The 2011-2012 Ski Area Improvement Thread

[Nick]

Killington put up a bunch of pics today on their work.

http://www.killington.com/summer/gallery/photos

Trail widening on Great Northern section from Snowdon to Ramshead.

New Snowmaking Pipe Arrives at Killington.


More at the link.

 

[thetrailboss]

I drove around the K-1 Base and there was a lot of activity. The Gondola is closed for most of this week because of the demo of the lodge and other work. There was an excavator on the K-1 Liftline about 2/3 the way up. There also was a large dump truck at the base of Superstar getting ready to head up one of the service roads. I will check out what is going on tonight.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I thought you were in Utah?

 

[thetrailboss]

I thought you were in Utah?

Was. In the process of moving. Long story. In Vermont now and will be for a few weeks.

 

[thetrailboss]

And re: Killington. Took a long hike this evening. Started at Snowshed, went to the top of those lifts, meandered down to Northbrook Turn Station, then headed back to Snowshed summit terminals, across to K-1, down through Snowden and down to Ramshead before going back to Snowshed. Lots of work going on. They did a nice job clearing the sides of Yodler, Learn to Ski Area, and Great Northern. They also did some clearing on Northbrook. It is amazing what some clearing and TLC can do. Say what you want but they have done a good job cleaning up the place and making it look a lot better than what it was. The paint jobs were an easy way to help make the lifts look good.

Lots of scrap from the old Gondi building. Some pipe of different diameters as well. I don't think that they are all for snowmaking. I imagine some is for the new summit building. Nothing from the South Ridge Triple...yet.

FWIW the construction guys were on the mountain right until dark. They had equipment running under the Gondi Line about 2/3 the way up. Not sure what they are doing. Maybe snowmaking work. I did hear the skidder head up the service road.

Walking around I have never seen so much scrap/spare parts/chairs/junk in my life. They probably have enough spare chairs to set up an entire new lift. Some old Yan doubles, Poma triple seats, and even some newer Poma Omega Chair frames still on the pallets and in a few years worth of growth. So when they said they had some clean up to do they meant it.

Oh yeah ran into Chris Nyberg on his bike.....

 

[Newpylong]

Did you ask him what they are going to do to South Ridge? heh

 

[thetrailboss]

Did you ask him what they are going to do to South Ridge? heh

:lol: He was a little out of breath from his ride. I am curious as to what is going on there. There was no remnants of the lift at the K-1 base area.

 

[skiberg]

Cannon is trying to recaputure the OLD FIS course. It starts on Vista Way and finishes on Avalanche, not Pauleys. Cutting, widening and snowmaking are all necessary to accomodate modern racing. It will probably only accomodate Women as the vert is just too short for FIS men. You might be able to race some of the lower division mens races if you can get a waiver for the vert, which is not uncommom. I think the Womens FIS will need a waiver as well. IF this happens it will be very infrequent and only close that area for a few days. It is still a long way from being a done deal.
What is much more likely is widening and snowmaking to Barrons. They are trying to get this done this summer, but this requires a substantial amount of cash. If it happens it will be a primary training area for FSC and will be closed periodically to the public. What goes up must come down, so if the pipe is run up it wil also be run down. They know the general area where it will run, but are not certain if cutting will take place to create another snowmaking trail.

 

[DoublePlanker]

Cannon is trying to recaputure the OLD FIS course. It starts on Vista Way and finishes on Avalanche, not Pauleys. Cutting, widening and snowmaking are all necessary to accomodate modern racing..

Please don't cut, widen, etc. Horrible idea to do that to any old Cannon trails.

 

[skiberg]

I tend to agree with you, but don't stress to bad the cutting will be minimal to reach the width requirements. Most will happen on Bypass below Vista Way. More significant will be the cutting on Barons. However, it will probably help a bunch to have a groomed wider trail for the less experienced skiers to get out of Mit. Also may help to move some people out of the back-country and help it form getting skied out so fast. Barons has the potential to be the longest best ripper type advanced trail at Cannon.

 

[Newpylong]

:lol: He was a little out of breath from his ride. I am curious as to what is going on there. There was no remnants of the lift at the K-1 base area.

I think everyone is curious! Its mind boggling that someone hasn't gotten and spilled the inside scoop yet regarding long term replacement plans. Someone must know... I also would like to k now whether the downhill as well as the uphill towers are coming down... tough to tell the photos I've seen : )

 

[thetrailboss]

Just walked around Bear Mountain tonight. I had not been there since 2008, so the new HSQ was a sight to see. I was to walk up and see that they have left the towers from the Devil's Fiddle in place. The line and chairs are down. The pylons, with hanging sheave trains, are just plain spooky. The rusting remnants are actually an eyesore, especially if you own a trophy home at Sunrise overlooking the area. The chairs are lined up in an area that at one time was a parking lot. No sign of the SRT.

