Wildcat behind the pack this year

[Brad J]

Here's my crazy idea:

They said they'll get replacement parts in 6-8 weeks, correct? Make a bunch of snow in March and be open till May and compete with Killington in the spring. Show the customers (especially season pass holders) that they are number 1 on the priority list by giving them a long spring season as a way of saying "we're sorry" for having this whole snowmaking fiasco that ruined November and December.

I told you it was crazy.

It is a great idea , it would make great business sense

 

[snoseek]

Here's my crazy idea:

They said they'll get replacement parts in 6-8 weeks, correct? Make a bunch of snow in March and be open till May and compete with Killington in the spring. Show the customers (especially season pass holders) that they are number 1 on the priority list by giving them a long spring season as a way of saying "we're sorry" for having this whole snowmaking fiasco that ruined November and December.

I told you it was crazy.

Not a crazy idea at all. With a solid snowmaking effort Wildcat could easily hang late in the year. They've been somewhat competitive in the past. Remember the year they opened in October and closed in May? Whoever owned it that year ran it like a boss!

 

[yeggous]

They said 16-18 weeks, not 6-8.

 

[ss20]

They said 16-18 weeks, not 6-8.

Well then, scratch my plan.

Other ideas?

 

[deadheadskier]

Blow a couple of trails deep off the Bobcat lift. Better than nothing. They've been the last ski area to close in NH for the last seven years. I'm sure they will do at least something to try and preserve that bit of marketing.

 

[eatskisleep]

Time to order a pump from a different manufacturer if the lead time is 16-18 weeks... Yikes, that's bad!

 

[steamboat1]

Wildcat today:

"UPDATE 8:00 a.m. - Due to the icy conditions on the roads and parking lot and poor quality of snow we've decided to close for the day. We have up to a quarter inch of ice at the summit and have been fighting back flooding in the lot and around the base all morning. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Once we get through today the temps will drop again and our groomers and snowmakers will be out ASAP to fix everything up again."

 

[yeggous]

They will lose all of the ungroomed terrain today. At least they'll start blowing on Bobcat. They need that trail very soon for racing. Wild Kitten which has seen snow making is really thin and grooming is bringing up gravel in spots. It'll need more help soon.

 

[Savemeasammy]

Wildcat today:

"UPDATE 8:00 a.m. - Due to the icy conditions on the roads and parking lot and poor quality of snow we've decided to close for the day. We have up to a quarter inch of ice at the summit and have been fighting back flooding in the lot and around the base all morning. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Once we get through today the temps will drop again and our groomers and snowmakers will be out ASAP to fix everything up again."

They had a carefully worded Facebook post an hour before this that gave readers the impression that the mountain would be open ("playing in the rain isn't so bad if you have the outer-wear for it..." blah, blah, blah...). I can't imagine anyone was super pumped to get out there today, but hopefully no one got burned by this!


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[Brad J]

They will lose all of the ungroomed terrain today. At least they'll start blowing on Bobcat. They need that trail very soon for racing. Wild Kitten which has seen snow making is really thin and grooming is bringing up gravel in spots. It'll need more help soon.

Heard over the weekend that they broke two of the compressors that they purchased which is also adding to the lack of snowmaking, when it rains it pours

 

[snoseek]

I wonder if the option for them to sell is even on the table? I mean finances gotta be lean if they're running things so tight. Maybe they should consider Mount Snow their one big mountain and stick to running smaller feeder Midwest type hills. Either way I hope things get fixed up like they should be at some point. Wildcat is worthy of the attention/repairs.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Heard over the weekend that they broke two of the compressors that they purchased which is also adding to the lack of snowmaking, when it rains it pours

With snow making it can sometimes be a ripple effect. If one thing goes other things tend to fail.

 

[croninovative]

Not even mad, I've never really liked Wildcat.

 

[eatskisleep]

Bring it back to a family run business.

 

[Madroch]

Without the ability to make snow on upper linx- wonder if the 100k challenge is in jeapardy- that is on upper linx in March- and needs a SOLID base?

 

[AdironRider]

You know, ski message boards (notably this one) always lament why feeder hills and the core places are dying and how its terrible for the sport, then come right back and bitch when they all aren't blasting snow like Killington, Someday Bigger, or Loon.

 

[Tin]

I can really see Wildcat going the way of Magic or MRG within the next 10-15 years.

 

[ScottySkis]

You know, ski message boards (notably this one) always lament why feeder hills and the core places are dying and how its terrible for the sport, then come right back and bitch when they all aren't blasting snow like Killington, Someday Bigger, or Loon.

They do have to make snow. Not like resorts in south Vermont. But will I travel 5 hours to ski a few trails no. So yes they need to understand that. I love to go their been their once as a child and loved the hill. If I see 75% open would I go this year yes.

 

[deadheadskier]

You know, ski message boards (notably this one) always lament why feeder hills and the core places are dying and how its terrible for the sport, then come right back and bitch when they all aren't blasting snow like Killington, Someday Bigger, or Loon.

My comments have been the opposite this season. The feeder hill Crotched has been blasting snow like crazy. The big hill, Wildcat not so much. Granted they've got system problems. Hopefully all the complaints spur significant investment next summer

 

[billski]

You know, ski message boards (notably this one) always lament why feeder hills and the core places are dying and how its terrible for the sport, then come right back and bitch when they all aren't blasting snow like Killington, Someday Bigger, or Loon.

I always make it a point to ski and spend money at feeder hills every year. Frankly, I don't care if they make snow or not, since I honestly don't mind skiing on a bit of dirt or puckerbush, or picking my way down a slope. I do however want to see everyone succeed, small and large, so I'm discussing snow-making as a necessary evil, not complaining about it at all. Regarding Whaleback, it was absolutely pouring when I went past there. Has nothing to do with how many trails they have open.