Anxious For Snow

Christmas songs are on the radio, stores have stocked the shelves with Christmas candy and some folks have already decorated their homes with lights. The only thing that seems to be missing from our early Christmas season cheer is the fluffly white stuff. So where is the snow and when is it coming?

While Joe Bastardi predicted that the snow would be coming early and there'd be lots of it, we aren't seeing it in the forecast for our area just yet. With our snowmaking system at Liberty, however, we can make the snow appear sooner than Mother Nature. Favorable snowmaking temps are not in the forecast for this week. What about next week?

Looking ahead, Mountain Manager Ron Crozier likes what he sees in next week's forecast. Favorable snowmaking temps are predicted to hit the area which may be enough to get the snowmaking equipment ready. After that, we'll need 2-3 nights of good snowmaking and then we'll be able to get the groomers out. However, in the early stages of snowmaking, one turn of cold-to-warm temperatures could bring all snowmaking efforts to a standstill, and the snow that was already made could quickly disappear.

Since the weather forecast for next week could change drastically between now and then, it's hard to say when exactly snowmaking will begin at Liberty. With the Christmas season near full swing, it's definitely time for some snow, and we hope to get some on the mountain soon!

Read all about snowmaking - how it works and what it takes - by visiting our Snowmaking 101 page on the website.

And because posts are much better with pictures, here are some pictures of last year's snowmaking at Liberty.

Everyone wants to know...

When Liberty will be open for the 2009-2010 winter season! It's the hot question right now - "When is opening day?" Our most recent sampling of cold temperatures and early winter-like weather conditions combined with Joe Bastardi's prediction of an early, cold, snowy winter, caused quite a stir amongst the snow sport enthusiasts. It was only natural for people to begin asking the ever-popular opening day question. So when will opening day be for Liberty Mountain?

Our goal is to be open by the first weekend in December. If cold temperatures return and we're able to make snow sooner than later, the season could begin in late November. However, it's not just cold temperatures that allow snowmaking to occur. With the right combination of certain weather elements (low humidity, compressed air and others), including cold temperatures, our snow guns can get to work and start covering the mountain for the season.

Our snowmaking system can actually make 1,175 tons of snow per hour! Pretty cool, huh? There's lots of cool stuff involved in snowmaking and you can learn more about it by reading our "Snowmaking 101" page on the website. Or you can read the Baltimore Sun's most recent article about skiing and the upcoming winter season. In the article, our mountain manager Ron Crozier discusses the different elements of snowmaking and how it all works. If you need your winter/snow sport excitement fix for the day, you should definitely check it out!



Don't forget to check out our website often for more updates on the start of snowmaking and opening day for the new season. Before you know it, we'll be seeing you on the slopes!

The Olympic Torch Has Been Lit!

On October 22nd, the Olympic Torch for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games was officially lit in Olympia, Greece. Since being lit in a traditional ceremony, the torch has been exchanged between representatives of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games while traveling throughout the country of Greece. Tomorrow, October 30, the torch will leave Greece and make its way to North America and land in Victoria, British Columbia. From there, it will begin the 106-day journey across Canada in preparation for Olympic opening day on Friday, February 12, 2010.

*Image courtesy the official website for the 2010 Winter Olympics, www.vancouver2010.com.

The Olympics are a time to celebrate excitement, enthusiasm and progression in sports. It's a time to celebrate the coming together of countries and the outstanding performances of the world's best athletes. It's a time and an event that the entire world can enjoy.

With the winter sports of skiing and snowboarding both represented at the Winter Olympic Games, it's only fitting that we celebrate the Olympics here at Liberty! We'd like to celebrate with the athletes and the world by creating our own Olympic excitement and awareness at the resort. From February 12-28, we plan on holding various activities and events in conjunction with and in celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. So until then, we encourage you to get a jump start on the Olympic excitement by following the interactive map of the torch's relay on the 2010 Winter Olympics website.

Before you know it, the torch's journey will end and the biggest and best celebration of sports like skiing and snowboarding will be at an all-time high! Become a fan of the Winter Olympics now! The season is not that far away...

8 weeks, 56 days, 1344 hours, 80640 minutes

That's how much time we've got left until winter officially begins. For those of you who aren't quite ready for the cold and snowy weather of winter, such numbers may make the season seem too close. But for those snow-sneeking enthusiasts out there, the season may seem far away. Too far away. So which sounds shorter? 8 weeks, 56 days, 1344 hours or 80640 minutes?

Below are a few pictures recently taken at the resort. The trees are covered in fall colors and our mountain, as well as nearby mountains, are looking gorgeous. And just think, in a few short weeks (less than 8 because we'll be making snow before winter officially arrives) our mountain could be filling up with snow.

Beautiful Boulder Ridge Lodge.

The Boulder Ridge Gazebo ready for a fall wedding.

The roadway leading up to Boulder Ridge and the backside of the mountain is breath-taking. Wouldn't mind getting lost on this road for a while, huh?

If you'd like to see some of the fall colors of Liberty, hurry up and visit. Before we know it, November will be here and the leaves will be gone.

You should also hurry if you haven't bought your 2009-10 Season Pass. For only $399, you can ski and board all season long at three mountains - Liberty, Whitetail and Roundtop. This offer is only good through October 31st so treat yourself this Halloween and buy a Season Pass Today! Check out our website for all the details. And remember, there is only 8 weeks left until winter officially arrives, but the Liberty winter season will start earlier...

