99 Days until the Guns are Fired UP?
Jun 16, 2024
Sorry it has been such a long time since I've written a blog. I truly do apologize but I do have excuses and it's not because I've been on vacation!
- I broke my hand. Typing for the month of June was pretty much obsolete and dictation was my friend for much of my working capacity!
- July - I've been sick. And not a little sick. Really sick. Like pneumonia hospitalization style sick. Yeah it knocked me and both of my boys out for multiple weeks at a time. Poor Logan (7) spent four nights at Marshfield Children's Hospital. :( Poor little guy needed some fluids and oxygen to get him back up and running. The good nurses and doctors down there did wonderful and I'm stoked he's back at camp today.
I'm back, not 100% yet, still fighting off this illness but capable of writing so I figured I'd try to get you up to snuff on what's going on around Granite Peak as we start to gear up for 2024-2025 winter! I just happened to type in how many days to November 1st (typical snowmaking start) and it's just 99 days away!
Maintenance Continues all Summer Long
This summer we are again focused simply on winter preventative maintenance on our equipment. As soon as we closed for the winter we got right after replacing the communications line on Dasher. All lifts have your "haul rope" (carries chairs) as well as that center line (communications). This is the electric line that as the term outlines communicates from the top to the bottom and takes in information from sensors on towers to safely operate our chairlifts. Over time and due to wildlife these lines do need attention. Last year we did extensive work to Comet & Blitzen and this year Dasher was on our list. This work was done by the time April concluded (actually an easier process to do with some snow on the ground).
Other annual projects include track work to our groomers, snowmaking maintenance (oil changes, nozzle and hose inspection, electrical inspection) and snowmobile maintenance. Just like your car these pieces of equipment need routine check ups and annual maintenance to continuously provide the conditions you expect from us.
We are also repurposing a ton of asphalt gravel that is coming out of the Walmart parking lot. This material really helps with erosion on our mountain roads, dirt parking lots, and other areas like our shop. We were simply lucky to be asked if we wanted it and we are taking advantage of it daily.
Supporting Snowriver & Shooting Arrows
A bunch of us are headed up to our sister resort Snowriver Mountain Resort next week for the Total Archery Challenge event, August 1 - 3, 2024! I'm really excited to work on a big event again. It has been a little while for this guy to work on a weekend long festival and I love them. I think I'm most excited to see these shooters and the equipment they have. I am not big into hunting, never have but archery I do find quite interesting. These bow set ups, much like your skis or boards, are pieces of art. We're expecting nearly 1000 shooters to ascend to the UP for a three day non-competitive shoot. Yeah it's not a competition this is purely for fun. 3D targets will be set up all over both Jackson Creek and Black River Basin with shooters attempting to hit them from multiple distances. A huge festival village will be set up in the Jackson Creek Summit area along with a cool practice range and we're bringing in some live music in the evening too.
I hope to get my hands on a bow and try my luck at hitting a few targets at the practice range. I think this is something I could get into and I'm hoping to get my kids up for Saturday's event as well. All the details can be found at https://totalarcherychallenge.com/
Season Passes
Season Passes arrived at Granite Peak yesterday! Starting in August we are going to begin the printing process! I know last year was a little bit of a struggle due to shipments coming late so we were really happy to see these on our door step in July! Remember waivers and photos always need to be updated to the upcoming current season before we can mail them!
Sad News & Condolences
Our summer has had some losses unfortunately.
Memorial Day we lost a legend in the making in Quinn Clarke. You may have remembered Quinn as he worked in our rental and food & beverage department. This young man always had a smile on his face, helped out wherever he was needed without question and provided exemplary service to guests and staff alike. Quinn will be very missed not only here at Granite Peak but in our community as he also excelled as a Lacrosse Coach for a club team and over at DC Everest. RIP Quinn hope you'll watch over us from above buddy.
Many on social media probably saw that our beloved mouse killer and shop cat, Tiller, went missing in May. Unfortunately she never returned and we will have to assume that she has moved on over the rainbow. My k9 companion Bear, who spent much of his life up at the mountain also passed away around Memorial Day. We still are not sure what happened to our four legged big boy but we know he brought joy to our family and many others. He was a beautiful soul and will never be forgotten by this GM.
Give Hugs & Have Fun
Life is something to cherish and I am blessed that I have two wonderful kids, an awesome wife and our one year old pup - Copper - is now the master of the house. I'm going to be sure to give these four all the love I can as much as possible! As soon as I get over this never ending illness.
Be Safe. Be Well. And I'll see you soon!
Greg