Mt. Brighton, Popular MI Ski Area, Hamstrung By Too-Warm Weather

[hatrack]

GENOA TOWNSHIP -- What started as a promising season at Mount Brighton has slowed to a halt. The popular ski destination has been closed for several days due to the warm temperatures. "Business has been really disappointing, but not because of the lack of interest," said Joe Bruhn, general manager. "The weather has been such as it gets cold, but doesn't stay cold enough."

The facility on Bauer Road felt the effects of warmer-than-usual weather last year, but not to the same extent as this year, Bruhn said. "I thought last year was bad, but this is worse," he said. The weather was perfect for skiing when Mount Brighton opened for the season Dec. 4. But, after a few days, the weather warmed up and Bruhn was forced to close the slopes.

Snowboarder Tim Schneider, 18, who has been going to Mount Brighton for 11 years is disappointed by the conditions. "It's definitely putting a damper on the beginning of the season," he said. "I cannot remember not being able to snowboard before Christmas. Christmas break is usually a busy time for the hill and this is no business at all."

Schneider said because he and his peers can't ski or snowboard, business has been slow where he works at Summit Sports, a ski and snowboard shop on Grand River. There has been a large financial impact because of the lack of traffic, Bruhn said. The ski resort makes up for it with sales from the ski shop and enrollment in the ski lessons and race leagues that start in January.

EDIT

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061222/METRO04/612220425/1015

[MichiganVote]

1. No snow in the UP or Lower Michigan

[Purveyor]

2. Last winter was also a warm one. No ice fishing at all to speak of... n/t

[Trajan]

3. Say what you will about Mount Hood ....

Snowboarding well into summer ....