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Warm weather pattern, little snow leave many Eastern slopes barren

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 12, 2007

GHENT, W.Va. - Brian Rogers and other members of his church group basked in their perfect timing - a rare snowfall combined with a nonexistent midweek crowd that turned Winterplace Ski Resort into their personal playground.

The signs of a dismal season were sprinkled throughout this southern West Virginia resort. Plenty of parking, plenty of elbow room on the lifts and the few slopes that were open.

A 5-inch snowfall arrived Wednesday for the 15 members of the group from Bowling Green, Ky. "No lines. No wait. Just jump on and go," Rogers said.

Good for skiers. Bad for business.

While many western U.S. ski resorts are thriving with packed powder, resorts back East are hoping to turn a terrible season around. Dozens of resorts remain closed from Iowa to Alabama and on up to Maine. Where snowmaking has occurred, slopes were clogged with frozen, granular snow - stuff not conducive to fun skiing - or sat unused as officials turned to ingenuity, layoffs and discounts to entice skiers.

A cold snap this week gave Eastern resorts a fleeting hope. But the chill didn't last long enough to build up snowpack before springlike temperatures return for the weekend.

"If winter ever arrives, they can finish out the rest of the season. The critical part is the next eight weeks," said Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association. Industry trade groups didn't have estimates on potential losses.

In Vermont, four resorts and 17 cross-country ski centers were temporarily closed Thursday. Mad River Glen in Waitsfield, Vt., closed Monday and laid off dozens of workers.

Still, resort operators say there's far too much time and equipment invested to give up.

"We've got a lot of winter left," said Terry Pfeiffer, Winterplace's president.

"We're making lots of snow. All the long-range forecasters are saying we're getting a nice cold burst. So, hey, we're still in the game."

[Last modified January 12, 2007, 00:42:24]