Mountain Creek's Blog

A Sea of Pink

2012-01-22T14:00:00.006-05:00

The Tubbs Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer Snowshoe Series returned to Mountain Creek this weekend for it's fifth annual New Jersey 3k snowshoe race and 3k & 5k walks. The festivities kicked off on Friday with an evening stroll followed by hot cocoa, cookies and good company at The Appalachian.

Racers and walkers arrived to 6" of fresh snow Saturday morning, which provided perfect romping conditions and allowed many snowshoers to hit the trails for the first time this season. To say these winter enthusiasts were in their glory would be an understatement. Nearly 400 out 550 registered participants braved the storm to take a snowy step closer to ending breast cancer - the leading cause of cancer death among women.

Rompers made their way to the top of Vernon Peak by way of the Cabriolet. The spirit was vibrant as first-time and returning participants dressed in bright pink boas, tutus and winter accessories took to the slopes in memory and honor of loved ones affected by breast cancer.

Over $65,000 was raised to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey Affiliate.

Skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers can 'Paint the Mountain Pink' this weekend with a $1 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure at the Red Tail Lodge and South Lodge ticket windows.

View the complete photo gallery on our Facebook Page and check back this week for a video recap.

Winter Lives at Mountain Creek this MLK Weekend

2012-01-12T21:21:00.004-05:00

You might not have snow in your backyard, but we do...and tons of it! With more open terrain than any other ski resort in New Jersey or the Poconos, winter lives here at Mountain Creek.

This is the perfect weekend to declare your own "hit the snow" day, and get out and play! Martin Luther King Weekend promises to be a blast for outdoor adventure seekers and warm weather enthusiasts alike. From the good ol’ winter activities you grew up with to the modern accommodations and amenities at Crystal Springs Resort, we have you covered - including skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing at America’s largest snow tube park, roaring fires, convenient lodging packages, top-rated spas, the tropical Biosphere pool complex and two indoor pools, award-winning dining and hot entertainment!

Reserve Saturday and Sunday, receive 50% OFF Friday or Monday! Call 973-827-5996 Ext. 2 for reservations or book online. Promo code MLK12.

MLK Weekend Entertainment Calendar:

Thursday, January 12^th

The fun begins on Thursday at KINK with furious ping pong action and Magic Hat specials from 7 PM – 10 PM.

Friday, January 13^th

Don’t miss New England’s après ski legend Bruce Jacques, known for his comedy spoofs on groups and artists such as Guns and Roses and Britney Spears, at Schuss Friday evening from 7 PM – 10 PM. Here’s your chance to try one of our gourmet wood-fired pizzas or signature shot skis. Plus, enjoy Coors Light and Grey Goose specials.
Then, the party continues at KINK with beer pong and DJ entertainment 9PM to close.

Saturday, January 14^th

“America’s Rock & Roll Phenomenon” The Nerds perform live Saturday night at 10PM at the new Red Tail Lodge! FREE VIP admission for all Saturday night Hawks Nest dining guests. Tickets are $15 at the door (no advanced ticket sales). Sailor Jerry and Coors Light specials all night.

Sunday, January 15^th

Catch Big Blue on one of two dozen TV screens or wind down after a day on the slopes with Dave Crum as he plays acoustic covers Sunday evening from 4 PM – 7 PM at Schuss.

Call 973-827-2000 for more information or visit our Event Calendar online.

It’s a jam-packed holiday weekend of fun for all ages at New Jersey’s winter playground. We’ll see you on the mountain!

Resolve to Ski or Ride More!

2012-01-10T09:14:00.001-05:00

Make your New Year’s Resolution last all season long with Mountain Creek’s new Resolution Pack. Get 4 Anytime Lift Tickets for $139.99 – that’s direct-to-lift access, no blackout dates, no restrictions, no kidding!

PLUS, we’re throwing in 2 free snowtubing sessions at Drop Zone - America's largest snow tube park.

Purchase the Resolution Pack online or call 973-827-2000. Hurry! Offer ends January 16, 2012.

January is Learn to Ski or Snowboard Month

2012-01-10T08:59:00.000-05:00

If you’ve ever thought about learning a snowsport, now is the time to do it. January is Learn to Ski or Snowboard Month, and to celebrate, we’re offering a 2-for-1 ‘Bring a Friend’ Learn To Package complete with everything you need to get started, including a lift ticket, rental equipment and 90-minute group lesson for the crazy low price of $99.99. Valid Monday – Friday (non-holidays).

Whether you’re a first timer or advance rider, there’s always room for improvement. Our experienced and passionate instructors at the new Progression Center use terrain-assisted teaching methods guaranteed to make your on-snow experience more enjoyable and fun than ever before.

‘Experience Snowboarding’ or ‘Go Skiing’ - call 973-827-2000 for reservations.

We're Open!

2011-12-27T19:34:00.000-05:00

It's official...winter has arrived in Jersey!

Our snowmakers and groomers worked around the clock holiday weekend to open the mountain just in time for the start of holiday break. Vernon and South are operating 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with 5 trails at Vernon and 6 trails and 15 features at South. The Cabriolet, Sugar Quad, Magic Carpet and South Peak Express are providing lift service.

We'll continue to make snow at every possible opportunity and look to expand terrain quickly as we move into the new year.

Thanks to everyone who came out for opening day! We couldn't be more stoked to get the season underway!

Bring a Buddy for FREE!

2011-10-05T18:21:00.000-04:00

Snow fever has hit the Creek offices. Needless to say, we're stoked for the 2011/2012 season and you and your buddies should be, too. We're giving a FREE 'Bring a Buddy' Mid-Week Plus Lift Ticket to everyone who purchases a Season Pass before November 4th! Purchased your pass in the Spring? No problem. You're ALL eligible!

We know you LOVE us, but do you LIKE us? Join us on Facebook for the latest resort news and construction photos.

Winter Is On Its Way!

2011-10-03T09:38:00.001-04:00

West Virginia's Snowshoe Mountain, the first resort to record snowfall on the East Coast this season, received an accumulating 4" over the weekend. Needless to say, the locals were stoked.

Don't forget to purchase your Season Pass before the first snow flies at Vernon Peak and SAVE $100!

2011 World Police & Fire Games

2011-08-23T09:48:00.001-04:00

Diablo Freeride Park is proud to host the mountain bike disciplines of the 2011 World Police & Fire Games, which coincide with the ten year remembrance of September 11, 2001. The World Police & Fire Games is currently the second largest multi-sport event in the world, surpassed only by the Summer Olympics.

The World Police & Fire Games kick off in New York City on August 26th. The action comes to the mountain September 1st - 3rd, when athletes from around the world tackle the technical terrain of Diablo Freeride Park as they compete in the disciplines of Cross Country, Downhill and Giant Slalom.

Follow Diablo Freeride Park and 2011 World Police & Fire Games on Facebook for more details leading up to the most memorable sporting event the world will ever see.

Construction "Sights"

2011-07-19T11:29:00.000-04:00

It's a summer of unprecedented capital improvement projects here at the mountain, and we're excited to share the rapid changes with our riders, skiers and guests. Take a virtual tour of our construction "sights" below.

The new state-of-the-art Red Tail Lodge is taking shape.


What's missing...? The Hub! Guests will love the extra space and easy access to the Triple.

Construction is underway at the site of the new and improved Snow Tubing Center. It's going to be BIG!

The DC building has been relocated to the site of the new dedicated Learn-To Center, Ski & Snowboard School and Kids Kamp. The Learn-To terrain will also be redesigned, relocated and increased in size to better accommodate our guests.

Summertime at Mountain Creek & Crystal Springs Resort

2011-06-27T11:27:00.003-04:00

School is out, summer is heating up and a much-needed vacation is in order. Problem solved. Come chill with us! No, we're not making snow, but the mountain is open and we have something here for everyone.

