2021/2022 Winter Season Covid Discussion

[K42]

As a younger person on this board who’s vaccinated and boosted ik that COVID statically wouldn’t affect me to badly.

However, I actually miss last years parking reservations and mask rules as it kept people away and actually kept lines down. It also kept away a crowd of people who chose to not ski to protest “tyrannical” COVID protocols, this was an indirect benefit. Private gondolas, less crowds and closer parking all while allowing those less fortunate than me the opportunity to safely ski- I can not complain.

If k puts In place the previous protocols I wouldn’t care. I’m a pass holder and I’m not gonna stop showing up bc they want me to do the bare minimum to protect others. I would even welcome it.

[Pedro]

Guess you can catch outside! From Distillery!

“Dear Valued Guest:

We have had a couple of staff members at our restaurant that attended an outside event together who have tested positive for Covid-19, Omicron variant.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the hard decision to close the restaurant due to the minimal availability of testing and testing kits in our area.

We will reopen hopefully mid next week once we are able to test all of our staff and follow all recommended CDC guidelines.

No one is more disappointed than us that we are unable to have you as our guests.
We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. We wish you and your family a most wonderful holiday season.

Killington Distillery/Still on the Mountain”

Busiest week of the year and they need to shut down for half of it at least. Ouch!!!

I assume the distillery is taking a wild guess that it's the omicron variant as even the gold standard PCR tests don't discriminate against the variants. (needs to go through sequencing)

[snoloco]

As a younger person on this board who’s vaccinated and boosted ik that COVID statically wouldn’t affect me to badly.

However, I actually miss last years parking reservations and mask rules as it kept people away and actually kept lines down. It also kept away a crowd of people who chose to not ski to protest “tyrannical” COVID protocols, this was an indirect benefit. Private gondolas, less crowds and closer parking all while allowing those less fortunate than me the opportunity to safely ski- I can not complain.

If k puts In place the previous protocols I wouldn’t care. I’m a pass holder and I’m not gonna stop showing up bc they want me to do the bare minimum to protect others. I would even welcome it.

I actually think this is a rather selfish take.

Sure, there were some sliver linings of the restrictions from last year, but overall the impact was negative. There were severe travel restrictions that all but guaranteed losing money. Have you seen that article about Vermont's ski industry losing 100M last season? Sure you got some closer parking and less people on the trails, and that's all well and good until your favorite ski resort goes out of business. Or you end up with your favorite restaurant or ski shop boarded up, closed for good. They need to get normal skier visits back this season, not just for the resorts themselves, but all the supporting businesses in the community, and the people they employ.

Also, you're on crack if you think the lift lines were shorter last season. The gondolas and bubble chair were practically unusable after 9 on most weekends, unless you wanted to burn 20 minutes in line.

[K42]

As a younger person on this board who’s vaccinated and boosted ik that COVID statically wouldn’t affect me to badly.

However, I actually miss last years parking reservations and mask rules as it kept people away and actually kept lines down. It also kept away a crowd of people who chose to not ski to protest “tyrannical” COVID protocols, this was an indirect benefit. Private gondolas, less crowds and closer parking all while allowing those less fortunate than me the opportunity to safely ski- I can not complain.

If k puts In place the previous protocols I wouldn’t care. I’m a pass holder and I’m not gonna stop showing up bc they want me to do the bare minimum to protect others. I would even welcome it.

I actually think this is a rather selfish take.

Sure, there were some sliver linings of the restrictions from last year, but overall the impact was negative. There were severe travel restrictions that all but guaranteed losing money. Have you seen that article about Vermont's ski industry losing 100M last season? Sure you got some closer parking and less people on the trails, and that's all well and good until your favorite ski resort goes out of business. Or you end up with your favorite restaurant or ski shop boarded up, closed for good. They need to get normal skier visits back this season, not just for the resorts themselves, but all the supporting businesses in the community, and the people they employ.

Also, you're on crack if you think the lift lines were shorter last season. The gondolas and bubble chair were practically unusable after 9 on most weekends, unless you wanted to burn 20 minutes in line.

You only ski holiday weekends so you do not have an accurate sense of crowds at killington since u come and go with the them. Midweek crowds were slightly higher but crowds across the board were down last year. Those who ski more can attest to this.

