are killington skiers more passionate about skiing or just a bunch of whiners?

[andyzee]

Here we go.....

This is a forum (place for discussion). You find something wrong with this?

 

[2knees]

lots of good opinions on this. i, for one, am really upset about bear being closed and have voiced my opinion to management. if the season were longer, i would ski longer. that seems to be the opinion of everyone i speak to at killington.
but when i talk to people that ski sugarbush (my brother has had a house there for 20 years) they are fine with the season length and that mt ellen closes early. same thing with the people i talk to at stowe.
i just find it interesting that the killington skiers react differently than at other mtns... maybe it is just the fact that we got used to a long season and now that the place is being run as a money making business, we just cant accept it. and all the people that want to ski until there is no more snow are pass holders
just an observation... not trying to offend anyone

I think you've basically answered your own question.

You're a bunch of bitches....:razz:

In all seriousness, as previously stated by others, i think its simply a fact of k having had a long standing tradition of staying open until there basically wasnt a single patch of snow left worth skiing. Interestingly, this hasnt really happened since before ASC split but as powbmps said, we're all getting old and the memory of the past haunts our present and future. Sugarbush, Jay and Stowe never really were playa's in the late game until recently. Others have tried at times to fill the void but the fact killington closes with such good cover only reinforces the belief that they can still do what they used to do.

 

[AMBR]

maybe it is just the fact that we got used to a long season and now that the place is being run as a money making business, we just cant accept it. and all the people that want to ski until there is no more snow are pass holders
just an observation... not trying to offend anyone

I'm sure most of the people that ski late are pass holders, but for the record, most of the people in my club and the other Jersey clubs nearby get discount tickets from the NJ Ski Council, but most of us don't have passes. Don't know how many people that is, but it's quite a few, though probably not enough to make a difference.

 

[andyzee]

I'm sure most of the people that ski late are pass holders, but for the record, most of the people in my club and the other Jersey clubs nearby get discount tickets from the NJ Ski Council, but most of us don't have passes. Don't know how many people that is, but it's quite a few, though probably not enough to make a difference.

On the flip side, pass holders buy passes to Killington with expectation of longer season. Season gets shorter, so do the list of reasons to buy Killington pass. Season gets longer, so does list of reasons to buy Killington pass. This year a blackout pass to Killington is going for $720, a blackout pass for Whiteface/Gore is going for $565. Between me and my wife, that's a $310 difference. For me drive time distance is the same. They both have pluses and minuses, but this is something to consider with shorter season. If on the other hand, I get classic Killington May skiing, it's a no brainer for me.

 

[roark]

^^ exactly why I don't even consider a K pass anymore. The only reason (for me) was early and (especially) late. Much rather be somewhere else mid-season. K has so many little nooks with different aspects so you can find nice corn all day as the sun passes.

 

[Riverskier]

On the flip side, pass holders buy passes to Killington with expectation of longer season. Season gets shorter, so do the list of reasons to buy Killington pass. Season gets longer, so does list of reasons to buy Killington pass. This year a blackout pass to Killington is going for $720, a blackout pass for Whiteface/Gore is going for $565. Between me and my wife, that's a $310 difference. For me drive time distance is the same. They both have pluses and minuses, but this is something to consider with shorter season. If on the other hand, I get classic Killington May skiing, it's a no brainer for me.

This is an important point. With Boyne's October to May season they virtually have me locked in as a customer. Shorten the season and I would at least consider other options, such as Saddleback's unrestricted season pass for less than Boyne's blackout pass.

 

[mediamogul]

lots of good opinions on this. i, for one, am really upset about bear being closed and have voiced my opinion to management. if the season were longer, i would ski longer. that seems to be the opinion of everyone i speak to at killington.
but when i talk to people that ski sugarbush (my brother has had a house there for 20 years) they are fine with the season length and that mt ellen closes early. same thing with the people i talk to at stowe.
i just find it interesting that the killington skiers react differently than at other mtns... maybe it is just the fact that we got used to a long season and now that the place is being run as a money making business, we just cant accept it. and all the people that want to ski until there is no more snow are pass holders
just an observation... not trying to offend anyone

IDK I bet the Sugarbush skiers would be pissed if they watched Castlerock close with wall to wall coverage and 100% open. The difference is that Sugarbush is in the hands of dedicated skiers more interested in preserving the experience of the mountain than attracting droves of tourists.

 

[shadyjay]

We can operate Castlerock at Sugarbush on weekdays with a staff of (roughly) 5 - that's 3 lift operators and 2 ski patrollers. It is fully connected to the rest of the Sugarbush trail network and utilizes the same base area, access lifts, etc.....

If Killington decided to keep Bear Mtn open longer, then they would have to staff 2 lifts (figure at least 5 people for that, give or take), plus patrol. And since Bear Mtn is a designated entry point into the resort, you'd also probably want to staff it with ticket agents, and some limited food/beverage service. Essentially you have to staff an additional base area, each with their own lifts and lodges. At this point in the season, its not economical, especially during the weekday period.

 

[thetrailboss]

This is a forum (place for discussion).

And as to this comment, you completely missed the mark.

You find something wrong with this?

:lol:

 

[mediamogul]

We can operate Castlerock at Sugarbush on weekdays with a staff of (roughly) 5 - that's 3 lift operators and 2 ski patrollers. It is fully connected to the rest of the Sugarbush trail network and utilizes the same base area, access lifts, etc.....