During the day, get your adrenaline fix at Diablo Freeride Park or Mountain Creek Waterpark, enjoy a round of golf, treat yourself to a spa service or hangout poolside and soak up the rays. At night, check out the local music scene at Cobblestone Village or Minerals Resort & Spa's Tiki Bar and Kites Restaurant.

Still need some convincing? Halley O'Brien gives you a firsthand look into a weekend getaway at Crystal Springs Resort in the video below. Enjoy!

Base Lodge Construction Update: Foundation & Framing

2011-06-17T11:41:00.004-04:00

Construction of the new base lodge continues. In the photo above, not only is the crew adding the finishing touches to the foundation and flooring, but you'll notice the DC building has moved -- and, yes, it's still in one piece.

Next up? Framing. The timber has arrived and we're going vertical in the coming weeks.

Follow the progress on our 'New Additions' page or catch the latest photos in our Facebook gallery.

2011 U.S. Open of Mountain Biking: Giant Slalom Finals

2011-05-29T13:32:00.000-04:00

We couldn't have asked for a better day on the mountain. Check out Pinkbike's awesome coverage of yesterday's U.S. Open of Mountain Biking Giant Slalom. Congrats to winners, Mitch Ropelato and Jill Kintner!

Click here for the official Giant Slalom results.

2011 U.S. Open of Mountain Biking: Day 1

2011-05-28T14:09:00.001-04:00

US Open 2011 Day 1 on pinkbike.com

The 2011 U.S. Open of Mountain Biking at Diablo Freeride Park is buzzing with some of the world's best downhill mountain bike racers, and Pinkbike is here capturing all the action.

Today's events include Downhill Qualifying and Giant Slalom Finals. See you on the mountain!

Farewell Winter

2011-04-04T20:56:00.002-04:00

Just a little recap from our April Fool's After School Rail Jam, plus a few of this season's fondest (and funniest) memories. Enjoy!

-Halley

Early Powder Laps

2011-02-22T11:35:00.002-05:00

8" of fresh. Our lifties start the mornings right.

GoPro Snowboarding Pow Day from Anthony Anari on Vimeo.

Perks of the Job

2011-01-23T11:38:00.002-05:00

Check out some members from Lift Ops getting first tracks earlier this week.

Gettin' Freshies

2011-01-12T13:57:00.002-05:00

8" of new snow and it turns us into powder hungry lunatics.

Rails and Rap Battles

2011-01-04T17:21:00.000-05:00

The 3rd Rail Jam is back this Saturday, January 8th. Contest starts at 4pm - 4 divisions including Best of Breed, Skiers, Women and 15 & under. Preregister online at 3rdrailjam.com. After party at KINK is 21+ featuring Raekwon from The Wu Tang Clan. Get on the guest list here.

Gotta love rails and rap battles.

-Halley

Holiday Blizzard

2010-12-27T17:14:00.000-05:00

This storm left 10-16 inches of fresh powder just in time for holiday week!

The best Opening Day in 40 years.

2010-12-12T20:16:00.001-05:00

Wow. What a weekend. Props to the Snowmakers, Grooming and Park Crews, and everyone else that got the mountain in great shape for Opening Day.

Just a recap... We opened with 14 trails, 4 lifts, 15 features at South and a handful of campers. Yes, a bunch of kids got here at 2am to grab the coveted first chair of the season. I'm pretty sure they were spotted grilling quesadillas in the parking lot. Had I known, I would've brought some salsa and Adobo. A quesadilla simply isn't a quesadilla without Adobo.

This season is going to be killer. Snowmaking is set to resume Monday night and we should be opening new trails by next weekend.

Hope you enjoy this little montage Rapid Play from Opening Day.

-Halley

Snowmaking Update

2010-12-07T13:06:00.000-05:00

The snowmaking assault continues - 72 hours straight logged so far. Make sure to tune your board and skis. We are opening this Saturday, December 11th! Get excited.

For more videos, subscribe on YouTube.

Wintuk Winner!

2010-11-24T11:51:00.000-05:00

We offered up a trip to see Cirque Du Soleil’s Wintuk to those who bought a High Five 5-Pak before 11:59pm on October 31st. Well, we pooled all of the names and their respective 5-Paks and chose a winning group!

Congratulations to Robert Reitz and his 5-Pak! You’ll be seeing Cirque Du Soleil’s Wintuk in its final season at Madison Square Garden on December 3rd. Hope you enjoy the show!

Win a 5-Pak to Wintuk

2010-11-08T20:37:00.001-05:00

If you’re a fan of winter, then you’ll love this show. It’s an exciting winter setting and a great Cirque experience, especially for families! Lucky for you, we are giving away the chance to see this magical show packed with acrobatics and action sports.

All you have to do is purchase a High Five 5-Pak by 11:59pm on November 21st and you and your group could win a trip to Madison Square Garden to see Cirque Du Soleil’s Wintuk.

-Halley

Killington Getaway Winner Announced

2010-11-04T12:04:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, we offered up a sweet preseason getaway to Killington to those who bought a High Five 5-Pak before 11:59pm on October 31st. Well, we pooled all of the names and their respective 5-Paks and chose a winning group!

Congratulations to Eugenia Mayrl Westrup and her 5-Pak! They are the winners of our Killington Weekend Getaway.

Stay tuned… We have another “Wintry” prize package up for grabs very soon.

Precious Moments with Pennings Farm

2010-10-27T14:31:00.001-04:00

I’m a quick study when it comes to Accuweather Professional, but I wanted to learn some more traditional methods of winter weather prediction. Who better to speak with than a bunch of farmers? Big Steve and Farmer Bill from Pennings Farm in Warwick, NY were happy to bestow their knowledge upon me. These… are Precious Moments. Enjoy.

-Halley

The Harlem Wizards do the 5-Pak

2010-10-20T18:24:00.001-04:00

The Harlem Wizards to Minerals Resort and Spa, just a minute down the road from Vernon Peak. Since they have 5 guys to a team, I thought I should stop by and tell them about the High Five 5-Pak. Needless to say, they were very enthusiastic... and tall. They were also kind enough to show me some tricks, so hopefully they let us return the favor this winter.

-Halley

A Beastly Treat for You and Your Frends

2010-10-15T13:22:00.003-04:00

Here's a little Halloween treat for you... Purchase your Mountain Creek All-Access Season Passes in the 5-Pak by 11:59pm on October 31st and your group will be automatically entered into a drawing for a pre-season getaway at Killington and Frends audio prize pack.

Killington, the Beast of the East, saw its first snow of the year today (October 15th) AND they have their snowguns ready to roar! This year as a Mountain Creek Season Passholder, you’re eligible to save up to 50% on Lift Tickets and 20% on lodging at Killington all season long… BUT you have to get your Mountain Creek Season Pass first! The snow season starts in less than a month, so get your friends together and take advantage of the early season up north to get you ready for opening day back here at home. The countdown to winter has begun…

Prize Package Includes:
2 Nights Free; Accommodations for 5
2 Days Free Lift; Tickets for 5
Frends Headphones & T-shirts

Lodging & Lift Tickets Valid Opening Day Through December 19, 2010. Some taxes and fees may apply.

Buy Now to Win!

Photo taken October 15, 2010 at Killington!

Halley's Rapid Play: Who's Watching?

2010-10-14T16:07:00.000-04:00

Old Wives' Tales for Winter

2010-10-11T11:05:00.000-04:00

What is an Old Wives’ Tale? According to the brilliant minds at Wikipedia, an Old Wives' Tale is a type of urban legend, similar to a proverb, which is generally passed down by old wives to a younger generation.

For the purpose of this blog, I’ll be playing the role of Old Wife. Now, listen up whippersnapper – these winter predictions are important.

Consider the acorn. It’s a nut overlooked by most… unlike almonds and pistachios, because they’re the tastiest of them all. However, this autumn season, there are thousands of beefy acorns falling all over the sidewalks and denting cars. Assuming you have a banger car insurance policy, tons of acorns with sizable girth is a good thing, as they indicate a harsh winter ahead.

