For some resorts, spring snow means skiing in May
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Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort has announced that heavy recent snowfall will allow it to stay open into May, its latest closing date ever.
More than 13 feet of snow has fallen this winter at Lutsen, which is along the North Shore of Lake Superior. That's about four feet more than average.
As there are still two to four feet of snow on the ski runs, even with the weather warming, the resort will operate for two more weekends until May 4, Marketing Director Jim Vick said.
Business was slower than usual earlier in the year because of the extreme cold, but Vick said it has picked up recently.
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"Our spring skiing has done really well," he said. "There's some pent up demand, it was cold mid-winter, and folks just didn't get out to enjoy it like they wanted to."
Other ski areas in Minnesota closed during the first two weeks of April. A handful of ski areas in the western United States stay open into May and sometimes until June.
Vick said Lutsen visitors typically enjoy good spring skiing, but never before like this year.
"I'm a hard core, I have hiked for some turns late in the season in May, but we've never operated into May," he said. "So we're excited about it. It's a new thing, and this past weekend was incredible skiing, and we're looking forward to two more."
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