Juneau’s weather pattern this week will help Eaglecrest open the Black Bear and Hooter chair lifts on Friday as well as Porcupine chair.
Until this week, most of Juneau’s snowfall has been cold and dry, which does not pack into a base. But in recent days warmer temperatures have brought wetter snow, filling in some areas, says Snow Sports School Director Jeffra Clough.
“There’s some challenging snow conditions… be very minimal grooming this weekend, just because we don’t have a lot of snow cover yet.”
The city-owned ski area opened the lower mountain beginners’ trails, accessed by Porcupine lift, on December 1st. Last Sunday, Hooter opened. Clough says the plan for this weekend is to operate Porcupine, Hooter and Black Bear chairs Friday through Sunday.
“There’s some awesome terrain off that Black Bear chairlift, like East Bowl Chutes, and some more intermediate terrain. It’s not going to be for beginners though.”
The season is still early and hazards exist all over the mountain. The west side of the mountain that’s accessed by the Ptarmigan lift will remain closed this weekend.
