Stowe-W4: Lift Ops and Grooming

For the last weekend at Stowe Mountain Resort I was scheduled for lift ops Friday and grooming Saturday. This week was really low key and easy. For both day we didn't have to do much at all. Friday i was instructed to go hang out at the fixed grip triple chair lift. When i got there in the morning they were doing the scheduled E-stops and braking that must be checked before everyday. Then a ski patroller will have to sign a sheet and be the first to ride the lift to check for any problems or safety issues. After we had the lift up and running i noticed there was a huge grass spot preventing skiers and riders from riding right up to the lift. So i took action and started to shovel a threw way so customers didn't have to take there skis or snowboard off and walk to the lift. With the sun fully out and the temperature quiet high we thought the path wouldn't last past lunch but surprisingly its stayed all day. For the most part of the day i sat in a chair and just watched the chairlift go round and round. I did get to free ride a little bit as well which broke the day up very nicely. Lift ops was pretty boring and i didn't learn anything new besides to start to wear sunscreen for spring riding. 

    For Saturday we planned to drive up on our own to ride with Stowe's grooming fleet. There was a lot of patch work to be done and even a winching job. One cool thing I learned was that if you don't have an anchor in the ground for the wench you can use another groomer as an anchor. Stowe's groomer fleet is 100% Piston Bully. They have a few 400s a 600 and a park bully. They have very nice groomers. They also like to try to purchase two new and retire two every year. This keeps there machines new and efficient. Us four practicum students all paired up with a driver and sent it to the hill. The groomer i was in was focused on the lower mountain and a few steep trails. I found out that the corn snow in the spring can be some of the hardest snow to climb in. Its very slippery. The mountain was covered in bare spots so the groomers had to farm snow from different areas of the trail to even it out and make a smooth way down. The mountain is so bare id be surprised if they make it another full week. I am very interested in grooming. One of my dreams is to be a park builder and drive the newest Piston Bully Park Bully. 

 

     If I could take one important thing away from this year of practicum it would be how the ski resort business is very dependent on the weather. The weather is your biggest factor and issue as it is unpredictable.