I supported the rules because they protected those who were more vulnerable than younger folks like us. That is not selfish of me, and neither is enjoying the perks they brought.

Also you love to play economist so please don’t give me that weak sauce that another COVID season is gonna put the beast out of business. Killington is owned by powder. This is no local ski hill.

The biggest REAL threat to the beast is the worker shortage at the moment. An understaffed k means less lifts open, less lodges, ticket tellers etc. COVID rules operated with less workers so using ur logic they could alleviate the stress of going back to a higher capacity.

[snoloco]

I was mostly there early and late last season. In fact, I wasn't there on any holiday weekends due to Ikon blackouts. I have friends who were there every weekend and observed the same as I did.

It's a fact that the Vermont ski industry lost many millions of dollars last season. By supporting the same rules as last season, when they are not necessary, you are supporting the Vermont ski industry losing that kind of money again. Sure, the big resorts owned by national corporations would survive, but what about all the other businesses that depend on those skier visits? How many went belly up, or would go belly up if there was another year like last year?

I assume you're quite well off, and thus relatively insulated from the collateral damage these covid restrictions cause, which is why you don't understand it. You probably have a work from home job that isn't going anywhere in the event of a lockdown and you'll never need to wear a mask for 8 hours straight. Maybe you should consider those less fortunate.

Also, with half capacity lifts last season, many resorts had to run more lifts on non-peak days to keep wait times down. So you're totally backwards on that one.

[K42]

I was mostly there early and late last season. In fact, I wasn't there on any holiday weekends due to Ikon blackouts. I have friends who were there every weekend and observed the same as I did.

It's a fact that the Vermont ski industry lost many millions of dollars last season. By supporting the same rules as last season, when they are not necessary, you are supporting the Vermont ski industry losing that kind of money again. Sure, the big resorts owned by national corporations would survive, but what about all the other businesses that depend on those skier visits? How many went belly up, or would go belly up if there was another year like last year?

I assume you're quite well off, and thus relatively insulated from the collateral damage these covid restrictions cause, which is why you don't understand it. You probably have a work from home job that isn't going anywhere in the event of a lockdown and you'll never need to wear a mask for 8 hours straight. Maybe you should consider those less fortunate.

Also, with half capacity lifts last season, many resorts had to run more lifts on non-peak days to keep wait times down. So you're totally backwards on that one.

Your assumptions about myself are off base, ignorant and incorrect. My job requires me to wear a mask at this time, for 8 hours or more. This is not a misfortune, at the most a minor inconvenience. If you view wearing a mask for 8 hours as grounds for pity than you should probably take a step back and evaluate your tolerance for inconvenience in life.

[daytripper]

Didn't take very long for this to become a pissing contest!

[snoloco]

Your assumptions about myself are off base, ignorant and incorrect. My job requires me to wear a mask at this time, for 8 hours or more. This is not a misfortune, at the most a minor inconvenience. If you view wearing a mask for 8 hours as grounds for pity than you should probably take a step back and evaluate your tolerance for inconvenience in life.

I see what you did there. For whatever reason, you are deeply insecure with yourself. As such, you need to find a way to act morally superior. You think by following last season's rules, that you were better than those who chose not to come, which you claim to be in protest of the restrictions. I'm sure there were some who decided not to bother because if felt like there were too many hoops to jump through in order to ski. But the biggest reason people didn't come is they wanted to stay in compliance with Vermont's travel restrictions, which many ignored. In reality, you aren't in any way superior to anyone else who skied last season or chose not to ski. I skied over 50 days last season across different resorts. I always followed the rules, and was happy to do so, because I felt it was necessary to ensure that we had a season at all. That time has passed, and I believe it's time to return to normal operations at ski resorts. You think that by supporting a return to restrictions that you're morally superior. You think that you're doing a service to those "less fortunate". Neither of these are true. You're not morally superior at all, and people are more than capable of making their own risk assessments and acting accordingly.

Didn't take very long for this to become a pissing contest!

Inevitable with all covid threads.

