Syracuse.com - After 'horrific winter' last year, 2 CNY ski resorts scramble to open this week

[HuntingNY-News]

Area ski resorts are working to open a limited number of slopes and lifts this week.

Two Central New York ski resorts have announced plans to open their slopes this week, barring any dramatic warm-up in the weather.

Song Mountain ski resort in Tully plans to open Wednesday at 10 a.m., and operate until 4 p.m., said Peter Harris, owner and operator of Song Mountain in Tully and Labrador Mountain in Truxton, in Cortland County.

Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Virgil plans to open Friday, although that could change if the weather warms up, said Jessica Sloma, speaking for Greek Peak and Toggenburg in Fabius, which are now jointly owned.

After the most "horrific winter" since 1965, officials at both ski resorts said they are thrilled to be open this week.

"We lost five weeks of skiing last winter,'' Sloma said. "We weren't even open on New Year's. This snowfall is definitely what we want, and we are very fortunate."

Song Mountain opened Christmas Eve in 2015, but it was in the 70s and people were skiing in T-shirts, Harris said.

Labrador and Toggenburg have not yet set an opening date, but hope to open soon, officials said. Four Seasons Golf & Ski Center said they are "very close," but not ready to open yet.

This is the earliest Central New York ski resorts have opened in some time.

"I am just tickled by all this snow,'' said Harris, who runs Song and Labrador. "We had two feet of natural snow by afternoon today, and it's still blizzarding here."

Harris said officials will decide Tuesday what lifts and trails to open.

"The ground is still warm, and there are a million things that can affect us so early in the season,'' he said. "We need it a little bit colder to make snow."

About 24 degrees is ideal for snow-making, officials said.

Greek Peak has about a foot of natural snow, and began supplementing that by making snow starting last night, Sloma said. A beginners' train and two intermediate trails are slated to open, and four to six lanes in the snow-tubing center will open.

Toggenburg is working on its slopes, but does not have an opening day yet, nor does Labrador.

Other upstate ski resorts are working to open this week as well.

Officials tell skiers to call or check the resorts' websites for updates.

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