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NH Ski Resorts Hoping For Jackpot Snow Totals

HENNIKER, N.H. (CBS) - At Pats Peak, they are hoping the storm puts people in the mood to visit.

"Natural snow definitely gets people to remind them that there are winter activities," said Lori Rowell, Director of Marketing for the ski resort.

Ski NH says mountains should remain open during the storm, although visitors might have trouble getting there. And while a mid-week storm would be better so as not to hurt weekend attendance, nobody is complaining.

Unity Dienes of Concord, NH, says too often this season her family has not been motivated to ski because of the lack of major snowfall.

"Every day that we've been planning to come out it's either been way too cold or rainy or it certainly didn't look snowy," said Dienes. "So it didn't make us want to leave the house and hit the slopes."

Businesses, like snowmobile dealerships, which depend on snow, are hurting.

"Sales have been super slow," said Steve Livingston, owner of Livingston's Arctic Cat in Hillsborough, NH.

Livingston typically sells up to five snowmobiles a day, but has not sold one in a week. He says that is "unheard of."

"I hope we get as much snow as we can possibly deal with," said Livingston. "That would be like a hot summer day for Hampton Beach for us."

Gail Hanson, executive director of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association, calls the current situation "disastrous" since the thaw.

Only about 500 miles of trails are open. New Hampshire has 7,400 miles of trails in all.

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