As ski hills go, though, warmth is usually found within the confines of the ski hill lodge, which was receiving some new flooring on Dec. 21. On the hills and in the snow making building, cooler temps are the norm.
“We have the ability to make snow on 90 percent of the hill,” said Brad Wirth, president of the ski hill, as he opened the doors to a building filled with blue pipes snaking in and out of one another.
The snow machine is the ski hill’s newest purchase and was working in full force on Dec. 19 until the hill’s water supply ran low. The water comes from a pond that was dug during the 1970s to capture water runoff from the hills to be used to make a base layer of snow. The pond can store between 1 million and 1.5 million gallows of water that run off the hill.
Before the new equipment, the members were able to cover about 30 percent of the hill, Wirth said. Overall, the pump house, which houses the snowmaking equipment, is the newest addition to the club in 40 year, Wirth said.
While the new snowmaking equipment is an exciting addition to the ski hill, what’s more exciting is that this little club in the valley between Skaneateles and Marcellus has remained open on a volunteer basis for 50 seasons.
“We are looking for people who have been past members,” Wirth said, noting the club would appreciate pictures of the ski hill and stories about members’ memories of their times at the hill.
“I’d be glad to receive pictures or stories from anybody in the community.”
Wirth said a plan is in the works to have decade themed nights at the hill to commemorate the milestone.
Celebrating the history of the ski hill is a big part of this season, but celebrating the spirit of volunteerism is a bigger part of every season at the ski hill it seems.
The ski hill is a non-profit organization and, despite having a couple of paid employees, the work to maintain and keep the hill running is the work of volunteers, and leading the way is Wirth.
“The ski hill would not be open for this 50th season if it were not for Brad Wirth. Brad has been president of the hill for the last several years and has transformed the hill more than may meet the eye,” said member Andrea Corona. “For example, he has worked tirelessly, and this is a man who is self-employed and puts in many hours at his own business, to continuously seek grants, donations, volunteers, etc. plus puts in many, many hours per week to improve the infrastructure.”
The hill’s infrastructure includes maintaining and repairing snow-making equipment, installing new electrical and plumbing to access the pond that feeds water to the snow-making equipment, erecting a new barn to house the latter components, inspecting and repairing existing equipment and tow lines to ensure they are safe and meet state and federal safety regulations, maintaining the snow cat and other snow moving equipment, clearing brush, coordinating volunteers and more.
“The list is just endless and clearly would keep someone employed full-time, year-round if we had the funds to do that. But Brad does this because he loves the ski hill. He just loves the ski hill,” Corona said.
Like Wirth, Corona said everyone pitches in when and where they can. There really are no past or present members of the facility because once a ski hill member, always a ski hill member.
“The camaraderie amongst us all lasts past the winter months,” Corona said. “[My husband] Tom and I joined the ski hill when it became apparent that we needed to ‘embrace’ our winter months and meet new people when our girls were small, 4 and 5 at the time.”
The hill’s close proximity to the community and the affordability of a membership were very attractive to the Coronas. Now, more than 10 years later, the family is still associated with the Skaneateles Ski Hill and have met some of their closest friends through all of the ski lessons, cook-offs and family events held year-round.
Wirth said membership has been pretty steady at 70 families (a typical four-person family).
“We want anybody who wants to join to join,” he said. “A lot of families are one-spouse skiing families.”
The members have always been a mix of residents from Skaneateles and Marcellus. But the membership also encompasses families from Auburn, Camillus, Baldwinsville and Manlius among other areas in the region.
“It’s a blast, so laid back,” Wirth said.
In fact, the entire atmosphere is like spending time with family — one very large family.
“Everybody watches over everybody’s kids. There’s not really that stranger mentality you see at bigger places,” Wirth said.
As a 501(c)3, the ski hill is always welcoming donations and trying to put together fundraisers. Other than donations, the main source of revenue to keep the hill up and running is from membership dues.
“We are so very grateful for those that have reached into their pockets so that this community ‘gem’ can exist for another 50 seasons,” Corona said. “I am quite certain that they do so because they as well have such fond memories of bringing their children to the ski hill.”
The new flooring and carpeting in the lodge has come to the ski hill via a very generous donation by Syracuse Flooring and Carpeting. A member, who wishes to remain anonymous, asked the company if they would donate the new carpet as the old carpet had really seen better days, Corona said.
“This is just one example of how the members do whatever they can to procure whatever they can to make the place that much better,” she said.
A member since 1999, Wirth said during his time with the ski hill many things have not changed — the integrity of the club and the whole family atmosphere has stayed the same.
What has changed, though, is the awareness of trying to maintain the infrastructure.
If you are interested in learning more about the Skaneateles Ski Hill, located on Route 174 in Marietta, log onto skiskaneateles.com. The Web site is filled with information about the hill and how to become a member.
