KIDDER TOWNSHIP, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The start of December was a cold and snowy one with Mother Nature helping some ski resorts open up early.
Snow packed down on the ground early Monday at Jack Frost Ski Resort in Carbon County, a telltale sign that the season is finally here.
“The team was prepared, they were ready. They had all their equipment and everything ready to go so when that cold snap did come, we’re able to fire the guns up,” said Tony Santora, general manager, of Jack Frost/Big Boulder.
Santora walked us through the rental shop at the resort saying they were able to be the first slopes open in all of Pennsylvania last week thanks to the recent snow storms.
“All that snow melted, but that’s ok for us because it actually put water into our snowmaking system and allowed us to take advantage of the cold weather that came about a week later,” said Santora.
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Skiers and snowboarders broke in the six slopes open so far this season.
Santora says warmer weather and rain in the forecast this week are not too concerning, as they prepare and plan for it in the offseason.
“We live in Pennsylvania, it’s going to get cold so when it does we just take advantage of that. Get good snow out there, that way when it gets a little warm, it’s not too bad,” said Santora.
Recent mild winters have Santora and his team welcoming in any cold weather they can get and are fortunate they got enough to also open up the slopes at Big Boulder this week.
Big Boulder is opening up on Friday afternoon.
“We’ve made a ton of good snow over there so opening that up on Friday, it’s going to be a really good product out there. Groomers are out there right now pushing everything out to get it ready for the week,” said Santora.
Big Boulder's opening day will kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday. Lift tickets are interchangeable at both Jack Frost and Big Boulder.