Storytelling continues as we take a look at the woolly bear caterpillar. Our weather-savvy friends at the Farmer’s Almanac say, “a narrow orange band in the middle of the woolly bear caterpillar warns of heavy snow. If the stripe is fat and fuzzy, expect bitter cold.” So we’re in for cold and snowy, or bitter cold (and man-made snowy). Either way… I think it’s a win/win.

Well, that was fun. I’m going to rejoin the 21st century and check Accuweather’s long-term forecast. It shouldn't be too long before places up north like Killington and Waterville Valley start snowmaking... and if you have a Mountain Creek Season Pass, you'll get wicked good discounts. Just sayin'.

-Halley

How to 5-Pak: Use Facebook!

2010-10-08T10:01:00.000-04:00

Fellow skiers and snowboarders can be hard to spot, so finding 4 other people to get a High Five 5-Pak might seem a little daunting.

Well, I’ve got good news for you. Our Facebook page has close to 13,800 people just dying for winter to arrive. I think you know where I’m going with this…

Head over to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/MountainCreekNJ. Don’t be shy. Post a little message asking if there are 4 other lonely little souls out there in dire need of a Season Pass.

Once you find your 4 new friends, you can talk on the phone for hours and hours about when you think we’ll start snowmaking, what trails we’ll open first, what board or skis you ride… even coordinate your opening day getups.

Eh, that probably won’t happen, but you’ll be forever indebted to each other. Without those other 4 people, you wouldn’t have gotten the lowest possible price on your All-Access Season Pass. High... Five…? (Sorry, I had to.)

Just remember - If you buy your pass early, you save $100. If you buy with 4 friends, you save $40 on top of that. Yep, early birds with friends save $140.

So go out there and make some friends like it’s your first day of school. We believe in you.

-Halley

Resort Improvements: What's the deal?!

2010-10-05T17:00:00.001-04:00

As all of you probably already know, Mountain Creek has two independent base areas located about 2 miles apart, and connected by a lift-trail network that’s known to locals for being long and slow in both directions, which can be good or bad, depending on your point of view. This summer, we decided to trade-in some 40-year-old hanging inventory in favor of more snow-time in connecting Mountain Creek South and Granite Peak with a new trail and retiring the Sojourn Double Chairlift.

The new (and as yet un-named) intermediate trail is 1 ¼ miles long, adding nearly 12 more skiable acres to the resort total. Initial clearing and cutting for the trail has begun and while we are pushing hard for completion in time for the current season, it will certainly be skiable with 100% snowmaking and lights for winter 2011-2012. In the meantime, we'll be popping out a unique fleet of shuttle buses to get you around. Once complete, this trail addition will allow you to truly ride peak-to-peak all season long. This is the first new trail expansion at Mountain Creek in more than a decade!

So what else is going on? We finished grade work on Horizon, our primary and most popular trail at Vernon Peak. The extensive cut-and-fill work will provide for more efficient snow coverage on that first-to-open top-to-bottom trail, and allow for more terrain to open faster in the critical pre-holiday period. Hi-yo.

At Mountain Creek South, park rats can expect revised park layouts, an arsenal of new features and *drum roll please*... the return of a half pipe!

The 13-foot halfpipe will be located on Bear Peak, where the core of our snowmaking firepower lives. Plus, a bit of the video-friendly lighting from the Grand Prix Superpipe will be relocated for better capture of night runs.

Our popular event venue in the Bear Base area has been rebranded as ‘The Arena.’ In keeping with this theme, we’re installing stadium quality lighting and sound system. We’re also widening the area by removing the old Magic Carpet and re-grading the land allowing for optimum snow coverage as well as more creative setups.

Well, that about covers it! Hope you’re as excited about the upcoming season as we are. The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a “colder-than-normal” winter in the Mid-Atlantic, so we’re ready to flip the snowmaking switch as soon as possible!

-Halley

The High Five 5-Pak Explained.

2010-09-16T15:56:00.000-04:00

Hi kids! Do you want to save big on your Mountain Creek All-Access Season Pass? Of COURSE you do. Buy your season pass in a group of 5 to save $40 a person - that's a group savings of $200! Or, you could join a boy band and ruin your life. The choice is yours.

Get your 5-Pak started at mountaincreek.com

Forever The Sickest Kids Concert at Mountain Creek

2010-09-08T13:43:00.006-04:00

Tree City Mini Golf is hosting a fundraiser for Zachary Decker, a 4-year-old Hamburg resident battling Leukemia, on Saturday, September 11th starting at noon.

Zachary Decker

The public is encouraged to play a round on the 18-hole mini golf course for just $5 – all proceeds from the outing go to the Decker family. In conjunction with the mini golf tournament, a pop-punk concert will also take place on the grassy knoll behind the Stewart House, just a few steps away from Tree City Mini Golf.

Pop-punk band, Forever The Sickest Kids is headlining the 5 act bill - doors open at 12pm. Music starts at 12:30pm and lasts throughout the afternoon wrapping up around 6pm. Members of FTSK will be teeing off at 1pm in support of the Decker family.

Advanced concert tickets can be purchased at NY’s Finest Ice Cream and Italian Ice at 116 Route 23 North in Franklin, New Jersey. Call 973.209.9600 for directions and additional information.

Forever The Sickest Kids

About The Band:

Forever The Sickest Kids, a Dallas-based six-man group (Austin Bello, bass; Kyle Burns, drums; Jonathan Cook, vocals; Kent Garrison, keyboards; Marc Stewart, guitar and Caleb Turman, guitar) was formed in 2006. Since releasing their first full length album over a year ago, the six man band has been touring the U.S. successfully and building a fan base from the grass roots up. The past year has been a thrilling whirlwind for the band. They could be seen on the cover of Alternative Press and performing on Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show. They have toured Europe and performed in Japan and even re-recorded their hit single “Whoa-Oh (Me VS. Everyone) with Disney star, Selena Gomez.

For bios, pics and other info on the band, check out: http://www.foreverthesickestkids.com/

The Countdown Has Begun. Season Passes Now On Sale.

2010-08-24T10:12:00.004-04:00

Summer days are dwindling, kids are returning to school and leaves are starting to change – the countdown to winter has begun. With that, Mountain Creek’s annual Season Pass sale is back, featuring two new pass options and the lowest prices for the 2010-2011 winter season. Buy your season passes before the December 5th, 2010 deadline and save big!

A Mountain Creek Season Pass is the best way to make the most of the winter season, and we’ve even lowered our Youth Pass pricing for this upcoming season! Starting at just $259.99, you can ride first chair to last, seven days a week, all season long. It’s the best All-Access Season Pass value in the region. All-Access Passholders will also benefit from Freedom on the Hill perks, with Saturday and Sunday mornings reserved just for you from 8am-9am.

New this season, Mountain Creek is also introducing two new season pass products; the “High Five” 5-Pak Deal and Midweek Season Pass.

New and most exciting is the “High Five” 5-Pak Deal. Groups of 5 can score a High Five of a deal with Mountain Creek’s new 5-Pak pricing. The process is simple; gather 4 of your friends and buy your passes together in a group of 5 to save $200 per group. This deal isn’t going to last forever – the “High Five” 5-Pak goes away after December 5th, 2010. Buy now and save big.
Or choose the new Midweek Season Pass, made especially for those who prefer to avoid the busier weekend days. With the Midweek Season Pass guests can ski or ride anytime Monday through Friday, including holidays (no blackout dates!) for just $249.99.

All Season Pass holders will continue to enjoy discounts and benefits including a 15% discount on food and fountain drinks, 20% off of lodging, free ski and board check as well as steep discounts to other winter destinations like Killington Resort in Vermont and Waterville Valley in New Hampshire.

