drjeff
Well-known member
I guess that this is a meeting report instead of a trip report
Okay, for those of you who couldn't make the hour plus meeting this AM, here's my notes of what was said.
Next Season: MORE fan guns, final numbers/trails still being finalized. Ultimately the plan is to have enough fan guns on the mountain so that the mountain won't need the 10 diesel rental compressors anymore.
West Lake Project: Moving through Act 250 permitting. Currently waiting for the snow to melt around the proposed site so a study can be done to see if the bears native to the area like to eat the trees/shrubs around the site, and if so a transfer of wetlands will likely be made. The entire project WILL NOT be completed before next season due to the permitting process. The plan is unpon permit approval likely later this summer that the basic infastructure around the site will be completed, and then the entire project done intime for the start of the '09/'10 season. Management felt VERY good about getting the permit approval.
Lifts: Earliest would be for the '09-'10 season. The priority mentioned was replacement of the summit local with either a high speed quad or six pack (looking into both options) and then 2nd on the list is upgrading Sunbrook. Long term, it was mentioned that when the Grand Summit Express needs replacement that a Gondola MIGHT be considered. This summer will see ALOT of painting of lifts!
Pass Prices (a hot topic that was brought up many times from many angles). Senior pass prices will over the next year or two be brought in line with the pricing of the Junior pass prices. This is a Peak Resort company wide Policy. It was mentioned that for families with kids in the development program that there is currently a discount for the combined price of the parent and child passes. This will be looked at for season pass holders for daycare and snowcamp too. In general, Mamaspice answered a multitude of questions about this topic and reiterated that Mount Snow's pass prices are very competitive with the competition. Also, when someone asked about the possiblity of an everyday non blacked out Mount Snow only pass (No Crotched/Attitash/Jack Frost), Kelly Pawlak's reply was that the Nor'easter pass is essentially a Mount Snow only pass where they just threw in the others areas as an added value.
Wind Power - a question about the possibility of a wind turbine at the summit for power generation was brought up. The reply, was that nothing this time is being looked at, if for no other reason than all of the legal redtape that the proposed expansion of the existing wind turbine farm in Searsburg has been having over the past few years.
Trail Expansion; In the US Forest service Master plan, 4 additional trails are prosposed that if and when cut will basically run through existing glades. Some existing areas of certain trails may be "given back" to forest service land as a way to widen other trails to facilitate fan guns in the future. A question was asked about a reported rumor that Mount Snow would be eliminating it's Glades, Mamaspice answered "No, end of story"
Next year's plan to bring foriegn workers in should is under way and should be much better than this years, especially since the H2B Visa problem didn't arise until Late Oct/Early November this year.
Ski School - Many questions/comments were asked about how its very difficult short notice to get reseravtions for the kids programs. The answer is that Mount Snow currently has about 260 instructors which is DOWN from around 400 instructors a few years ago - some of this was due to the H2B visa issues. Active recruiting is planned to rebuild the number of instructors - it was mentioned that this is a VERY IMPORTANT area of concern for Peak Resorts!
Base Area Master Plan: There has been a committee formed to look at the Master Plan for development/redevelopment of the main base area. Peak Resorts in all likelyhood would pair with a developer for the devlopment portion. This is very early in planning, and it was mentioned that this project is on the 5 year (if not more) horizon. This devlopment potential would involve base area day lodge facilities, retail space and lodging.
Summer Activities: No current expansion of summer activities are planned as capital expenditures are being made mainly on winter activites only. It was mentioned that since Tim Boyd's sons recently bought some expensive mountain bikes from Mount Snow Sports that mountain biking definately isn't going away!
All in all a very good, infortmative meeting. I'd estimate that 75 to 100 folks were in attendance and about 10 from management made up the panel.
That's enough for now as I need to pick up my kids from daycare/ski school and get to the passholders party!
Okay, for those of you who couldn't make the hour plus meeting this AM, here's my notes of what was said.
Next Season: MORE fan guns, final numbers/trails still being finalized. Ultimately the plan is to have enough fan guns on the mountain so that the mountain won't need the 10 diesel rental compressors anymore.
West Lake Project: Moving through Act 250 permitting. Currently waiting for the snow to melt around the proposed site so a study can be done to see if the bears native to the area like to eat the trees/shrubs around the site, and if so a transfer of wetlands will likely be made. The entire project WILL NOT be completed before next season due to the permitting process. The plan is unpon permit approval likely later this summer that the basic infastructure around the site will be completed, and then the entire project done intime for the start of the '09/'10 season. Management felt VERY good about getting the permit approval.
Lifts: Earliest would be for the '09-'10 season. The priority mentioned was replacement of the summit local with either a high speed quad or six pack (looking into both options) and then 2nd on the list is upgrading Sunbrook. Long term, it was mentioned that when the Grand Summit Express needs replacement that a Gondola MIGHT be considered. This summer will see ALOT of painting of lifts!
Pass Prices (a hot topic that was brought up many times from many angles). Senior pass prices will over the next year or two be brought in line with the pricing of the Junior pass prices. This is a Peak Resort company wide Policy. It was mentioned that for families with kids in the development program that there is currently a discount for the combined price of the parent and child passes. This will be looked at for season pass holders for daycare and snowcamp too. In general, Mamaspice answered a multitude of questions about this topic and reiterated that Mount Snow's pass prices are very competitive with the competition. Also, when someone asked about the possiblity of an everyday non blacked out Mount Snow only pass (No Crotched/Attitash/Jack Frost), Kelly Pawlak's reply was that the Nor'easter pass is essentially a Mount Snow only pass where they just threw in the others areas as an added value.
Wind Power - a question about the possibility of a wind turbine at the summit for power generation was brought up. The reply, was that nothing this time is being looked at, if for no other reason than all of the legal redtape that the proposed expansion of the existing wind turbine farm in Searsburg has been having over the past few years.
Trail Expansion; In the US Forest service Master plan, 4 additional trails are prosposed that if and when cut will basically run through existing glades. Some existing areas of certain trails may be "given back" to forest service land as a way to widen other trails to facilitate fan guns in the future. A question was asked about a reported rumor that Mount Snow would be eliminating it's Glades, Mamaspice answered "No, end of story"
Next year's plan to bring foriegn workers in should is under way and should be much better than this years, especially since the H2B Visa problem didn't arise until Late Oct/Early November this year.
Ski School - Many questions/comments were asked about how its very difficult short notice to get reseravtions for the kids programs. The answer is that Mount Snow currently has about 260 instructors which is DOWN from around 400 instructors a few years ago - some of this was due to the H2B visa issues. Active recruiting is planned to rebuild the number of instructors - it was mentioned that this is a VERY IMPORTANT area of concern for Peak Resorts!
Base Area Master Plan: There has been a committee formed to look at the Master Plan for development/redevelopment of the main base area. Peak Resorts in all likelyhood would pair with a developer for the devlopment portion. This is very early in planning, and it was mentioned that this project is on the 5 year (if not more) horizon. This devlopment potential would involve base area day lodge facilities, retail space and lodging.
Summer Activities: No current expansion of summer activities are planned as capital expenditures are being made mainly on winter activites only. It was mentioned that since Tim Boyd's sons recently bought some expensive mountain bikes from Mount Snow Sports that mountain biking definately isn't going away!
All in all a very good, infortmative meeting. I'd estimate that 75 to 100 folks were in attendance and about 10 from management made up the panel.
That's enough for now as I need to pick up my kids from daycare/ski school and get to the passholders party!
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