AUBURN, Maine — Talk about a bummer. Mainers who ski, snowboard and snowmobile are all wondering when it will snow. Local ski areas can’t even make snow with temperatures staying in the 40s and 50s. And this warm weather means bad business for Mainers in the snow business. People at the Lost Valley ski area in Auburn say they’re excited about the new owners and renovations made to the lodge and ski lifts.
What bothers them is this warm weather; too warm even at night for them to make snow. Lost Valley general manager Phil Brushwein told CBS 13, “We’ve brought in 24 new snow guns. So we’re real optimistic about making snow real fast and putting it down quick.” All they need is temperatures at or below 30 degrees. Brushwein says.
“Yeah, it’ll come. It’ll come.” Brushwein has worked at Lost Valley 36 years.
He’s seen this before and so have skiers. But no one is panicking yet. He says, “Our season pass sales are up wonderfully. We’re getting emails and things from people all the time just anxious to get out here.” Normally Lost Valley would be making snow right now, getting ready for the big holiday rush. But this warming trend is expected to continue for at least the next 10 days.
And it’s not just a Maine problem. This is a problem right across the entire United States. Jocelyn Irish and her husband own a snowmobile parts and accessories store that’s been in business nearly 50 years in Turner. She’s heard the same weather complaints from dealers throughout the upper Midwest. Irish says, “Everybody across is just quiet and dead. They’ve said they haven’t seen it this quiet in years.”
And Travis Wells of Turner, whose son is an avid snowmobile rider, says, “It’s definitely taken a hit on the industry. We know snow is going to happen in this area. But it’s just when is it going to happen now. So everybody is just waiting and hoping.”
Jocelyn Irish says, “Just the cold weather would be a nice start. When you look at the weather and five days out we’re still going to be in the 40s and 50s, it’s a little depressing.”
Even so, people remain hopeful snow will come soon. Travis Wells says, “We’re definitely hoping for some cold weather so we can get some snow and do some riding.” David Tyler of Lost Valley says, “When the weather is ready, they’ll be ready. Everything is all set and it’ll happen.” And Phil Brushwein of Lost Valley has this message for skiers: “Don’t fret. Don’t fret. We’ll be there.”