Recent trend with web info

[Hoodoo]

I've noticed that many areas have been deeply burying info that I feel is quite relevant. As a for instance, many websites now require 3 or more clicks to find area stats and trail maps. Further, many areas in PA are not indicating what the snow surface is (this is big down here, what with the potential for frozen granular). Finally, season total is buried, or, even missing from the page.

I understand that Covid protocol needs to be front and center on the page for planning purposes. However, when choosing a new area, or, picking between others that I've already visited, the aforementioned info is paramount.

Anyone else feeling this? Maybe, as I push 50 yo, I'm just not as interweb savvy??

 

[jimmywilson69]

at my local hill Roundtop, they've never really kept track of snow totals. Mainly because many winter we don't get much or any snow

 

[Hoodoo]

at my local hill Roundtop, they've never really kept track of snow totals. Mainly because many winter we don't get much or any snow

Ack! RT is my local, too. I live but 10 mins from there. True, they never tracked season total, but, this year I cannot seem to find snow surface.

 

[Edd]

Generally, ski websites over the years have not gotten functionally better. It’s mostly been lateral moves or steps backward.

 

[abc]

Generally, ski websites over the years have not gotten functionally better. It’s mostly been lateral moves or steps backward.

I'd say it moved backwards in functionality.

Or rather, they've gotten more "functional" if you're a "ski vacationer". Less functional for the skiers. Easier to book lodging, buy tickets ($$-revenue). Less easy for information that pertain to actual skiing, such as snow total, surface condition...

Basically, there's only so much information you can cram into one page, something has to go (to 2nd/3rd pages). The trend is... you know what!

 

[Hastur]

I will say the ikon and epic websites are terrible at providing info. Almost seems intentional.

 

[kingslug]

And where do they get their weather reports from..
Its like Stowe's report..maybe for the town but not for Mt Mansfield..which is a tad bit different than the weather at the coffee shop in town.
If you really want good intel..you have to dig a bit.

 

[ss20]

Generally, ski websites over the years have not gotten functionally better. It’s mostly been lateral moves or steps backward.

1000% agree and glad it's not just me. Everything moved to being more artsy and now stuff is hidden or simply not shown.

I miss old early 2000s style snow reports. Open box, closed box, mogul box, groomer box, snowflake box to denote snowmaking.

 

[PAabe]

I think this is a trend not only with ski areas - most websites are functionally much worse than they were 10 years ago. I dont know who they are getting to design these web site but I feel like high schoolers with a little html knowledge could do a much better job.

Elk and Plattekill still do great simple but detailed snow reports right off their home page. Elk does a pdf you download, or get emailed daily but I guess seeing as Elk still sells no tickets online they dont have a whole lot else to direct you to online.

I also agree Vail websites are definitely some of the worst.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Ack! RT is my local, too. I live but 10 mins from there. True, they never tracked season total, but, this year I cannot seem to find snow surface.

yep the stock Vail format is open, closed, groomed, ungroomed.

AS for RT, you either get packed powder or groomed granular. Unless it is actively snowing that is.

I will say that finding the trail and snow report isn't all that hard on a vail website. Its just lacking some of the actual important information. At least they've been writing a fairly mundane "paragraph" to put at the top of each page.

I too live about 10 minutes from there and in a normal year I also work just about as close.

 

[Glenn]

I only have two data points here, but I've noticed a decline on what you see in the webcams. They no longer show lift line or are just offline in those areas in general.

 

[abc]

I only have two data points here, but I've noticed a decline on what you see in the webcams. They no longer show lift line or are just offline in those areas in general.

Totally!

But you can't blame the mountains. I started a thread asking people to supplement those "missing" web cam image of how crowded the lifts are. But the response I got was "this will give state health authority too clear a view on how crowded the mountain is. And they will shut the mountain down. We can't risk that"!

So, people really prefer NOT to know the truth!

 

[JimG.]

So, people really prefer NOT to know the truth!

Oh yes this is so true in MANY ways.

 

[abc]

Oh yes this is so true in MANY ways.

You're probably right. People who can take the brutal truth are more likely the minorities.

Vail is right to sugarcoat everything. That's what most people want.

Those who really want to know? Well... Good luck!

 

[180]

So what I've seen is that EPIC and Ikon have standardized the software and layout for all their mountains. So have NYS Big 3. So now, after 2 years, I pretty much know where to go to get the info I want. I dont find them so bad.

 

[AdironRider]

All I see here is a bunch of old guys bitching about how things should be the way they used to be.

Like marketing didn't inflate snow totals or lie about trail counts 10 years ago.....

 

[abc]

All I see here is a bunch of old guys bitching about how things should be the way they used to be.

Not everything new is better. Plenty of cases where "new" was worse than the old.

This is one of such cases. But if you can't tell the latest fad from true functionality, go ahead and follow the herd.

 

[PAabe]

I am not an old guy and definitely still think websites were easier to navigate and find information, and less bloated, 10 years ago when I was a kid. Not talking about just ski area sites, just in general. I mean, in my opinion Wikipedia is the epitome of website design and they haven't had a major redesign in like 15 years.