared up for another great year. I hope everyone is remembering to book their groups early, we are filling up fast! Remember to check out our events page, we are always doing something at the mountain.
See you soon!
Jake Henschel, Group Sales Manager
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| 2/20/2008 | What an exciting weekend we had! But President's Week is not over yet. The mountain is beautiful, and there is snow is the forecast. The forecast for rest of February is looking to be near perfect temperatures every day. We are continuing to book groups of 15 or more into the month of March. Take advantage of this beautiful weather, the fabulous snow, and fantastic grooming at Bear Creek and book your group with us today!
See you on the slopes!
Michele Granitz, Winter Sales Manager
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| 2/15/2008 | Greetings from the rental shop. Despite the rain on Wednesday, thanks to our snowmakers and groomers, we have fabulous conditions today and the forecast for the weekend looks great.
Come on out and experience our friendly, passionate and personable staff. The rental equipment has been tuned and waxed, ready for a great turnout for the holiday. Don’t forget to stop by the Tune Shop, located in the Plaza, for our weekend special. Available Saturday, Sunday and Monday we are offering a Quick Tune Special for only $10. Quick Tune includes an edge sharpening and wax. See you this weekend!!!
Mike Long, Rental Shop Manager
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| 2/14/2008 | Being a groomer, snowmaker or mechanic at a ski resort is often a thankless task. Guests and even most employees at a resort never see or hear anything from these hard working groups. They arrive early, stay late and work through the night to make sure that our guests are greeted with running lifts and plenty of snow groomed to perfection.
I left the mountain Tuesday night in a winter wonderland. We had just received 3” of fresh snow on top of monstrous piles of snow the snowmakers had churned out over the previous two days. Conditions were perfect and the coming promised excellent riding.
Wednesday morning, when I came over the hill and got my first glimpse of the mountain, I was stunned. Overnight, 1” of ice coated everything in sight and continued to accumulate during the day. The ice was followed by nearly 2” of rain. Luckily, and I use the term loosely, the ice sealed the surface of the snow and minimized snow loss. Unfortunately, the ice is a mixed blessing. Every surface of every lift was frozen solid. Trees, now heavy with ice, were lying on every chair. There were ponds of water all over the hill making the trails impassable. In short, it was a disaster.
Overnight and through the early morning, our mountain operations team has blown snow, cleared trees, deiced lifts and groomed their hearts out. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of this crew. If you do, make sure you say hi and let them know you appreciate their hard work and the miracles they perform. If not, next time you are carving the perfect turn or enjoying the view as you ride up the lift, remember the unsung heroes and all they do to make your day at Bear Creek as enjoyable as possible.
See you out there!
Mark Schroetel
General Manager |
| 2/13/2008 | We all know how frustrating it can be to send & receive cell calls up here on the mountain. Well, before the season is out, that will all change. Bear Creek is in the process of installing an in-building cellular repeater system, and once completed, will cover all our indoor areas. We should have all the major carriers online, so no matter who you use as your cell provider, you should be covered. Look for it to go live towards the end of February or the beginning of March.
Hope to see you on the slopes,
Joe Vinsky - IT Manager |
| 2/12/2008 | Happy Valentine's Day! Celebrate the holiday by indulging in our wonderful Chocolate treatments at the Spa at Bear Creek. These services include a decedent chocolate facial, a chocolate masssage, a chocolate mousse cocoon, a chocolate scrub and a chocolate pedicure. Also be sure to stop in and try our chocolate body butter cream, a luxurious treat that smells as good as it feels! Hurry, because these services are available for a limited time only. For additional information or to make an appointment contact The Spa at (610) 641-7174.
Barbara Hare, Spa Director |
| 2/10/2008 | What a great day on the mountain! Group Sales is still taking reservations for groups who would like to plan a winter fun activity at Bear Creek. Our weekends are pretty full, but if you plan a trip for Monday through Thursday, the group leader will receive a free sasquatch card. Call Group Sales today at 610-682-7100 Ext. 350. We look forward to having your group here!
Michele Granitz, Winter Sales Manager |
| 1/28/2008 | Welcome to the new Manager's Blog! This is an area where different members of the management team will be posting updates about conditions and other things going on at the resort, so be sure to check back frequently. We'll see you on the slopes!
Mary Bortz, Marketing Director |