For a limited time, adult All-Access Season Passes are available at the pre-season price of just $339, or $299.99 for youth. “High Five” 5-Pak group members will obtain an All-Access Season Pass for just $299.99 for adults, $259.99 youth. Midweek Season Passes are just $249.99 for adults and $229.99 for youth.

Remember, these prices will go up after December 5th, 2010. Make sure to snag these early bird savings and choose the pass that is right for you. The countdown to winter has begun! See you on the hill.

Beer Fest at Crystal Springs

2010-08-17T11:32:00.002-04:00

Crystal Springs hosted the 2nd annual Beer and Food Festival this past weekend. I could tell you about it, but the video speaks for itself. Enjoy.

Halley's Rapid Play: Wakeboarding at LHM

2010-07-28T15:55:00.000-04:00

Yep. Believe it or not, you can actually go wakeboarding with Mountain Creek. Pfft... and you thought we were just a ski resort. But seriously, LHM Wake School has partnered up with us to get you guys shredding in the summer. Check out LHM Wake School if you'd like to give summer a purpose.

-Halley

Halley's Rapid Play: Discover Diablo

2010-07-20T15:49:00.000-04:00

Discover Diablo for yourself.
Packages start at just $59.
Available July & August, midweek only.

ridediablo.com

Facebook Summer Contest Series

2010-07-02T12:11:00.000-04:00

We found some summery stuff kicking around the resort and thought it’d be cool to give it away to our Facebook fans. Introducing the Facebook Summer Contest Series.

This 3-part series will take place over the next few weeks. (If you're not our fan on Facebook, clearly you're missing out. Get your act together.)

Here’s what we found in our dusty, spider-ridden closets:

- 4 free Mountain Creek Waterpark Tickets
- 2 free two-hour surf lessons at Billabong Coastline Adventures in Seaside Heights
- 1 Launch Snowboard

Stay alert - the first contest is set to roll out sometime next week! All entry details will be posted on our Facebook page.

-Halley

Bikes, Waterslides and Golf

2010-06-29T15:37:00.001-04:00

It’s official – summer 2010 is here (as if temperatures in the 90’s weren't an obvious tell). Here are just a few updates to keep you in the loop…

Mountain Creek Waterpark is now open 7 days a week. That means you could jump off a cliff 7 days in a row. That sounds weird. Let me clarify - we literally have a ride called “Cliff Jump." And that’s precisely what you do. You jump off the cliff into a pool.

Diablo Freeride Park is also set to open 7 days a week starting July 3rd. If you’ve never been riding before, Diablo will set you up with rentals and all the necessary equipment. You just might want to pack a lunch, maybe a little bravery, whatever works for you.

You can also swing through Tree City Mini Golf. It’s now open and has 18 holes of fury. Bathing suits and your A-Game accepted. Check out Cobblestone Village’s Facebook page for events and other activities throughout the summer.

Enjoy your July 4th barbeques. Hope to see you soon!

-Halley

Mikey Ryan Putter's Cup a Success!

2010-06-15T11:54:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, Tree City Mini-Golf hosted the 1st Annual Mikey Ryan Putters Cup. Mikey is a local of Vernon who was seriously injured in a snowboarding accident back in 2006. Nearly $5,000 was raised for Mikey’s rehabilitation and treatment costs.

Tree City Mini-Golf plans to host a few more charitable events throughout the summer. The next one is scheduled for June 26, 2010 – proceeds benefit the Viking’s Club, Vernon’s Athletic Association.

So if you’re into Italian ice, mini-golf, live music, exciting additions to said Italian ice if you’re 21+, jalapeño infused burgers… pencil in a trip to Cobblestone Village.

Just a warning: Timmy Grins will most likely beat you in mini-golf. Don’t take it too hard. He’s just that good.

-Halley

US Open: Winners, Photos & Videos

2010-06-01T12:23:00.009-04:00

I hear the Jersey shore was significantly under crowded this past holiday weekend. Well, that’s probably an exaggeration, but Diablo did see over 500 spectators on Saturday and Sunday to witness the finals of the US Open of Mountain Biking.

RideDiablo.com has the complete list of results, and for some sick photography and video coverage, hit up the links below.

-Halley

Photo: Halley O'Brien, Mountain Creek

RideMonkey.com

Race Report: US Open Finals Report (PHOTOS)

PinkBike.com:
US Open Giant Slalom Video Coverage (VIDEOS)
US Open of MTB - Sunday (VIDEO & PHOTOS)
US Open of MTB - Saturday (PHOTOS)

US Open 2010 is Underway

2010-05-29T08:49:00.003-04:00

The past two days have been really fun - racers have been practicing on the US Open course to get ready for today and tomorrow's finals. There are a few more early practice sessions today followed by the Downhill Qualifiers and the Giant Slalom Finals. Check the schedule here.

Alright. I’m headed back out to watch some more people hit that booter. For those of you that have never been here in the summer, the jump is located at the bottom of the Sugar Slope. Bring your popcorn. It’s going to be exciting.

-Halley

US Open: Getting Ready

2010-05-26T13:07:00.004-04:00

The US Open’s course is taking shape at Diablo Freeride Park. A few of us took a “scenic cab ride” to the top and checked out some of the course.

It’s going to get real exciting around here as the racers and vendors pour in. Diablo is expecting 600 of the world’s best downhill mountain bikers to attend. This is the big time, kids.

If you’re interested in seeing these talented lunatics whip around corners, trees and rocks while launching themselves off of manmade 40-foot booters, this is the weekend to show up.

Click to view the US Open’s Schedule.

-Halley

Vernon Earthfest 10

2010-04-27T10:52:00.001-04:00

This past Sunday we celebrated Earth Day here at Mountain Creek with Vernon Earthfest 10. Despite some early morning rains after a little convincing Mother Nature came around. The rains stopped just in time for the event start as over 3,000 environmentally conscious individuals and families came out to enjoy the day.

It was a sight to see as the South lodge was converted for the day into a fabulous mix of carnival, science fair, petting zoo and concert. On the Main Floor over 70 vendors set up shop promoting and selling their environmentally friendly wares. In the basement and the tents out back almost every manner of beast and creepy crawly were brought in for the guests to interact with, from wolves and turtles to bats and alligators. Yes, I said Alligators! Upstairs there was live music, a native american drumming circle and for the truly brave...we even had Karaoke.

Earthfest is an annual highlight for us and we wanted to thank everyone who came out and made this 10th anniversary such a tremendous success.

As a community of outdoor enthusiasts we all need to do our part to protect our environment and its natural resources. For more information on what you can do to help protect the environment every day visit: The Official Earth Day Website

Farewell, Vernon

2010-03-16T17:05:00.001-04:00

It has been a killer season, kids. At risk of sounding extremely cliche and corny, it seems like only yesterday the guns were blaring for the very first time. Ah, November - how you keep us on the edge of our seat year after year.

And then there's March - the most bittersweet month of them all. Warm weather, sunny skies, softer snow and then BOOM! It hits you. The end is near. Mother Nature giveth... and she taketh away (like a wench, but I digress.) So with that, we say adios to Vernon. See you in 2010-2011, old friend.

Welp! It's been super fun getting to know you while keeping you in the know. Enjoy the last Rapid Play video of the season... and Rick Astley's brief cameo. (Don't get too excited... it's a very photoshopped version of Mr. Astley.)

Farewell.
-Halley

USASA Champs, Hometown Heroes

2010-03-12T11:49:00.002-05:00

Congratulations go out to our hometown heroes Alexa Cerra, JT Bingler, Stephen Cerra and Sean Neary for throwing down at the Mid-Atlantic USASA Regional Championships.

Sean Neary and Alexa Cerra took home 1st place for the 10-11 year old division in slopestyle. JT Bingler secured 3rd place in the Youth 14-15 year old division. Stephen Cerra qualified for boardercross and is also an alternate in the slopestyle division. While they’re not old enough to see a rated R movie un-chaperoned, they’ll be traveling out to Copper Mountain on April 3rd to compete in the 21st Annual National Championships. Wish them luck! -Halley

JT Bingler

(photo: 823 Photography)

Sean Neary

Alexa Cerra

Stephen Cerra

Mechanical Bull Madness.