 

[Newpylong]

Just like they left the Northeast Passage towers in below Sunrise, an eyesore and a reminder of what used to be. They are so grown in already they probably will never come out...

 

[WoodCore]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet but a new drive terminal for the old Hall summit double at Mount Southington is being installed this summer. Believe the new drive is going to be a Partek.

 

[bigbob]

It costs money to hire a helicopter to remove the towers and they may be leaving the towers in place to make it easier to obtain a permit in the future if they want to rebuild.
Bubba on K Zone mentioned he talked with Chris Nyberg about the SRT at the wine festival and Chris stated parts from the Snowden Quad would be used to rebuild the SRT. No mention of when this will happen.

 

[Newpylong]

that is good news. So I guess we're looking in the 2014-15 season at the earliest? 2012-13 they will rebuild the peak lodge and I guess in 2013-14 replace the Snowdon Quad..

 

[oakapple]

I was to walk up and see that they have left the towers from the Devil's Fiddle in place. The line and chairs are down. The pylons, with hanging sheave trains, are just plain spooky. The rusting remnants are actually an eyesore, especially if you own a trophy home at Sunrise overlooking the area.

They're an eyesore, full stop. There really is no excuse for not removing them.

Just like they left the Northeast Passage towers in below Sunrise, an eyesore and a reminder of what used to be. They are so grown in already they probably will never come out...

The old Northeast Passage towers, as you've noted, are so overgrown that one does not really notice them. Take newbies there, don't say anything in advance, and see if they notice. They probably won't. Both times I have taken newbies to the base of Sunrise, I had to point out the abandoned towers. They don't really stand out. Even before the vegetation became over-grown, removing those towers would have been awfully difficult. And as another poster mentioned, leaving them there at least allows the possibility of re-activating those trails at some future date, remote though the possibility may be.

I think everyone is curious! Its mind boggling that someone hasn't gotten and spilled the inside scoop yet regarding long term replacement plans.

The idea that the Snowdon Quad would be moved to the South Ridge return line has been in the rumor mill for several years, and Nyberg himself confirms this. But K management is remarkably good at keeping their plans under wraps until they choose to announce them officially.

 

[WJenness]

Don't know if anyone saw this... But some doings at Sunday River this summer.. (Stolen from SR board, Darcy is the Snow Reporter up that way):

Hi all,



Sorry for the delayed response. There wasn't much for internet where I was over the weekend, so I was unable to reply until now.

The tree removal that is happening is within Blind Ambition and we're taking it from a 14 acre glade and expanding it by about 60 acres and something fun for intermediate skiers and riders who are interested in trying to ski/ride in the trees. The newly gladed terrain will look and feel a lot like the original terrain when it is all said and done.

As for other new happenings, we're excited to report that there is $4 million in capital being invested into Sunday River for this season. We're leasing a new groomer which is included in the $300k being invested into snowmaking and grooming equipment. We're also investing about $300k into lifts with a new drive, carriers, line equipment, ramps, lift houses and paint. Two exciting projects coming online here very soon are the sale of our first-ever slopeside real estate development which will be located off of the Ridge Run trail near Dream Maker and another real estate development off of the Sunday River Golf Course. Both developments will be sold through Sunday River Real Estate. Finally, we're starting in on the last phase of the Jordan Road reconstruction which includes a 6,000-foot section of road leading to the Jordan Grand Resort Hotel.



As you can imagine, it's a busy time of year as we prep for the coming winter. It's also worth mentioning that that Sunday River Access Road has undergone serious work this summer and is finally a nice smooth ride. Our car and bike tires are all very happy.



Hope everyone had a great weekend and thanks for posting!
Darcy

-w

 

[deadheadskier]

wow, that is a big glade for sure. Hopefully they do it right and don't over clear like they did in OZ.

When they say, "First ever slopeside real estate development" I'm assuming that means by Boyne? There are obviously quite a few slopeside condos and homes at Sunday River already.

 

[millerm277]

It costs money to hire a helicopter to remove the towers and they may be leaving the towers in place to make it easier to obtain a permit in the future if they want to rebuild.

You don't need a helicopter to remove towers, except maybe if you want to reuse them. (unlikely). Otherwise, they'll go down just like a tree on a hill would when you cut it down...