La Niña - What Does It Mean?
Oct 21, 2024
La Niña. El Niño. Derecho. Why do all these weather terms have Spanish names? That I don't know! I do know that a La Niña winter in the Midwest has traditionally been (and is forecasted to be) a colder winter with a higher percentage of precipitation. Now this year is predicted to be a "weak" La Niña and that simply means that we'll likely be closer to an average temperature winter. And that folks is fine with me! Sure I love snow but I also love consistency. Consistency in our region is temperatures in the low 20s overnight. And that folks = snowmaking. That is something Granite Peak can champion!
Forecasts are forecasts. They are educated guesses in reality and let us not forget what was last year. Nobody predicted the warmest winter on record for Wisconsin or record low snowfalls either. Even with all of that happened last year Granite Peak was open for 115 days and hit our closing date of April 7th. A testament to our determination, staff, snowmaking and grooming teams. Nothing will change there!
Check them all out:
- Accuweather.com
- Old Farmers Almanac
- Farmers Almanac
- OpenSnow.com
- NOAA
When's Opening Day?
Since I arrived here in 2020 we have focused in on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as our opening day. It wasn't because I had a love for that day or anything. It just happened to be the date we hit the first two years and it worked into our schedule. This year that date is November 27, 2024. It's the latest it can be with Thanksgiving falling on the 28th. Given that we are going to do our best to shoot for the weekend before! Now will you see tickets available for purchase in advance for that weekend currently? No.
Why? - I'm not going to rush it. Keep in mind that if we are to open on say that Saturday the 23rd that would eliminate two days of snowmaking if we were to open on the 27th. We want our opening day conditions to feature multiple runs with tree line to tree line conditions. Only time will tell but I'm always a glass half full kind of guy and know we have the best snowmaking team in the Midwest to do everything we can to get you skiing and riding as quickly as we can!
Early Season Hours
As you can imagine, opening day doesn’t just happen overnight—it’s a carefully orchestrated process that unfolds throughout December as we work our way across the main face of the ski area and into our East and eventually Western terrain. This takes time, machines, and a whole lot of hard work! Below are our anticipated hours** for the first few weeks of the season, so you can gear up and plan ahead:
- Saturday, November 23 & Sunday, November 24, 2024: 10 AM - 5 PM (Possible Bonus Weekend)
- Wednesday, November 27, 2024: 10 AM - 5 PM (Scheduled Opening Day)
- Thursday, Thanksgiving: 10 AM - 5 PM
- Friday, November 29: 9 AM - 9 PM
- Saturday, November 30: 9 AM - 9 PM
- Sunday, December 1: 9 AM - 5 PM
- Monday 12/2 - Thursday 12/5: Closed
- Friday, 12/6: Start of Daily Operations?
**All of the above, of course, is weather, snowmaking, and operationally dependent! To transition to our Daily Operations plan, we need to ensure that our snowmaking is complete in our main areas, particularly between our Blitzen and Comet chairlifts. Get ready to hit the slopes—we can’t wait to see you there!
Dynamic & Demand Based Lift Tickets
Lift tickets are flying off the shelves and have been since September! With each passing day, tickets are snapped up, and the savings you could grab are ticking away. We’ve decided to eliminate the 15% off sale until November 15th for this model, which allows for savings throughout the season but rewards those who plan ahead and visit during non-peak times with the best values!
Now, let’s break down dynamic demand-based pricing for ski lift tickets in a nutshell. This exciting pricing strategy adjusts ticket costs based on real-time demand, weather conditions, and a few other factors:
Real-Time Demand Assessment: We keep a close eye on ticket purchases at any given moment. When demand peaks—like during holidays or weekends—ticket prices will likely rise (though you’ll still find great discounts!). On the flip side, during off-peak times, prices drop! But remember, as tickets sell out, prices will increase.
Weather Conditions: If the snow is fantastic or a fresh snowfall is on the horizon, you can expect ticket prices to climb from their lowest levels!
If you buy early and choose “off-peak days,” you’ll uncover some of the lowest ticket prices available right now! Don’t miss out on your chance to hit the slopes for less!
Homecoming Saturday
Saturday, November 30th - we're going to have a big welcome back party! AKA HOMECOMING
Here's what we have going on:
- The Cranberry Jam IV - our early season rail jam featuring the our Cranberry Can jib feature at the bottom of Aspen. This fun first rail jam of the year hands out hot roasted Turkey Legs to those competitors who are showcasing some style early in the year!
- Brad Emanuel is Back - We're going to open up the Historic Chalet for drinks and our man Brad Emanuel for some fun Après ski music. Brad is slated to play 3pm - 7pm. So come on up and 3.2.1... drink with our man. (We'll start our weekly "Bradurdays" on December 21st!)
- Teton Gravity Research: Beyond the Fantasy premier in Sundance! We've teamed up with the Granite Peak Ski Team for a movie premier from the Jackson Hole based TGR Films! The show is free but donations towards our non-profit ski team will be greatly appreciated and raffle tickets will be available for some big time prizes. Stay tuned for show times and details on raffle prizes available.
THE FLEX 4-PACK
I'd be a terrible marketer if I didn’t share the exhilarating news about our newest product—the Legendary Flex 4-Pack—now available for purchase until November 15, 2024! We are thrilled to have two incredible sister resorts: Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota and Snowriver Mountain Resort in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. These giants are the largest resorts in their respective areas (yes, even bigger than us!) and boast some of the absolute best Midwest powder skiing in the region! Both properties enjoy impressive lake-effect snow each year, and with the Great Lakes' water temperatures hovering above average, we’re gearing up for some epic storms this season!
The Flex 4-Pack operates like a season pass—it’s a direct-to-lift product that puts the power in your hands! You can use it whenever you want (up to four times) at Granite Peak, Lutsen, or Snowriver. Whether you choose to hit Granite Peak for four consecutive days or mix it up with a visit to Lutsen on January 10th, Granite Peak on January 24th, and then Snowriver on February 3rd and 4th, it’s all up to you! The "Flex" ability is yours to enjoy!
We offer both adult and child 4-Packs, along with an unlimited version and one that has peak days blacked out. Get ready to seize the slopes like never before!
When Will Snowmaking Start?
Snowmaking will start when Mother Nature and Old Man Winter say so. Right now it's a little to early to tell but models and the weather people are saying that right around Halloween there is going to be a pretty strong cold front coming through the region that should usher in some colder temperatures. I think (I hope) that today (Tuesday, October 22) is the last day of temps hitting the 70 degree mark. I don't know about you but I'm a little tired of it and not to mention but the whole ladybug / Asian beetle invasion is just strange!
As I said in a post a few days ago on social media - as a parent of two boys who are figuring out Halloween outfits currently - I'm looking at warm costumes. Our treat could be a snowmaking window starting Halloween night! Fingers crossed.
I'll see you on the slopes - hopefully sooner than later! As Ronan would say #LETSGO
Greg
Granite Peak General Manager
Midwest Family Ski Resorts CMO