2010-03-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

Earlier this season, we stealthily invaded KINK to capture its infamous mechanical bull party. Naturally, those courageous enough to mount the robotic beast were either professional cowboys… or somewhat intoxicated. Good thing the bull is surrounded by forgiving airbags, as there weren’t many cowboys in attendance. -Halley

Thanks for showing up.

2010-03-01T10:44:00.008-05:00

Whoa. Wait a minute... It's March already?! Technically, spring is closing in... but the 2 feet of new snow on the ground says differently. We saw tons of new and familiar faces this past weekend and we’re super happy you came out to shred with us. To be honest, you didn’t really have a choice. You’d be kicking yourself for years if you missed out. I can picture it now…

*Rocking back and forth on the porch 40 years from now…*

You:
They called it a “snow”icane, Jimmy boy.

Your fictitious grandson Jimmy:

What's a "snow"icane, pop pop?

You:

It was the Febrary of all Februarys. The Vernon Cloud had its way with Mountain Creek. I hear it left close to 30" of snow in just ONE storm!

Jimmy:
No way! That sounds magical!

You:
Oh, it was, Jimmy. It was. To think how foolish I was for missing it. I'll never forgive myself for putting those TPS reports before the Jersey powder. I should have "declared my own snowday!" Nooooo!

*Creepy futuristic dialogue ends.*

Don’t let that be you. Make Jimmy proud and declare your own snowday before time runs out (aka: offer ends March 3rd). Check out this awesome user submitted video courtesy of Anthony Quintano. Read his entire post here.

-Halley

:

We're not in Jersey anymore, Dorothy.

2010-02-26T10:32:00.008-05:00

Die hard skiers and snowboarders brave the winter storm for some fresh powder at MountainCreek

Put that bowl of Cookie Crisp down and get your gear together. I'm not about to let you miss the most epic February Mountain Creek has seen in recent years. We got 20 inches of new snow in a little over 24 hours.

Yes, I said TWENTY.

As if that isn't exciting enough... we're expecting light snow to last all day today dropping another 2-4" on us. That'd bring us to 2 feet of luscious, natural, slashable snow.

Yes, I said 2 FEET.

Ok, see you shortly.

-Halley

Oh hey, it's snowing. Again.

2010-02-25T15:46:00.004-05:00

We're getting pounded with snow for the 3rd week in a row! I'm not sure you truly understand how amazing conditions are right now. I mean, blogs are good 'n all, but until this thing can interactively build you a snowman... you're just going to have to come here and experience it first hand.

Here's a photo from 4pm today!

Yep, that's an 8 incher. But wait! There's more! We'll be skiing and riding through 12+ inches of powder Friday morning. Keep your eyes and ears open - we'll have plenty of pics documenting the luscious pow pow.

Pfft... and you thought you needed to drive more than an hour for powder turns. Silly goose.

-Halley

Dramatic Snowball Fight

2010-02-24T16:42:00.000-05:00

Just a little video of some kids having a dramatic snowball fight in Cobblestone Village.
-Halley

SNOW way, José.

2010-02-23T16:33:00.000-05:00

Remember when we lived in New Jersey and it snowed an average of 8” each week in February? Oh. Haha, that’s happening! Weird.

This Thursday, we’re in for some MORE snow. Not the fluffy kind… the kind that falls hard, fast and sticks with a vengeance. Based on the long term forecast, we could be slashing close to a foot of snow on Friday morning.

And now, ladies and gents… the weather maps.
-Halley

New Snow!

2010-02-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

It's amaaaaazing out there now! Not even a week later and we've got another 6" of fresh snow on the ground. "Huge" and I busted out the yellow ruler at around 11am this morning and here's what we found!

We also took the video camera and threw together this little powderific treat for you. Today is NOT the day you want to be a desk jockey. Enjoy the footy and we'll see you here this weekend (or sooner)!

-Halley

Rapid Play: Winter Jam 2010

2010-02-13T17:23:00.000-05:00

See the recap blog and winners here.

SNOWtorious B.I.G.

2010-02-12T12:44:00.001-05:00

Oh hi, foot of fresh snow. Thanks for dropping by. It DUMPED snow Tuesday night into Thursday morning. Needless to say, conditions are epic! I'm sure all of you read, heard, and saw the newscasters going bananas about it... Well, that... and the big Toyota recall scandal. Good thing snowboards and skis don't have faulty brake systems. Whew!

So, this was a taste of what the mountain looks like. Hopefully, you're seeing the same thing through the window in your slope-side room at the Appalachian. (<-- Shameless plug.)

Check out the rest of the photos on our Facebook fan page.

-Halley

Blizzard Blowout!

2010-02-10T08:54:00.001-05:00

As I type this, snow is literally dumping from the sky. Some of you might be thinking... "Wow, it's actually snowing in New Jersey! Golly gee... I wish I had a place to stay so I could snag fresh tracks on Thursday. Shucks!"

Chin up, kiddo. We've got you covered. Since we're all snow bums at heart, we've cooked up this sick little setup for you. If you're wearing socks... you're better hold on to them real tight.

Tonight (2/10), we're gettin' a little crazy and offering up our studio rooms at the Appalachian for just $99 - that's as low as $24.75 per person (4 in a room). But wait! There's more!

Then, you and your 3 friends can roll out of bed and into the car for $99 Carload Thursdays! You just got yourself a ski & stay package for $49.50.

Yeah. That just happened.

So here's what you do. Sign off the computer, go pack your bag, put that bag in the car, pick up your friends and come shred the Jersey pow pow (with your 3 brosephs).

-Halley

P.S. - In celebration of this snow, we're opening South Peak at 9am on Thursday (2/11) and Friday (2/12).

Winter Jam Recap

2010-02-09T12:52:00.003-05:00

The annual Winter Jam NYC was super fun this past weekend! It was cold, but thousands of people came from all over to play in the snow with us. The Switch Academy Rail Jam was amazing, too - big ups to the park crew, snowmakers and groomers for bringing their mountainous skills to the city.

The three features were expertly installed in the middle of Central Park including a flat down flat box, flat rail and slanted box. The Mountain Creek foam fingers were out in full force - people may have liked the added flair, but I think it also provided some extra warmth. I don't think the temp got above 25 degrees, but with the wind chill... it felt close to -1,020 degrees at best... sort of.

Pro snowboarder, Pat Moore and others judged two heats - Pros and Almost Pros. Our hometown heroes swept the Pros division! Here are your winners:

NYC Almost PROS:

1- Alexey Starchikov
2- Ben Spinale
3- Marvin Yang

NYC PROS:

1- Sean Neary
2- JT Bingler
3- Nick Dakota

Skier Winner: Tucker Foti
Female Winner: Katie Courcier

Anyway, here are some pictures from the event. Watch the Winter Jam video here!

-Halley

Winter Jam NYC

2010-02-05T11:17:00.003-05:00

This Saturday, February 6, 2010, we will be spreading the stoke to those strolling through Central Park at Winter Jam NYC 2010. Winter Jam NYC is an annual winter sports festival that encourages New Yorkers (and those inhabiting the “6th borough”) to come out and enjoy the outdoors during the colder months.

The centerpiece of this year’s Winter Jam event will be our own Switch Academy Rail Jam! Come out and watch as New York and New Jersey’s best riders throw down to impress special guest judge, Pat Moore. Throughout the day, the freestyle coaches from Switch Academy will also be giving pointers to those interested in improving their freestyle skills or sliding their first feature.

Winter Jam NYC starts at 11am and lasts through 4pm. Grab your board and experience shredding to the melodic sounds of taxi cabs and street vendors.

More info at: www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/events/winterjam/index.html

-Halley

Twisted Kids!

