As the weather gets colder, many Delaware Valley skiers and snowboarders look forward to hitting the slopes this winter, especially at nearby Spring Mountain Adventures in Montgomery County.
Spring Mountain offers eight trails and four lifts along with two terrain parks, as many skiers can go not only during the day but also at night. The mountain will also rely on artificial snowmaking systems, vital to make ski areas commercially viable.
However, this winter the local mountain will debut ground-breaking snowmaking technology from Latitude 90. The system is a full-enclosed snowmaking freezer box that can make snow in temperatures as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It’s a great investment because the machine is mighty and will make more snow regardless of the weather,” Becky Fanus, a ski instructor at Spring Mountain, said.
There are very few machines like Latitude 90 in the world, and the local mountain is the very first in the Northeast region to have one. It could substantially impact a smaller ski area like Spring Mountain as winter weather in the Delaware Valley can be uncertain.
Spring Mountain is also expecting an unsurpassed turnout for the upcoming season regarding attendance for its ski school, private lessons, and overall customers.
“We think this will be a record-breaking season because last year we had a lot of natural snow, so we were able to open the mountain fairly quickly,” Fanus said. “Even when there was a lack of snow, we still had a great attendance from both kids and adults.”
Spring Mountain is currently hiring more instructors for this winter. It emphasizes having a well-trained staff to give the best quality content to its customers.
The mountain also holds an after-school program, typically four-week sessions that run for two hours.
“Sign-ups for this program started back in July and have been completely sold out since then with 150 people currently on the waiting list,” Fanus said. “The private and group lessons are also currently sold out.”
Spring Mountain is expecting big numbers as well around the major holidays and is hoping the venue will be the place to be amid the rising costs many families are facing.
“What makes Spring Mountain different from other mountains is it’s affordable and accessible as we try to keep our prices relatively the same as last year,” Fanus said.
While many Delaware Valley skiers and boarders hope for a great season this winter, so do local ski shops that supply the gear. One of those retailers is Buckman’s Ski & Snowboard Shops.
“We are hoping for and expecting a snowy winter to ensure memorable east coast skiing,” Charlie Watson, an employee at Buckman’s Exton location, said. “We are counting on the good weather to keep customers coming through our doors throughout February and March.”
At the Buckman’s Exton location, the number of customers fluctuates mainly on the time of the week, current weather, and of course, different events throughout the company.
“We are a very traditional, family-centered business that wants the best for our customers,” Watson said. “We always try to fulfill our customer’s needs, whether that is new products, new brands, helpful staff, and so much more. We will continue to operate as a customary business to ensure another successful season for the company.”
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