White Pine Ski Resort opened its doors – and slopes – for the season on Thursday, Dec. 9 after receiving Bridger-Teton National Forest officials’ approval for its conditional-use permit.
According to Jim Sullivan, the new general manager at White Pine, both the lower and upper mountain trails are groomed and ready for skiers and
snowboarders.
“This morning and about 11 a.m. it was just perfect; there was four to six inches of new snow,” Sullivan said Friday. “It’s just what we needed.”
He said conditions are excellent for skiing and snowboarding and that the snowboarders seem to be gliding on the snow.
At White Pine there is about 22 inches on average of unpacked snow at the middle of the mountain and Sullivan expects a busy weekend for the ski
resort.
For its first weeks White Pine is open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As of Thursday, Dec. 16, White Pine will be open seven days a week.
Sullivan said the resort has to hire more employees to run lifts and serve food, and is also looking to fill positions for the ski school and on the ski patrol.
White Pine owners wanted to open last Thursday but were still awaiting approval for their permit.
Back in mid October, the owners formed the group “Citizens to Save White Pine” to buy the resort with the goal of keeping it open for the public.
Ken Konicek, one investor in the venture, told the Sublette Examiner that the public could expect the ticket prices at White Pine to be lower than in the past.
The White Pine Ski Resort also received a liquor license from the county this week – the new owners are planning a more casual bar and grill for skiers, snowboarders and visitors.
Rex Poulson, another investor, told the Examiner the new owners’ main focus is making sure White Pine’s ski lifts are running and the public can come to ski and snowboard.
For more information about White Pine Ski Resort, call 307-367-6606 or visit www.whitepineski.comsource: www.subletteexaminer.com
