Pocono News Section

Rain Washes Away Ski Business

Rain Washes Away Ski Business - Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 4:21PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010 @ 04:21pm EST

TANNERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY - Domingo Llalos woke up and headed straight to Camelback Mountain Resort. He said, "As soon as I see some flurries i come out and play."

He wanted to snowboard Monday but he couldn't. He laughed, "I went like 'oh bummer!'" Wind and rain forced most Pocono ski areas to close Monday. Danny Aspan from New Jersey explained, "It was like a torrential downpour. It was coming down. We couldn't see 20 feet in front of the car driving up." He and his group of friends were stuck inside all day.

When the rain stopped, the wind continued going strong. But that didn't stop hardcore skiers and snowboarders from hitting the slopes. "When the weather is not ideal demand drops off - the minute the weather comes back up demand kicks right back in," said Camelback Manager Charles Blier.

Blier told Eyewitness News it's tough to make up a day of business but it could have been worse if the wet weather hit on a weekend. He remarked, "There's no doubt on a Saturday or a Sunday it's a little bit more of an impact."

Plus there are usually a lot of group trips on Mondays and Camelback won't lose that business. Blier said, "Really we know they'll come back any way because they pre paid for it."

The wind and rain may have washed away one day of fun but it looks like there's plenty of winter left on the Pocono slopes.

Camelback managers said they still have two to four feet of snow on the slopes. Plus they said the weather will be cold enough for them to blow snow all week.