Thanks for joining us!

Yesterday was our Annual Fall Festival and Customer Appreciation Picnic. Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the fall foliage, bbq lunch, live music and activities! It was great to see guests excited and ready for a new winter season!

The rain and cold that was predicted for Sunday caused us to go to "plan B" - move everything inside and cancel some activities. Even though the sun came out and temperatures warmed up, we still had a nice, cozy, fun festival inside.

New and renewing Season Pass and Advantage Card holders began gearing up for the new season by purchasing their passes and cards at Fall Fest...

Don't forget! The $399 Season Pass is on sale until October 31st. After that, the Season Pass price goes up to $599 so hurry before this great deal ends!

The retail shop was jam packed with new stuff for the upcoming season. There sure are some colorful jackets and pants included in the line-up so if you're lookin' to "strut your stuff" with a new style on the slopes this season, you may want to visit the retail shop soon!

The Boro Boogie Pickers from Waynesboro entertained with live bluegrass music. The band was great and the guests really enjoyed them! They were perfect for the Fall Fest atmosphere. Thanks Boro Boogie Pickers!

While everyone listened to the live music and enjoyed their BBQ lunch, they also enjoyed the fresh new look of the Alpine Room. What a great way to get our guests excited for the upcoming season!

Something new to this year's Fall Fest was the 2nd Annual Cannonball Chili Cookoff. Local chili enthusiasts teamed up and cooked their best chili recipes in hopes of winning the prize for best chili. For a $5 donation, guests were able to taste the chili recipes and vote for their favorites. Thanks Unitarian Universalists of Gettysburg for putting this together and becoming part of our event!

It was great to see the resort dressed for fall.

It was also great to see our mountain dressed for fall. A new winter season is upon us...


Thanks again to all the guests who visited us for this year's Fall Festival event. We enjoyed seeing everyone and cannot wait to see you on the slopes for the 2009-2010 winter season!

OCTOBER 1!

It's October 1st. October is warm and fuzzy, ready to wear turtlenecks and sweaters, sip on hot chocolate and sooth the soul with some warm, hearty soup. October is pumpkins and scarecrows, festivals and art shows, colorful leaves and beautiful mountains. October is saying "goodbye" to summer and preparing for the cold months ahead.

As winter continues to slowly creep towards us, Liberty continues to get ready for the 2009-10 season. Our $399 Season Passes have gone on sale and Liberty projects are being completed and polished. We're also preparing for our upcoming Fall Festival and Customer Appreciation Picnic. It's a great way to celebrate the fun and foilage of fall, but also a great way to get excited and ready for the upcoming winter season.

This year's Fall Festival is on Sunday, October 18th from 12 Noon to 4pm. We'll have tons of fall activities including pumpkin painting, scarecrow making, and live entertainment from the Boro Boogie Pickers. The Boulder Ridge Challenge Course climbing wall and zip line will also be open for those guests that want to "fly high" and experience adventure. Hayrides and chairlift rides will also be available at no extra cost.

Get an early start on your winter snow sports preparation by purchasing your Season Pass or Advantage Card at Fall Fest! Guest Services will be in the Eastwind Room and The Learning Center Lobby to process passes and cards so you can walk away with your "ticket" to the 2009-10 winter season.

Chef Dwaine's delicious BBQ lunch will be available on the Alpine Patio. Season Pass and Advantage Card holders will receive complimentary lunch tickets. Lunch will be $10 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids under 5 for non-pass and card holders. Click on the flyer image below for more details on this year's Fall Festival.

And that's not all! This year's Fall Festival will feature the 2nd Annual Cannonball Chili Cookoff! From 12 Noon to 4pm, guests can taste the different chili recipes prepared by local chili enthusiasts for a $5 donation - a portion of the proceeds will benefit local non-profit organizations. Chili teams will have the chance to win monetary prizes and awards. Which would you rather be - a chili maker or a chili taster? Visit our website to find out which is right for you. Cookoff rules and entry forms are available.

We hope to see you at Fall Fest on October 18th!

So What Else Is New At Liberty?

We've already mentioned the return of the $399 Season Pass, the removal and replacement of the Eastwind Quad chairlift on the backside of the mountain, the redesign of the Alpine Room, the lifting of the First Class Area Quad chairlift, and other projects like the filling in of the halfpipe, the laying of new snowmaking pipelines, the Alpine Patio expansion, and finally, the Bakery redesign.

So what else is new at Liberty?

Believe it or not, there's tons more to mention when it comes to new and exciting projects at Liberty. Here's what else:

Group Sales and Ski School are receiving a complete renovation of their office areas. Not only will this be added convenience for our employees, but also our guests participating in lessons and group visits. The renovation should be done soon. Here's what one half of The Learning Center Lobby looked like mid-reno:

In an effort to support the ski industry's latest helmet safety initiative, we are adding hundreds of new helmets to our rental inventory. Helmet use will be a top priority during our mountain safety campaign this upcoming season so we are happy to announce that more skiers and boarders will have the opportunity to rent helmets during their visit to our mountain.


We are also adding another groomer to our family - the Pisten Bully 600. It's one of the biggest and best of its kind so we're pumped to see what kind of results it will produce this winter. Here's a picture of one of our current groomers. Just imagine something bigger and bolder, and that's the 600.

Check out all the details on these, and other new and exciting additions on our website.