TULLY, ONONDAGA COUNTY -- All across the country people are dealing with freezing temperatures. In Florida farmers are keeping a close watch on the mercury and their citrus crops. Here in Central New York we are accustomed to snow and cold weather, but at least we have a way to enjoy it.
"If you live in Central New York and Syracuse you gotta get out of the house and if you gotta get out of the house ya gotta ski," says Peter Harris, the owner and operator of Song Mountain Ski Resort.
Each year Harris, like many other ski resort operators, is faced with the problem of getting people to come to the mountain. This year saw a slow start because Mother Nature was slacking in the snow department. "Season's pass sales were up over the last year, so they were down a little because of the economy, but we have recovered that and a little more. The Christmas week turned into above last year," says Harris.
Recently we've seen days of nothing but snow. Harris says that's good news for his snow-making crews, who have been able to crank up their machines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
With the conditions just right for loving winter, a ski mountain is the place to be. "The lake effect machine started about a week ago and it's been snowing hard for that period," says Harris. "We've had two feet maybe three feet in the last ten days... now all we need is a Nor'easter."
For ticket prices, hours and directions to Song Mountain click here: www.songmountain.com.