2010-02-01T18:04:00.001-05:00

Twisted Kids is seeing some serious talent these days. I guess those Switch Academy tips are paying off... Though, the prizes might have something to do with the increasing attendance and level of skill.

On Sunday, we had a great turnout on Twist. Approximately 15 kids took part in the hour long jam session. One lucky chap walked away with a Rossignol "Mini" snowboard. We didn't get his name, so we'll call him Mini Snowboard Guy. Enjoy that new shred stick, kiddo.

Here are a few snapshots from Sunday. See you next week!

-Halley

Quick Chek Quick Path Winners Announced!

2010-01-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

The time has come to announce the two lucky winners of the Quick Chek Quick Path contest!

For those of you hearing about this for the first time, we started a contest back in November pertaining to beginner skiers and snowboarders and tweet-tastic Twitter users. One lucky beginner would get hooked up with our “Suite Setup” consisting of a 2 night stay in the Appalachian Hotel, lift tickets, lessons and rentals for up to 4 people!

In order to get those beginners here, we relied on our Twitter community to spread the word. We picked one Twitter user that properly quoted our contest’s message on Twitter to win their choice of a new set of Head skis or a new Burton snowboard of their choice.

Oh, stop with the flattery! You're making me blush.

So, without further adieu, here are the Quick Chek Quick Path winners!

Gavin Lee (@g4vn) will be bringing home a shiny new Burton snowboard.
Samantha Gormley will be packing an overnight bag and grabbing her 3 closest friends to get ready for VIP learn-to ski/ride treatment in the Appalachian Hotel.

Thanks so much to everyone that participated and congrats again to the winners!

Tubbs Romp To Stomp Breast Cancer

2010-01-24T13:51:00.001-05:00

It's safe to say that Paint the Mountain Pink weekend was a HUGE success. In this weekend alone, Tubbs Romp to Stomp raised over $26,000!! That amount nearly quadruples last year's total. All of that awesomeness benefits the Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation.

We had over 350 people stomping out breast cancer throughout the mountain sporting unique pink accessories - some were even Bedazzled. Oh yes, I said Bedazzled. ;)

We truly thank and appreciate everyone that contributed to making this weekend such a success. If you'd like to learn more about Tubbs Romp to Stomp, visit their website at tubbsromptostomp.com

-Halley

Coffee Slinger

2010-01-17T15:53:00.002-05:00

We’ve been super busy with resort stuff - event planning, snowmaking, grooming, park building, french fry cooking... It’s a good thing we have such an able bodied intern to pick up the slack behind the scenes.

This week, Tyler got acquainted with the timeless internship tradition: coffee slinging. All of us love a caffeine boost – how else would we run a ski resort that operates 13 hours a day? It took him a few tries, but we got our coffee eventually. In retrospect, we probably should have given him a tray. I guess we dropped the ball... while Tyler dropped the coffee.

-Halley

Rapid Play: 3rd Rail Jam

2010-01-16T09:56:00.001-05:00

Girls Only Shred Sessions, Twisted Kids

2010-01-11T15:37:00.000-05:00

This year, we brewed up 2 new weekly events revolving around the progression of freestyle skiing and riding.

The Girls Only Shred Sessions is an event that goes down every Tuesday night at South. Registration is at 5pm in the South base lodge and the session begins at 6pm. Girls of any age and skill levels are encouraged to participate. The event is completely free and prizes are handed out at the end for different categories.

Twisted Kids is similar, as it encourages groms 16 and under to come out and get familiar with freestyle terrain under the supervision and guidance of our Switch Academy freestyle coaches. This event occurs every Sunday at 1pm, registration at noon in the Ride & Ski School building. Twisted Kids is also totally free to enter.

We hope to see you out there sometime soon!
-Halley

Meet Tyler

2010-01-06T14:53:00.001-05:00

Allow me to introduce you to Tyler - Mountain Creek’s brand new intern. He approached us saying he’d do just about anything for a season pass. Naturally, we took him up on his generous offer. :)

See, there are lots of things to be done around here to keep the resort in working order. Tyler happily agreed to help us out here ‘n there. Keep in mind… it’s all in good fun, and he did say he’d do “anything.” (Envelopes don’t exactly lick themselves… and we have a lot of envelopes.)

We’ll post a video once in a while documenting his progress and hard work, and we might even take a few of your suggestions. Tyler has to earn his keep if he wants to shred for free.

Check back soon for more of Tyler’s To-Do List and if you happen to notice our toilets look a bit shinier than normal this season, think of Tyler and say thanks.

-Halley

Park Laps Video

2009-12-29T11:00:00.001-05:00

Filmed at South on Dec. 27th. It was 47* and sunny with spring conditions - soft snow always makes for fun park laps. Enjoy!

-Halley

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New Years Bash

2009-12-26T14:14:00.001-05:00

Just thought we'd tell you about our little shindig on New Year’s Eve...

The festivities start at 7pm in the Appalachian lobby. You’ll find decorations, chips and soda for the groms and the bar will be open for those 21+. At 9pm, nosh on some hot appetizers in the Hawks Nest conference room. (You might want to bring your bathing suit – we’re keeping the heated outdoor pool open until 12:30am. Fancy!)

You can also check out the DC bar – just a 50 yard walk from the Appalachian lobby. The DC Bar will be outfitted with balloons and decorations, music will be playing and the bar will be open until the spirit moves you along. Grab yourself a spot in front of the big screen TV to watch the ball drop at midnight.

Other happenings:
The Rockaholics start at 9pm
Jazz band, The Dogs, will be playing in the lobby from 7-9pm
Movie night for the kids; shows start at 7 & 9pm
A game room will be set up in the Owl Room
Breakfast included the following day.

Those 21+ can head down to KINK Nightclub in the South base lodge for a masquerade dance party. Please consider taking advantage of our FREE shuttle transport to & from the Appalachian.

Additional restaurants, bars and activities are only a shuttle ride away conveniently provided by the Appalachian Hotel. Take advantage of our slope side party and make your reservation today.

For more information, please call: 973-827-2000.

Go Snowboarding Day Recap

2009-12-22T13:22:00.009-05:00

There are no words to explain how stoked we were on the turnout at Go Snowboarding Day. Hundreds of people took advantage of our free lift ticket, lesson, rental package and experienced strapping in and sliding snow for the very first time. Yesterday’s vibe was super positive, pressure-free, and really fun.

Introducing that many people to one of our favorite pastimes was beyond rewarding. A huge thanks goes out to everyone involved in such a successful event. We hope to see all of your faces again very soon!

-Halley

Conditions Update 12/20/2009

2009-12-20T12:43:00.002-05:00

This has been an opening week/weekend for the record books. The snowmaking weather has been out of control - the snowguns were running nonstop since early Wednesday morning.

As if that wasn’t enough amazingness, we got 5” of natural snow Saturday into Sunday. Um, the snow conditions are insane. Our groomers did an incredible job polishing up the natural snowfall – it’s some of the best skiing & riding you’re going to find this early in the season. Seriously.

The rest of the week looks great for snowmaking. We’re going to continue blasting Granite and Bear peaks, as well as some closed terrain on Vernon and South.

It won’t be long before we are 100% operational. Booya. (Yeah, I just said booya. What of it?)

-Halley

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We're open. Shwing!

2009-12-17T10:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, we opened our doors to the public letting in a bunch of excited, anxious people (some of which should have been taking finals). The sun was shining, 12 features top to bottom, and snowguns were blasting throughout the resort. We couldn't have kicked off the season in a better way. Oh, and congrats to Mike Faber and Kevin Kaczynski - two of the four lucky people on the 1st chair of the 09-10 season!

-Halley

Go Snowboarding Day!

2009-12-16T10:35:00.000-05:00

The rumors are true. Yes, we’re awesome and yes, we’re giving away snowboarding lessons on Monday, December 21st.

We’re celebrating the first day of winter and Go Snowboarding Day with FREE lessons, lift ticket and rentals to all beginners interested in learning to snowboard.

