Lack of expert terrain

[Low Rider]

It is disappointing and surprising. I can't remember not touching both Sunrise/Bear and rt 4 for MLK.
It will hurt future bookings, when limited Ski on/off lodging is one of the biggest complaints on guest surveys. And many people love the peak to creek run.

They already blew to Bearly, it doesnt seem like that big a commitment to finish rt 4. Mountain has been heavily booked/sold out for MLK for some time already.

Honestly - other than that they need the parking, Bear might as well not be open - nothing there to ski except for Skyburst and Bear Claw - so 2 quads are feeding down 1.5 trails into the same base area which makes for some very crowded (and unsafe) skiing.

With the relatively limited amount of terrain open, the Zoo factor this weekend is going to be extreme. Okemo and pretty much everyone else in New England is in the same boat.

I would say it isn't even relatively limited - I'd say very limited, but on the zoo factor I 100% agree. Last weekend was really bad, this weekend could be worse - although maybe the forecasted high of zero degrees F on Saturday could keep some people away.

[throbster]

I think the cold will take care of the crowds this weekend. The bars will be busy.

[Mister Moose]

although maybe the forecasted high of zero degrees F on Saturday could keep some people away.

There's a reason advance ticket sales are discounted.

[Captain Hafski]

Not that it's "Expert Terrain", the supposed topic.of this thread, but pretty sure they will get down to Rte 4 by this weekend. As I posted in the "Expansion" thread, saw SYSCO truck unloading down there today.

[Captain Hafski]

Speaking of Expert terrain, anyone else ski Panic -> Needle's Eye today?

[KingsFourMan]

It is disappointing and surprising. I can't remember not touching both Sunrise/Bear and rt 4 for MLK.
It will hurt future bookings, when limited Ski on/off lodging is one of the biggest complaints on guest surveys. And many people love the peak to creek run.

They already blew to Bearly, it doesnt seem like that big a commitment to finish rt 4. Mountain has been heavily booked/sold out for MLK for some time already.

Honestly - other than that they need the parking, Bear might as well not be open - nothing there to ski except for Skyburst and Bear Claw - so 2 quads are feeding down 1.5 trails into the same base area which makes for some very crowded (and unsafe) skiing.

With the relatively limited amount of terrain open, the Zoo factor this weekend is going to be extreme. Okemo and pretty much everyone else in New England is in the same boat.

I would say it isn't even relatively limited - I'd say very limited, but on the zoo factor I 100% agree. Last weekend was really bad, this weekend could be worse - although maybe the forecasted high of zero degrees F on Saturday could keep some people away.

The cold temps on Sat may help the zoo factor some but Sunday is going to be down right dangerous with Killington only at about 60-65% open. Okemo is only at about 50-55% open and is going to be a shitshow too. There is nothing fun about skiing dangerously crowded scraped off trails.

[tyrolean_skier]

It is disappointing and surprising. I can't remember not touching both Sunrise/Bear and rt 4 for MLK.
It will hurt future bookings, when limited Ski on/off lodging is one of the biggest complaints on guest surveys. And many people love the peak to creek run.

They already blew to Bearly, it doesnt seem like that big a commitment to finish rt 4. Mountain has been heavily booked/sold out for MLK for some time already.

Honestly - other than that they need the parking, Bear might as well not be open - nothing there to ski except for Skyburst and Bear Claw - so 2 quads are feeding down 1.5 trails into the same base area which makes for some very crowded (and unsafe) skiing.

With the relatively limited amount of terrain open, the Zoo factor this weekend is going to be extreme. Okemo and pretty much everyone else in New England is in the same boat.

I would say it isn't even relatively limited - I'd say very limited, but on the zoo factor I 100% agree. Last weekend was really bad, this weekend could be worse - although maybe the forecasted high of zero degrees F on Saturday could keep some people away.

The cold temps on Sat may help the zoo factor some but Sunday is going to be down right dangerous with Killington only at about 60-65% open. Okemo is only at about 50-55% open and is going to be a shitshow too. There is nothing fun about skiing dangerously crowded scraped off trails.

They opened all the tree trails on Snowdon but I think they all need more snow to make it worthwhile skiing. I tried some today and bailed on them because although the snow was good I was hitting too much stuff underneath.

[Big Bob]

I have not been to Killington since 12/24 and was surprised how much terrain was still closed. I realize that had to go back and resurface, but snow cover was thin in places and agree with Ty that I also hit hard objects. Still missing are Cascade, Double dipper, Ovation, OL, Vertigo, and pretty much everything below Bear. I was told that 5 snowmaking supervisors, not grunts, went out west. These days if you want to add employees you have to steal them from someone else. If these companies want to keep their staff they have to through more coin at them. With all the open positions they do have money budgeted and may have to tap that to keep what they have. I also noticed the lack of foreigners not working other than food services. Was it their day off or are they out sick?

[newpylong1]

Until folks know the whole story it is best not to assume. Snowmakers are historically underpaid yes. Supervisors are usually paid closer to what they're worth. Sometimes no pay in the world will get someone to stay. Contracting is far easier than working full time for one company. I know of two senior people in the East who did the same. It wasn't about pay it was about lifestyle change. Who wouldn't want less stress?