If Killington decided to keep Bear Mtn open longer, then they would have to staff 2 lifts (figure at least 5 people for that, give or take), plus patrol. And since Bear Mtn is a designated entry point into the resort, you'd also probably want to staff it with ticket agents, and some limited food/beverage service. Essentially you have to staff an additional base area, each with their own lifts and lodges. At this point in the season, its not economical, especially during the weekday period.

Just run the SPQ and staff the ticket window. Minimal staff and amenities. Noone said open the lodge, just open the parking lot. Also we at K lost Bear, the Needle's Eye area and South Ridge. That is a solid chunk of our mountain and many of those other lifts have no base area. So I believe it is comparable. Either way people at the Bush would be upset if Castlerock closed with 100% open and wall to wall.

 

[frankm938]

Just run the SPQ and staff the ticket window. Minimal staff and amenities. Noone said open the lodge, just open the parking lot. Also we at K lost Bear, the Needle's Eye area and South Ridge. That is a solid chunk of our mountain and many of those other lifts have no base area. So I believe it is comparable. Either way people at the Bush would be upset if Castlerock closed with 100% open and wall to wall.

nobody seems upset about mt ellen closing with great coverage (i think that is more comparable to bear closing than castlerock)

 

[SkiFanE]

Agreed, also, early/late skiing is something that has seperated Killington from other mountains for many years. Hate to see that disappear.

Exactly. I've been on skis for 40 years (impossible for a 39yo, eh? lol) and the latest I've ever skied was Killington on May 14th in the mid 90s, still have the lift ticket. Can't remember the lodge, the trail or details, except there was one little ribbon of snow left to connect 2 big trails. What a day...festive sunny deck, beers flowing. THAT was Killington back then, if you didn't want the season to end, you went to K.

BTW - Sunday River is 100% open (or 99.9..see Lollipop is closed).

 

[mediamogul]

nobody seems upset about mt ellen closing with great coverage (i think that is more comparable to bear closing than castlerock)

Wouldn't that be more comparable to Pico closing? Pico closed with 100% and nobody at K is terribly up in arms.

Both Bear and Castlerock are on the main mountain which is why they are comparable at least on that front. I acknowledge that they are different in that Bear has a lodge Castlerock does not. Comparable, not identical.

 

[andyzee]

And as to this comment, you completely missed the mark.




:lol:

Are you really a moderator? Lately you've been strictly in attack mode, what's up with that?

 

[thorski]

K people like Skiing and Partying more then people from other Mountains.
Springtime is the best time to do both so we get mad when K closes early and vent not whine.

 

[thetrailboss]

nobody seems upset about mt ellen closing with great coverage (i think that is more comparable to bear closing than castlerock)

Many folks are upset. But most of us are still skiing at LP.

 

[thetrailboss]

We can operate Castlerock at Sugarbush on weekdays with a staff of (roughly) 5 - that's 3 lift operators and 2 ski patrollers. It is fully connected to the rest of the Sugarbush trail network and utilizes the same base area, access lifts, etc.....

If Killington decided to keep Bear Mtn open longer, then they would have to staff 2 lifts (figure at least 5 people for that, give or take), plus patrol. And since Bear Mtn is a designated entry point into the resort, you'd also probably want to staff it with ticket agents, and some limited food/beverage service. Essentially you have to staff an additional base area, each with their own lifts and lodges. At this point in the season, its not economical, especially during the weekday period.

And IIRC Killington has run Bear without the Lodge services before (just bathrooms) and it seemed to work OK.

 

[frankm938]

K people like Skiing and Partying more then people from other Mountains.
Springtime is the best time to do both so we get mad when K closes early and vent not whine.

tru dat

 

[mlkrgr]

I think K is a mighty fine mountain. Sure, SR and SL beat them when put together on number of days open in a season, but I guess that's just me because I'm usually too busy to even bother to ski this time of year (and November into early December too for that matter). The lift lines can be managed a bit better at K (singles join the regular line too late to ensure it moves along well) and I think the Snowdon quad wouldn't be a bad idea to replace to spread some traffic out from the gondola. As for someone who just wants to make the most out of the 7-8 days a year I go (and I let other people pick the mountain in exchange for not having much of a driving hassle most times), I feel I get the most from my money at K (assuming equal pricing) as I can go inside the gondola if I'm cold and to eat lunch. I like having that easy cruise one or two times a day to Skyeship base to have that 12 minute gondola ride.

Though, the bus company I like the most didn't go to K this year; they didn't do so because they didn't get a good enough deal on group tix from them, which is why I had plenty of days to pick from to go to SR or Loon this year. Almost went to Stowe this year, but chose Mt Snow over that for a significantly lower price.

 

[skiadikt]

I think you've basically answered your own question.

You're a bunch of bitches....:razz:

In all seriousness, as previously stated by others, i think its simply a fact of k having had a long standing tradition of staying open until there basically wasnt a single patch of snow left worth skiing. Interestingly, this hasnt really happened since before ASC split but as powbmps said, we're all getting old and the memory of the past haunts our present and future. Sugarbush, Jay and Stowe never really were playa's in the late game until recently. Others have tried at times to fill the void but the fact killington closes with such good cover only reinforces the belief that they can still do what they used to do.

nicely said ... regarding the mt ellen/bear mt thing. not really the same. at bear all you'd have to do is run one stinking lift - even the bear chair. keep the lodge & lot closed. firing up the grill & selling refreshments would be optional but certainly profitable. if you did have food service, then you'd have to open the rest rooms but costs would have been minimal. mt ellen isn't really connected to lincoln in the same way and a lot more more expensive to open.