Call us to reserve your spot for Monday, the 21st and mention Go Snowboarding Day - (973) 864-8128. We’ll teach you how to ride for free. Seriously.

What’s the catch?

No catch. You just have to be a stone cold beginner to get hooked up with a free ticket, lesson and rental. It’s only snowboard lessons, and it’s only on Monday, December 21st.

Not a beginner?

If you’re an intermediate rider curious about the park, our Switch Academy coaches will be at South all day to give FREE tips and pointers on your first feature-sliding experience. Must have Park Pass and purchased lift access to load South chairlifts. Helmets required for Switch Academy clinics.

More details on Go Snowboarding Day at: www.mountaincreek.com/gosnowboard

Can’t make it on Monday?

Take advantage of our current learn-to ski/ride promotion at Quick Chek. Pick up a coupon at your local store and redeem it here for a discounted 1 or 3 time lesson, lift and rental package. Must use your 1st lesson before December 31st.

(Psst – we’ve got a little Quick Chek contest going on, too. Learn how to enter here!)

-Halley

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Snowmaking Tour

2009-12-12T11:07:00.000-05:00

Halley visits Bryan, Mountain Creek's Daytime Snowmaking Controller, to get acquainted with loud machines that help pump out the snow. Compressors and stuff? She's not sure. She couldn't really hear him.

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Snowmaking Pics

2009-12-07T11:31:00.000-05:00

Photos taken 9:20am - December 7, 2009

As you can see, our snowmakers have been wicked busy the past two nights - 185 snowguns were firing overnight (and are still going at 11:20am). We're going to keep blasting terrain at Vernon and South to build up our base depth. Check back throughout the week for more pics and video.

-Halley

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Snow Snow Snow!

2009-12-06T12:07:00.002-05:00

I think the entire east coast just let out a sigh of relief. Finally. Winter is here, and both natural and man-made snow were present and accounted for at Creek this weekend. Try to keep the drooling to a minimum. ;)

Saturday's Storm

Sunday's Snowmaking Debut

Our snowmakers blasted 8 trails at Vernon and South from 2:30am to 9:30am this morning (12/6). We're going to be making snow every minute we can - 100+ hours of prime snowmaking and we'll be spinning the lifts in no time.

I'll be tossing updates your way all week long. Check back regularly!

-Halley

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Think Snow.

2009-12-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

Mountain Creek's 2009-2010 winter season is almost here. We're doing everything we can to speed up the process - thinking snow, praying for snow, and a bunch of snow dances just to name a few. Stay tuned for snowmaking updates.

-Halley

Snowmaking. It's what's for dinner.

2009-11-19T13:30:00.003-05:00

I can’t go a day without someone asking me about the weather and our snowmaking plan. I also can’t go a day without checking the weather and hoping we can start to make snow. Since thoughts of snowguns are keeping us up at night, I wanted to write up a little Snowmaking 101 for you.

“It’s going to be 32 degrees tonight. Technically, that’s freezing. Can you make snow?”

It’s a little more involved than that, as snowmakers have some additional things to consider. Sorry, Sam Champion.

Allow me to introduce you to the term, “wet bulb.” In the simplest of terms, wet bulb is the true temperature after factoring in humidity. (Standard thermometers measure the “dry bulb.”)

“Whoa. Why does humidity matter? I thought it was only a summertime thing.”

Water cools itself off by evaporating. When there’s a high level of humidity (a lot of water already in the atmosphere), water can’t evaporate as much. When humidity levels are low, water can cool more quickly.

So, a low wet bulb (temp & humidity) equals better snow production.

“Great. So toss me some numbers. What’s the ideal snowmaking situation?”

There’s no definitive cutoff temperature that says we can or can’t blow snow. Ideal temps usually range from the teens to mid 20’s, but again… humidity is the deciding factor. (Sometimes, if the humidity is super low, we can make snow when the temp is above freezing. Who’da thunk it.)

To give you an idea... if the temperature is lingering around 30*F, you’d need a humidity level of less than 30% to fire up the guns. If the temp is lower than 20*F, you could probably make snow rather easily, even if the humidity level was at 100%.

Welp! Now you know some of the thinking process behind snowmaking. Give your neighborhood snowmakers a hug next time you see them. They’re awesome, and they deserve it.

-Halley

Whine Flu.

2009-11-09T14:38:00.002-05:00

You strap in and practice your most impressive carpet maneuvers. You try on outerwear at the store, purchase it… and wear it around the house. You’ve bookmarked just about every online weather service, and you check them at least 5 times a day.

Yep, you’re infected with the “whine flu.”

Halloween Costume - Foam Finger Winners

2009-11-04T15:56:00.001-05:00

A big “thank you” goes out to everyone that submitted a photo of their Halloween costume on Facebook. After careful deliberation and a few bags of leftover candy corn, we’ve come to a decision. Three lucky people will be sporting bright orange, borderline obnoxious, Mountain Creek foam fingers. Here are your winners (in no particular order):

Evil Ventriloquist Dummy Guy from the movie, "Saw"

Overall, this costume was awesome. Nicely done.

Lady GaGa Girl

She made the costume herself, and anyone brave enough to sport sequined hot-pants deserves some love.

Lederhosen Guy from the movie, “Bruno”

I don’t know what I enjoyed more – your confidence or your wicked tan lines.

That’s all, kids. I'll contact the winners on Facebook to get your shipping address. Thanks again for playing, everyone!

-Halley

Show us your spandex... or whatever you were for Halloween.

2009-11-02T13:33:00.004-05:00

A few of us around the resort treat Halloween like it’s an Olympic sport. (Ha, treat. No pun intended.) At our employee shindig, there were two things in abundance – spinach artichoke dip and spandex. I snapped some pics for your enjoyment. I did not, however, save you any dip.

So, we’ve got a little costume contest of our own going on over at the Facebook page. I’ve got 3 Mountain Creek foam fingers to give out.

If you want in, just upload a picture of yourself in costume to our fan page. Where you write on the wall, there’s a place to “Attach” a photo. The photo button is 2 icons in. Upload your picture and it’ll appear in the fan photo album.

Us spandex wearin’ fools will judge your costumes and ship the fingers to the winners. (That sounds weird.) Maybe we’ll even throw in some stickers… I'll post a blog featuring the winners sometime this week.
Good luck!

-Halley

P.S. The Quick Chek Quick Path contest rules & regs are available. I'll be releasing the secret promo code sometime this week! Get ready!

The 411 on Helmets

2009-10-28T13:25:00.008-04:00

Lately, I’ve been seeing some questions/concerns regarding Intrawest’s new helmet policy on our Facebook fan page. Hopefully, this little breakdown helps and you know exactly what to expect for the 2009-2010 season.

Here’s the scoop for Guests (Non-Employees):

Skiing/riding outside of the terrain park? Helmet recommended, not required.

Skiing/riding inside the terrain park? Helmet recommended, not required.

Taking a learn-to ski/ride lesson? Yes, helmet is required for those 12 & under. (Even though we recommend you own a helmet, we will provide a helmet for you.)

Taking a park lesson via Switch Academy? Yes, helmet is required - there is no "opt out" option.

Racing participants: Yes, helmet is required.

Employees listen up:

Skiing/riding in the terrain park? Helmets are recommended, but not required. Remember, park riding is to be done off-the-clock and out of uniform.

Skiing/riding outside of the terrain park? Helmets are recommended, but not required.

Teaching a non-park lesson? Helmets are recommended, but not required. (But hey, it’s always nice to set a good example for those learning).

Teaching a Switch Academy park lesson? Yes, helmets are required.

Park Crew member? Helmets are required when testing a terrain feature.

I hope that helped clarify a few things for ya. By the way… If you’re joining us as an employee this season and don’t have a helmet – no worries. Mountain Creek is offering a 45% discount off helmets in the retail shop for employees. Plus, Giro is offering an employee discount of 30% off wholesale. Hi-yo!

