How much snow depth do they need to open anything? Big D? Summit Poma? Upper Playground? These are usually the 3 first. What's the likelihood that anything will be open this weekend?
These are generally the first 3 they open to cover their Snow guarantee : Big D Summit Poma Upper Playground Although to my mind, calling the Summit Poma a run is a bit like calling the magic carpet a run. Blue Ribbon is generally the last (but not always). The Orchard needs the creek to freeze before it can open (I believe). I'm hearing they got ~20 centimetres in last 24hrs, can anyone confirm?
Looking promising if this weather holds. http://www.mthotham.com.au/all-abou...hotham.ski.com.au/cams/hotham-snakegully1.jpg
Summit can open on a thin cover, simply because there's little vegetation to cover over. There's little snow making up there though so after this compacts, might need some more on top. Big D gets snowmaking, so good chance that the few days of snowmaking on top of the fresh will lead to a spinning bullwheel next weekend. Road Runner, 40 odd. Heavenly, 60cm. Orchard, 80cm. BR, 100cm. These are approximations and as you mentioned, few other variables which can affect the opening of an area.
Normally you need two decent falls in quick succession to open. The first will flatten the bushes down a bit, and fill in the holes. The second will make groomable cover.
Based on current guns firing, they're aiming to have the following spinning by the weekend: Dinner Plain Big D Roadrunner Village Maybe summit, but limited snowmaking so will depend on further snowfall.
I'd be stoked if they got the village open this weekend. Seems like a tall order though. Roadrunner would be pretty good though.
There's every chance of Village as they are pumping it out in Slalom Gully. It'd be also good for them to get some traffic down there to compact it all as well, makes it last better for the season.
