A new bar has been set for one of Prince George’s local skiing facilities.
The Hart Ski Hill set a new record on Friday (April 2) as the 101st day of open slopes for the 2020-21 season, breaking a level the 22-acre multi-terrain area says it’s wanted to crush in that span.
The previous mark of 100 days was set in the winter and early spring months of 2017-18.
Hart Ski Hill General Manager Jessie Koppe commends her team’s snowmaking efforts has been the real difference since it was first introduced, also in 2017.
“Every summer we spend time reworking landscaping and drainage to help maintain our snowpack,” she said in an interview with PrinceGeorgeMatters, adding the hill’s average open-season span was only 23 days before the method was implemented.
“This year, we focused hard on snowmaking any moment the weather was right to do so. As of yesterday [April 1, 2021], there are still areas with more than four feet of snow.”
Good Friday was also the last day for the Hart Ski Hill, located at 3740 Winslow Dr., and is now closed until the later months of 2021, with Koppe noting attendance has dropped due to the change of season and some snowmelt in certain areas.
She explains more than 2,000 season passes were sold as residents wanted to get outside during COVID-19, with a visitor count that’s still being tallied.
However, cost adjustments during the pandemic have also caused financial strains in the amount of $100,000, such as extra training for staff, upgrades and cleaning supplies for the 52-year-old hill.
“Lift lines had to be reworked, janitorial and security needed to be hired and we are open 12.5 hours Monday to Friday and eight hours each day on the weekends,” Koppe said.
“Also, we had to upgrade lodge facilities, buy new tables to be able to meet capacity amount plus space restrictions. Then all the cleaning products, masks, safety gear, etc.; an expensive season that was hard to budget for.”
The 100-record was on pace to be broken 2019-20, but COVID-19 restrictions and public health guidelines forced the Hart Ski Hill to shut down early at 98 days.
Koppe believes it could have easily reached 120 days of open season if not for the pandemic.
In 2018-19, the hill made it to 96 days, but poor run-down drainage resulted in too much water at the facility that wouldn’t have allowed for proper snowmaking.
The Hart Ski Hill was also the victim of a theft crime on March 8 when it’s snow-grooming machine was broken into and stripped of its night switch, essential electrical parts, batteries and diesel fuel.
The large piece of equipment was back in business a week later, but not without a $3,000 price tag.
