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Recent content by elks

  1. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    If you ever ski Crotched, beware that local cops ticket regularly for open containers in the parking lot.
  2. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    I can only tell you what I saw in my department and at my mountain. There it was almost entirely vaccine related and a few folks that weren't able to commit due to the dynamics of their real job outside of the mountain.
  3. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    There's never been real money in ski school instruction at our resort and I don't know any adult instructor at our ski school that does it for the money. Some of the high-school and college instructors are more tuned in to what they get paid and may look more closely at the hourly rate, but...
  4. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    I can only speak from what I saw in our department, but I imagine it was the same at other Vail resorts. The non-returning ski instructors were put off by the vaccine mandate implemented by Vail. It had nothing to do with the pay, which increased significantly at the beginning of the 2021-2022...
  5. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    This has already been communicated to current NH employees. With this second raise since Vail took over, our pay has increased 150% compared to Peaks. Not too many employees complaining about that. ;)
  6. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    LOL. As I said before I work (happily and more so under Vail than Peaks management) in ski instruction for Crotched.
  7. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    When you think of the other substantial benefits Vail employees get beyond this new starting pay rate that's going to put stress on other areas to compete for labor. I agree that it will likely help with staffing issues.
  8. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    That was clearly communicated to NH employees and compared to what Peaks was paying was more than a 50% increase in pay. Add this new raise and a ski instructor or liftie is now making well over 150% more in starting pay compared to Peaks.
  9. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    Employee and lift problems were a real problem early on in the season, no doubt, but as they hired and brought in folks from Okemo, Sunapee, and Western resorts to help, it's been a lot more consistent since late January. They were aggressively blowing snow in late February (later than any...
  10. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    The early season was rough for sure, but it's been running pretty smoothly lately and crowding has been a non-issue for weeks now. The first 3 weekends in January were super busy, but since then it's been similar to prior years. Even President's Day weekend was low crowds. Did one week day...
  11. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    Same at Crotched, they've blown snow later than most years, but weather patterns have certainly made it difficult. Thus far in March, there hasn't been a single day with consistent daytime temps below freezing. 60% of total days have been over 40F and almost 30% of days above 50F with one day...
  12. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    The Crotched account about "Large lift lines" isn't accurate. I was there both days from 9-4 am and lines were surprisingly manageable despite the rocket being down and the GS race on Sunday. Do hope they get the Rocket back up and running quickly though.
  13. elks

    Granite Gorge Likely to Join NELSAP

    My kids learned to ski there. Fun little mountain with some nice pitch and so convenient with little ones. You could drive across the bridge on most days and park right next to the lodge. Priceless with 3-5 year olds! Parents skied free (or close to it if memory serves) one hour before and after...
  14. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    The part that was on order for months for Valley finally came in just in time for it to open this weekend.
  15. elks

    VAIL SUCKS

    Crotched doing a big snowmaking push again today. Guns on all day throughout the mountain including new terrain like Pluto getting massive whales and likely opening soon. (y)
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