That said, their sh*t is obviously not in one sock and there may be no fixing it for this season.

[boston_e]

I have not been to Killington since 12/24 and was surprised how much terrain was still closed. I realize that had to go back and resurface, but snow cover was thin in places and agree with Ty that I also hit hard objects. Still missing are Cascade, Double dipper, Ovation, OL, Vertigo, and pretty much everything below Bear. I was told that 5 snowmaking supervisors, not grunts, went out west. These days if you want to add employees you have to steal them from someone else. If these companies want to keep their staff they have to through more coin at them. With all the open positions they do have money budgeted and may have to tap that to keep what they have. I also noticed the lack of foreigners not working other than food services. Was it their day off or are they out sick?

I’m pretty sure their staff of foreigners is way down due to Covid related challenges.

[Eddytheyetti]

Until folks know the whole story it is best not to assume. Snowmakers are historically underpaid yes. Supervisors are usually paid closer to what they're worth. Sometimes no pay in the world will get someone to stay. Contracting is far easier than working full time for one company. I know of two senior people in the East who did the same. It wasn't about pay it was about lifestyle change. Who wouldn't want less stress?

That said, their sh*t is obviously not in one sock and there may be no fixing it for this season.

Until the mountain operates with a bit more transparency we are stuck here making assumptions and speculating. It’s the internet, it’s why we are here. The resort spent the first half the week touting exciting expansion plans which have amounted to opening the other half of the snow shed slope. I am sure their early week reports sold some advance tickets and fast tracks and maybe that money will help in the long run, but it just seems like deception with out a better explanation.


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[DES]

They opened all the tree trails on Snowdon but I think they all need more snow to make it worthwhile skiing. I tried some today and bailed on them because although the snow was good I was hitting too much stuff underneath.

No glades officially open at Cannon currently, and I'm with you, just not enough snow depth to make it fun enough to risk damage. Saw yesterday one of my woods areas got a trail sign (a couple years ago I had posted someone had moved back to the neighborhood, and cleared out some saplings that hid it, so I knew it was coming eventually).

[newpylong1]

Until folks know the whole story it is best not to assume. Snowmakers are historically underpaid yes. Supervisors are usually paid closer to what they're worth. Sometimes no pay in the world will get someone to stay. Contracting is far easier than working full time for one company. I know of two senior people in the East who did the same. It wasn't about pay it was about lifestyle change. Who wouldn't want less stress?

That said, their sh*t is obviously not in one sock and there may be no fixing it for this season.

Until the mountain operates with a bit more transparency we are stuck here making assumptions and speculating. It’s the internet, it’s why we are here. The resort spent the first half the week touting exciting expansion plans which have amounted to opening the other half of the snow shed slope. I am sure their early week reports sold some advance tickets and fast tracks and maybe that money will help in the long run, but it just seems like deception with out a better explanation.


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Don't think I defended their Snow Reporting, lack of following through on commitments, or anything related at all. My reply was strictly regarding losing employees due to x reason and making assumptions why.

I think we all agree that transparency has been lacking. I passed that on to my contacts there for what it's worth. Probably not much. They are just trying to get by like most other places right now. It has been the worst trail rollout in my 30+ years of skiing there (that I can recollect). That said, for how much Sunday River has excelled in snowmaking this season when K has struggled, Killington still has 10 miles more skiing open. That's 10 more miles than anyone else in the East. Sometimes things are relative...

[Mister Moose]

Sometimes things are relative...

And sometimes they are transformative.

[Big Bob]

Until folks know the whole story it is best not to assume. Snowmakers are historically underpaid yes. Supervisors are usually paid closer to what they're worth. Sometimes no pay in the world will get someone to stay. Contracting is far easier than working full time for one company. I know of two senior people in the East who did the same. It wasn't about pay it was about lifestyle change. Who wouldn't want less stress?

That said, their sh*t is obviously not in one sock and there may be no fixing it for this season.

Until the mountain operates with a bit more transparency we are stuck here making assumptions and speculating. It’s the internet, it’s why we are here. The resort spent the first half the week touting exciting expansion plans which have amounted to opening the other half of the snow shed slope. I am sure their early week reports sold some advance tickets and fast tracks and maybe that money will help in the long run, but it just seems like deception with out a better explanation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't think I defended their Snow Reporting, lack of following through on commitments, or anything related at all. My reply was strictly regarding losing employees due to x reason and making assumptions why.

I think we all agree that transparency has been lacking. I passed that on to my contacts there for what it's worth. Probably not much. They are just trying to get by like most other places right now. It has been the worst trail rollout in my 30+ years of skiing there (that I can recollect). That said, for how much Sunday River has excelled in snowmaking this season when K has struggled, Killington still has 10 miles more skiing open. That's 10 more miles than anyone else in the East. Sometimes things are relative...

Sunday River pays $5/hour more than Vail/Wildcat, where do you think SR got some of their snowmakers from and why Wildcat has almost none.