[K42]

Your assumptions about myself are off base, ignorant and incorrect. My job requires me to wear a mask at this time, for 8 hours or more. This is not a misfortune, at the most a minor inconvenience. If you view wearing a mask for 8 hours as grounds for pity than you should probably take a step back and evaluate your tolerance for inconvenience in life.

I see what you did there. For whatever reason, you are deeply insecure with yourself. As such, you need to find a way to act morally superior. You think by following last season's rules, that you were better than those who chose not to come, which you claim to be in protest of the restrictions. I'm sure there were some who decided not to bother because if felt like there were too many hoops to jump through in order to ski. But the biggest reason people didn't come is they wanted to stay in compliance with Vermont's travel restrictions, which many ignored. In reality, you aren't in any way superior to anyone else who skied last season or chose not to ski. I skied over 50 days last season across different resorts. I always followed the rules, and was happy to do so, because I felt it was necessary to ensure that we had a season at all. That time has passed, and I believe it's time to return to normal operations at ski resorts. You think that by supporting a return to restrictions that you're morally superior. You think that you're doing a service to those "less fortunate". Neither of these are true. You're not morally superior at all, and people are more than capable of making their own risk assessments and acting accordingly.

Didn't take very long for this to become a pissing contest!

Inevitable with all covid threads.

I really must have struck a nerve with you to start making personal attacks at me. I made my opinion clear on how I feel about the restrictions. For whatever reason this bothered you to a point where you want to prove yourself to me. I don’t know why.

All I can say is you claim to be a civil engineer-one who followed all the COVID travel restrictions and ski restrictions. All while skiing over 50 days. This wouldn’t be possible with Vermont’s 14 day quarantine order… none the less you seem to be living a way better life than anyone else here! Why bother arguing with someone over their opinions about one of the many ski resorts you spent over 50 days at. Seems like a waste of someone of your statuses time.

[asher2789]

- I will not put down the bubble if riding with someone I don't know. This will be interesting when someone else joins you, without saying anything, just as you load the chair, then wants the bubble down.

- I really don't want anyone else with me in the gondolas. Up to now, this hasn't been an issue as I only ride the K1 very late in the day. But, things will be very different now that Skyeship is coming on line and as the mountain gets more crowded. Regardless, for me, I will probably just have to live with skipping the gondolas for now.

i feel the same about these, although less about the bubble since youre only on it for ~4 mins. the gondi is worrisome though, 8 people on top of each other, no masks, for 10 mins. theres airflow but probably not enough. and then with the threat of omicron spreading easier and the unknown potential for long covid...

still i ride it a bit nervously, but i really miss the private gondolas for multiple reasons. it would be a sh*t show during the holiday week without ticket limits.

[asher2789]

I am vacinnated and boosted. My only concerns are the gondola cabins and inside the lodges. While risks are low for those vacinnated and boosted, they are not zero. Saw data recently that those over 65 vaxed have about a 0.25% chance of dying if they get the virus. Not insignificant. For those over 65 and not vaxed, it's almost 6%, so over 20 times higher. Killington will follow whatever rules VT puts out, but not likely to put in anything sticter than that.

for the vaccinated, dying isnt the worry. long covid is. i have two 30 something very healthy friends who got long covid - one who got covid march 2020 at k and another who was fully vaxxed this summer and caught delta. second friend has not been doing well - rendered disabled and cant even exercise without their heart going crazy; first friend is improving. both were in perfect health and shape prior.

[throbster]

If it's super cold or dumping out, and some jerk wants the bubble up, there is going to be trouble.

[daytripper]

If your uncomfortable with the bubble down then you should take the triple if it's busy and you can't ride alone.

[Guy in Shorts]

Stranger that joined up with us wanted the bubble up on a cold morning as he claimed it made you soft riding with the bubble down. We pulled down the blue shield to keep us protected. Go ride the triple if you need the old school ways.

[tyrolean_skier]

If it's super cold or dumping out, and some jerk wants the bubble up, there is going to be trouble.

There are many ski friends of mine who have Covid recently so leaving the bubble up is the way to go to protect yourself and others. When it was a quad you had no bubble so you rode it anyway. Very recently my friends and I were riding the bubble and a single joined us and dropped the bubble without asking if it was OK with the rest - very rude of him. Luckily my friends and I were wearing our masks