Early snow spikes season pass buying

Vernon — On Thursday, Oct. 15, the slopes at Mountain Creek were reminiscent of winter. A Nor’easter started Thursday morning and passed over the East Coast, bringing this fall snowstorm. Within a few days, temperatures into the 70s were a welcome return to more seasonable weather. According to the folks at Mountain Creek, flurries began Thursday morning and by 3 p.m., the Creek’s summit was covered with almost two inches of wet snow. This created a buzz among potential season pass holders, as Mountain Creek guarantees preseason rates through Dec. 6 or the first two inches of snow. Mountain Creek took advantage of its social media presence by “tweeting” weather updates and pictures via Twitter. A free-for-all ensued on the resort’s official Facebook Fan Page, where “fans” expressed joy and excitement as the news rolled in. The “snow storm” also spawned the resort’s new video series, “Halley’s rapid play,” in which Mountain Creek’s media specialist Halley O’Brien and fellow employees showcased the unexpected snowfall through a humorous time-lapse. The video, along with a first-hand account of the storm, was posted on the resort’s new blog. Mountain Creek believes the early snowfall in conjunction with its savvy use of new media, directly correlates to the biggest spike in season pass sales history. For updates, visit mountaincreek.com/blog.