Winter businesses adjusting to warmer weather in order to stay open

ELKHORN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Unusually warm temperatures are posing a challenge for winter businesses that depend on cold weather. But they are making adjustments to stay open.

At Alpine Valley Ski Resort Wednesday evening, there were skiers wearing football jerseys, long-sleeve tees, even short-sleeve t-shirts.

Temps in the 40s have forced some ski resorts in the area to shut down some runs, but at Alpine Valley, all 21 runs are open.

General Manager Jamison Stachel said, "We plan for this. We make a lot of extra snow, and we keep layering it up and make sure we can still give the guests the best conditions we can."

Stachel said conditions are still great, even as warm temperatures melt the snow.

The park would not be open without long hours from the maintenance staff, who will work throughout the night to make snow whenever the temperatures drop below 28 degrees.

Right now, there's an 18"-24" snow base, and they're hoping to make more snow this coming Friday night.

Longtime staffer Dave Boeck has gotten famous for his snow carvings over the years. He said, "I get bored, I see a pile, I start carving away at it and it becomes something."

But this week has been a challenge. Boeck said, "My snake melted down. It looked a lot better yesterday."

In the Midwest, the risk of warmer winters is part of the deal. Stachel said, "We're always upgrading our snow-making systems, adding more snow-making guns, adding more pumps, more lines."

The manmade snow is very similar to the natural snow; it is still frozen water after all. Stachel said the hardcore skiers and snowboarders will feel a difference, but most people won't, especially after the grooming machines go through.

One of the regulars is Barrett Her of Milwaukee, who was making his sixth trip to Alpine Valley so far this winter. He said warmer conditions mean "It's a little harder to get some carves in or anything like that."

He's one of many adjusting to the weather, wearing a short-sleeve t-shirt as he snowboarded down the hill. "It's not just to show off or anything. But I get really hot so it's nice to come out here and go downhill. It's very nice."

Still, he's hoping it was a little colder. "I kinda wish it was snowing a little more. I know everybody would hate to have it snow. But just for this I would like it to."

Jamison Stachel said overall, business is doing pretty well. At the peak of the pandemic a lot of people suffered from cabin-fever and picked up skiing; he said that boost has continued.