Last call for skiing at Swiss Valley this season on Saturday with final snow-making push

Joseph Dits, South Bend Tribune
·2 min read
A snow gun pumps snow onto one of the slopes at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones this week as it prepares for the season's final day on March 2, 2024.
A snow gun pumps snow onto one of the slopes at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones this week as it prepares for the season's final day on March 2, 2024.

JONES — Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area will finish a valiant season with the final day of skiing and snowboarding on Saturday, March 2.

The resort announced the season finale, stopping shy of Sunday when temperatures are forecasted to near 70 degrees, saying that warm spike and southerly winds would make for poor snow conditions.

Swiss Valley has gained accolades from skiers, both on social media and on the slopes, for how it has persistently made and preserved snow on its slopes this season despite spring-like weather.

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Such conditions likely wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago. But the resort has been making annual investments into its snow-making capabilities. That includes replacing the aging, leaking pipes that deliver water to the snow-making guns with wider pipes that have expanded the capacity.

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As well, it has added newer snow-making guns and frequently seized chances to make snow when the temperature and humidity levels have dropped low enough to do it — including even this week.

Slopes are seen this week at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones this week as it prepares for the season's final day on March 2, 2024.
Slopes are seen this week at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones this week as it prepares for the season's final day on March 2, 2024.

The similarly sized Timber Ridge Ski Area near Kalamazoo closed for the season early this week because of eroded conditions. Also near Kalamazoo, the larger Bittersweet Ski Area posted that it’s “closed until further notice,” adding on Facebook that, “If a March winter weather event occurs, we will remain prepared!”

Swiss Valley made it just across the line into March. Its seasons typically last one to two weeks into March.

Swiss is opening from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, March 1, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Several of the easy and intermediate slopes are open, though not the advanced slopes. The Ditch terrain park is closed, but Shanda’s terrain park is open.

There will be deejay music and live music in the chalet. Find details at SkiSwissValley.com.

Find columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures or 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Swiss Valley closes season for skiing snowboarding with last snowmaking