That’s all, kids. Happy helmet hunting.

-Halley

(Helmets rule. And so do Mountain Creek foam fingers.)

Contest Update

2009-10-26T11:14:00.000-04:00

Here’s a sneak peek at our “Quick Chek Quick Path” contest. (Bet you can’t say that 5 times fast.) It’s a 2-part extravaganza – 2 parts, 2 winners, ya dig?

If you’re aiming to learn-to ski or ride this season, this contest is for you. If you’re already a fantastic semi-almost-pro, this contest is also for you. We want to give everyone a chance to win.

Consider this a QCQP contest checklist - here’s some of what you’ll need.

A Twitter account. If you don’t have one, get one. Make sure you find Mountain Creek and hit the “Follow” button.
Learn the lingo. If you don’t speak “tweet,” here’s a little Twitter 101 for you.
A Quick Chek store with a stack of our “learn-to ski/ride” coupons. There are 120 of ‘em out there. We’ll give you the official list soon.

So, those are some of the basics. If you get those things down pat, you’re ahead of the game and ready to play. Once we release the QCQP’s rules, you’ll know exactly what to do with the bullet points above.

For Quick Chek Quick Path contest updates and info, keep it here or head over to Facebook and Twitter.

-Halley

P.S. I heard a snowmaking rumor. Apparently, our snowgun arsenal is prepped and ready to fire once the cold weather is here to stay.

What's this I hear about a contest?

2009-10-20T16:27:00.004-04:00

Somewhere between talking about winter predictions, beanie collections and ski movies… we brainstorm. This time around, two lucky people will benefit from this wicked brainstorming session.

We're cooking up a little contest for you shred heads.

Skiers and snowboarders of any skill level could make bank in this contest. That means the stone-cold beginner all the way up to the seasoned watch-my-sponsor-me-vid “pro” should get involved when the time comes.

I won't get into the contest specifics now... but know that anyone with an internet connection and a Twitter account could end up with either a “suite” setup or a new ride under their feet.

Welp! Sorry, but I’ve got to run. Hang tight - you'll know exactly what we're talking about (and how to get involved in the contest) real soon.

-Halley

Just missed the 2" mark!

2009-10-16T16:13:00.004-04:00

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen yesterday’s "rapid play" which we document the snowfall in a very serious manner. Not really. We did document it, but I don’t think running around in slippers having a snowball fight is all that serious. If you haven’t seen it, click that lovely little link above.

To further celebrate the early season snowfall, I snapped a few pics. The lift you see is at the top of Granite Peak. Other photos shot from various areas around Vernon Peak. (Photos taken October 15, 2009)

And just so you know, we came just shy of the 2” mark. All of you procrastinators can rejoice – you still have time to get a season pass at the preseason rate.

-Halley

Preseason Snow!

2009-10-15T16:00:00.021-04:00

Yeah, you heard me. SNOW! There was an indescribable glow among the resort today - normally, that kind of glow appears around 4:30 on a Friday afternoon. Not today, champ! We're makin' snowballs.

Because we love snow almost as much as we love you, we decided to shoot a little video to spread the early winter stoke. Check it out.

To sum up, if you haven’t gotten your season pass yet, you better get on that quick. All-access fun is available and waiting for you. That’s right. It’s the best deal in the area. Remember… prices go up after the first 2” of snow or December 6th – whichever comes first. Don’t miss out!

-Halley

P.S. You might want to add this little hot spot to your favorites... More pictures, videos and other cool things will be here on the regs.

Louie Vito: Dancing Hobbit

2009-10-13T12:15:00.004-04:00

Yes, I have an obsession with the trashy, “The Bachelor”-esque type of television show. (Something needs to pass the time till shred season.) It doesn’t matter if people are surviving on a deserted island, competing for "love" on a tour bus, or dancing the cha-cha with two left feet. As long as someone gets booted every week, I’m game.

Now you’re thinking, “That’s great ‘n all, but what does this have to do with snow?” Well, in case you haven’t heard, this season of Dancing with the Stars features snowboarding poster child, Louie Vito.

If he wins it all, he'll go home with the coveted golden disco ball trophy. Yeah. I know. It’s corny, but don’t lie. You totally want one.

Check him out in the show's season premiere throwing down a little Foxtrot action.

Vito’s been dancing well so far. The judges seem to like his personality and chemistry with partner, Chelsie Hightower. However, they’re not too keen on his long hair – one judge even referred to him as a dancing hobbit.

They are four weeks into the competition, but last night’s 2-step was less than stellar. Hopefully, they’ll survive tonight’s elimination, mainly because I don’t think the snowboarding community is ready to part with his spandex-y, sequin-covered, mesh-ridden outfits just yet.

Head over to abc.com and vote for Vito.

-Halley

More dirt. And rocks.

2009-10-05T11:32:00.012-04:00

Check out some photos taken October 2nd. Yeah, more construction pics - you know it as the ever-so-glamorous Horizon Flow Project.

I must say, it’s super different from the footage shown in last week's video. I labeled parts of the construction in order to give you some perspective.

Hope you enjoy my expert* photoshopping skills.

*rudimentary, saddening, not-good-at-all

Bye!

-Halley

Behind the Construction: Horizon Flow Project

2009-09-29T13:28:00.001-04:00

Hear ye, hear ye!

I’ve trudged my way through the dirt, rocks and construction debris to fearlessly snag some footage of the Horizon Flow Project in action. (I'm sure my bravery impresses you.) I hope you find it informative.

Oh, and even though I stayed outside the roped-off area, flip flops are not proper “trudging around construction site” footwear… just so you know.

Till next time,

-Halley

Peace out, summertime.

2009-09-25T16:48:00.009-04:00

This week marked the last day of summer. Some people dread the approaching winter months – clearly, they’ve never been skiing or snowboarding. Though, summer is good for a few things… like pretty pictures and trail improvements.

Whether you’re using a fancy DSLR or a beater digital camera, a ski resort in the summertime makes it easy to snap some snazzy photos. Check ‘em out below.

In other news, the Horizon Flow Project is coming along nicely. The construction site looks completely different since I was there last (a little over a week ago). It’s hard to really grasp what’s going on from your computer chair, as the pictures don’t really do it justice. No worries - I’ve got you covered. *cough.. video footage ..cough* Stay tuned.

Oh, and seasonal temps are headed our way next week – highs in the 60’s, lows in the 40’s. It’s coming. Get excited.

Later skaters,

-Halley

P.S. Follow us on Twitter and fan-up on Facebook - all the cool kids are doing it.

Nice to meet ya

2009-09-17T17:10:00.005-04:00

Hi, I'm Halley. I'll be bringing you all that is happening at Mountain Creek. As you might have noticed, this is our new blog which I'll be updating here 'n there as the year progresses to keep you in the know. Soon, we'll be best buds. I'll start thinking of a secret handshake...

Anyway, I wanted to tell you guys about something pretty cool going on at the Vernon peak. If you live in the area, you've probably heard the incessant pounding. If you haven't, then I've probably teased you on Facebook & Twitter with pictures of the "secret" construction.

It's not a secret... anymore.

*Drum roll* Allow me to present the Horizon Flow Project. Sounds all official, doesn't it? The construction taking place will drastically improve the flow on Horizon, especially where the trail took a sharp right turn under the bridge.

Workers are pounding away at the earth, widening the trail, smoothing out the surface and un-sharpening the sharp turns resulting in a cruise-tastic, wide open joyride.

Oh, and you may have noticed the bridge has been painted with secret Invisible Bridge Paint. (Just kidding. We took the bridge out in order to widen the trail.)

Well, that about sums it up. I hope you're as pumped about the season as I am - it's going to be awesome. Expect to see more blogs like this, photos, videos and other cool stuff here at www.mountaincreek.com & www.thankyouforshredding.com.

Later!

-Halley