Thanks to an increase in warmer daily temperatures over the past week and a winter storm that dumped over two feet of snow, Bigrock ski area in Mars Hill has welcome many more visitors, who have commented on the “perfect” trail conditions.
Bigrock General Manager Travis Kearney told The County on Thursday that Bigrock saw around 400 skiers on Wednesday, Jan. 10, which was the busiest day of the ski season thus far. That attendance level marked a significant change from December when the facility was forced to close for eight days due to sub-zero temperatures and wind chills that often dipped down to 30 degrees below zero.
“We could tell that a lot of people had cabin fever and were ready to get out and ski,” Kearney said. “The trails got fresh natural snow on Tuesday night and many people told us that the trails had perfect conditions for skiing. This week we’ve probably had close to 1,000 skier visits compared to 300 to 500 during the cold period.”
Even with the incoming mix of rain, sleet and freezing rain, Kearney noted Wednesday that the trails would remain open as long as they do not receive a significant amount of rain. In fact, when rain soaks into the snow this makes the trails harden and less likely to have many bumps or grooves, he said. Bigrock also planned to open for the first time this season its tubing trails from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Trail Groomer Chris Craig mentioned that Bigrock has taken a slightly different approach to grooming trails this season, leaving some ungroomed. That creates more bumps and allows for shorter, more quick turns for skiers who like to try something more challenging. Craig and other Bigrock trail groomers still groom much of the trails using a machine called a “snowcat” that churns up snow and lays it out smooth on the ground.
“We try to leave some of the trails natural because some skiers seem to like that,” Craig said.
Despite seeing less visitors for much of the December school break, which typically makes up one third of Bigrock’s business during the season, Kearney said that some of the best days for ski visits usually occur from January through April. He expects that as temperatures become less cold during the later half of winter more people will take advantage of the trail conditions for both skiing and snowtubing.
Although cold temperatures could affect some of Bigrock’s hours during the rest of the winter, wind chills are the biggest factor in deciding whether to close the trails. When winds cause the temperatures to feel like 15 to 20 degrees below zero, Kearney and his staff become more concerned and will likely close the ski area. The direction that the wind blows is also a major concern.
“If the wind starts blowing from the north, our ski patrol will monitor the conditions because the ski lift chairs will move back and forth. Then if the wind becomes too dangerous we’ll close for the day,” Kearney said.
Interested skiers who want more information about trail conditions and hours can visit https://www.bigrockmaine.com/ or call (207) 425-6711.
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- The Comet Trail is one of many trails that groomers at Bigrock Ski Area in Mars Hill maintain regularly during the ski season. Recently Bigrock has begun leaving some trails ungroomed for skiers who prefer the challenge of shorter, more quick turns while moving along the trails. (Melissa Lizotte)
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- The Lower Snake Trail at Bigrock Ski Area in Mars Hill is one of many trails that has seen an increase in usage during the past week as more skiers shake off “cabin fever” and take advantage of warmer weather that has come to Aroostook County. (Melissa Lizotte)
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- Bigrock Trail Groomer Chris Craig regularly grooms much of the ski area’s trails for skiers who prefer a smoother surface than trails that only feature natural snow. Shown here is a view of the Family Trail as the slope moves downward toward Bigrock’s rental equipment facilities. (Melissa Lizotte)
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- Bigrock Trail Groomer Chris Craig regularly grooms much of the ski area’s trails for skiers who prefer a smoother surface than trails that only feature natural snow. Shown here is a view of the Family Trail as the slope moves downward toward Bigrock’s rental equipment facilities. (Melissa Lizotte)
