Sunapee - 2/23/04

[SUV Steve]

Date(s) Skied: 2/23/04

Resort or Ski Area: Resort, formerly ski area

Conditions: Packed (powder,lots,lodge,trails)

Trip Report:



I had several new experiences at Mt. Sunapee yesterday. I got to come around a corner and see my ten-year-old daughter on the ground after being hit (fortunately, by another child and at relatively low speed) and have the father of the other kid try to explain it away by saying my kid fell right in front of his. I got to chase some guy halfway down the mountain and explain the code to him in no uncertain terms after he took some air at high speed (on a crowded, lowish-blue trail) and missed landing on my kid by about 3-4 feet. I got to hear about another near miss while the kid was off skiing with my wife. I thought, well maybe we should go over to Billy Goat & Duckling for awhile where it's a little less crowded. (Of course, that area is now a terrain park and halfpipe, so inexperienced skiers now graduate from South Peak directly to the summit.) Good grooming everywhere, though. I guess Tom & Diane are doing a great job transforming Sunapee and attracting more business from uh, non-local areas. I'm sure in the future I'll remember the old days with fondness, as I drive by on my way to Cannon or Ragged.

[uphillklimber]

Steve 1321, I think that common cortesy has gone the way of the family owned ski area. Even at family owned resorts, I once had a kid do a jump over me, after he waved me by on a narrow trail. I have written to resorts before (and will do so again) about the lack of cortesy at their resorts.... but I don't know how they can effectively teach manners to paying customers all juiced up on adrenaline. Wasn't it possible, in years past, for a ski patroller to clip a ticket???? Clip a few, and it will slow down, clip too many, and people won't come any more..... It's a hard balance.

As I see it, this is a problem everywhere..... If there are still some areas that have courteous clientele, please spread the word around.

Beyond that, I can't fault the owners from trying to improve their mountains and pack em in. It is a business, after all......

[SUV Steve]

Perhaps, but I can only imagine what presidents/school vaca week must have been like. I simply do not think the Mueller's changes have been conducive to safety on the hill.