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Show Park West Opens for Season, Resort Waits for Thanksgiving ' "If I s , , ""'"' lt J v..i storms that hit Lake Tahoe also come through Park City. Badami said Monday morning that the parking lot at Tahoe had received 18 inches of snow. "If it were to dump the same 18 inches at the base, we would be open for Thanksgiving," said Badami. The marketing director said that Joe Malina, who is in charge of snowmaking at the Resort, is busy educating his operational crew. "It takes time to make a lot of snow," Badami added. Snow is being made on Payday Run until it is adequately covered, Badami said. The Resort will continue to make snow around the clock as long as the temperatures remain at the right level. The Resort will begin by opening the two Prospector lifts, and depending on the amount of snow, other areas may also open. According to the Weather Service, the 30 day forecast calls " One of the four snow making machines at the resort was working hard this week, although Mother Nature helped out. Late Bulletin Park West opened Tuesday, the first ski resort In Utah to begin their ski season. The resort received up to a foot of new snow this week with more predicted in the days ahead. Park West received eight new inches at the base. A spokesman at the National Weather Service in Salt Lake said this week there are a series of snow storms on their way to Park City which could dump anywhere from two to three feet of snow in the area. And Craig Badami, marketing director at the Resort, wasted no time expressing his hopes that skiers will hit the slopes this week probably on Thanksgiving Thursday. "It's a strong possibility we'll be open Thursday morning," Badami said, but cautioned, "there are no guarantees in this business." As of Monday, over 18 inches of snow were reported at Jupiter Bowl with a half a foot at the Summit House. But the present storms, if they continue through the week, will drop more than enough snow for the Resort to open. The National Weather Service meteorologist said the storm predicted over the weekend missed Park City, for the most part, and threw its punch in the Uinta Basin. However, he added that the present series of storms off the Pacific look promising. "This series of storms could get you quite a bit of snow in the next few days," he said, adding amounts of snowfall could reach as high as 3 feet. The meteorlogist pointed out that the weather pattern is much different than last year. "the pattern does not resemble last year's at all," he said. He added Park City should experience sporadic snowfall in the next few days with heavy accumulation at times. The National Weather Service spokesman also said there is a "slim" chance of getting two dry seasons back to back. If there is enough snow. Park West will also open for Thanksgiving. Thanks-giving. Snowmaking operations at both Park West and Park City Resorts have been in full swing, gearing up for the season. One employee at Park West said there is a "very good possibility" that Tumbleweed run will open Thursday because of recent snowmaking efforts. As of Monday, Mon-day, there was approximately 16 inches on the lower base areas at Park West and over a foot of snow at the top of the mountain. Craig Badami said this week that it was snowing very hard at Lake Tahoe, which he added was a good sign since most of the for above average temperatures and below average precipitation. But the precipitation prediction may not turn out to be as grim, considering the oncoming series of storms, which (hopefully) will get Park City's ski season off and running. "Only fools and angels can predict weather in the mountains," moun-tains," smiled Craig Badami. "We're ready to open the second we get enough snow," he said. "All we can do is hope." And then Badami said quickly, "Hope for snow! It's all around us. It's going to be here!" It could be here as early as Thursday, which would certainly turn out to be a nice Thanksgiving present for Park City. t A.fi .,- j . A . x E$ ; ir , r t . . i ' 1 v ' I i j " t I ' I . . . , M f : Snowfall on the resort plaza. |