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April snow extends ski season

| 10 Apr 2018 | 02:55
    Mountain Creek die-hard riders and skiers toast an April Fool’s snow storm surprise and thank the MC Management for remaining open on April 2nd on the deck of the Kink’s Restaurant. L to R Front Heather, son John, Lori, Mellissa. Back Row: Ryan, John, Buffy, Aaron, and Jacob
    Mountain Creek die-hard riders and skiers toast an April Fool’s snow storm surprise and thank the MC Management for remaining open on April 2nd on the deck of the Kink’s Restaurant. L to R Front Heather, son John, Lori, Mellissa. Back Row: Ryan, John, Buffy, Aaron, and Jacob
    April Fool’s Day & Easter Sunday celebrated by at Mountain Creek riders and skiers John, Andres, Buffy Whiting, Rich Calak, Lift Operator Jim and John Whiting on the way to the Bear Peak Ski Lift
    April Fool’s Day & Easter Sunday celebrated by at Mountain Creek riders and skiers John, Andres, Buffy Whiting, Rich Calak, Lift Operator Jim and John Whiting on the way to the Bear Peak Ski Lift

VERNON — It seemed like the 2018 ski season was over in February when 70 degree weather almost ended the ski season prematurely.
However this ski season it seems that Mother Nature is having fun playing tricks on skiers and riders by dumping nearly 45 inches of snow on Sussex County in March. Her tricks did not change with the arrival of April with when she dumped another 7 inches of snow on Mountain Creek late April Fool’s Day to cause the Resort’s management to abort their plan to close Mountain Creek for the week and extend the season for one more day on Monday.
Could it be that Mother Nature was influenced by the group of skiers that gathered at the top of the Cabriolet Lift on Vernon Peak for an April 1 Easter Sunday Service held by Ski Instructor Jim who more than likely prayed for snow to extend the season. If so their prayers were answered.
After a couple of short ski seasons, the April Fool’s snow storm caused the resort to extend the season and remain open for 105 days, so far, offering the regular die-hard skiers, Buffy and John Whiting to record 102 days on snow, just two short of their record 104 days set in the 2015 season. Snowboarding buddy Ryan Mastrianni was able to join the “100 Days Club” by recording 101 days riding at Mountain Creek on April 2.
As has been the custom, Mountain Creek’s die hard skiers gathered on the deck of Kink’s restaurant to toast another great day of skiing, the Mountain Creek Management for making the most of Mother Nature’s gift of snow and what may be the last day of the ski season.
To cap off an extraordinary ski season, Mother Nature provided visitors with the opportunity for a rare recreational experience, to “ski and tee” on the same day. With the end of the ski season comes the golf season. With this year’s unusual weather pattern an unusual opportunity surfaced, the opportunity to ski on the slopes of Mountain Creek then play golf at the Resort’s Great Gorge Country Club on the same day.
— Story and photos courtesy John Whiting