AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge: Okemo Mountain

[Greg]

Lori Cayouette from Okemo Mountain also agreed to take the AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge! This is your chance to get official answers to your ski-related questions direct from a Northeast ski resort representative! Please post some suggested questions in this thread and I'll select ten to present for official responses.

As always, please be respectful of Lori and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Okemo needs to be discrete about certain information.

Ask away!

 

[Joshua B]

Okemo is known to me as an area that is superior in terms of snowmaking and trail conditions, yet a friend of mine who bought his first Okemo season pass last winter complained about the lack of snowmaking. Was this a down year for snowmaking?

How often do people reminisce about Okemo's awesome high speed pomas and the narrow, twisting, classic New England trail setup of the '70s and early '80s?

 

[Joshua B]

The terrain at Jackson Gore includes long trails without many intersections. Is this a sign of the general character of Jackson Gore, specifically in terms of further expansion plans on that side?

 

[salida]

I have heard from many people, that Okemo highers graduates of the Lyndon State College ski area management program. How has the graduates of this program affected the Okemo and its operations?

I had written a question about Mount Sunapee, when I realized that the Okemo rep. would not be able to answer it. whoops

porter

 

[skiguide]

I had written a question about Mount Sunapee, when I realized that the Okemo rep. would not be able to answer it. whoops

porter

actually, you never know. Okemo & Mount Sunapee are both owned by the Muellers, who have just bought Crested Butte, CO as well.

 

[jimme]

Are there any plans for a Gondola, or other lift that could take skiers/riders to the upper mountain without having to take either of the South Ridge chairs?

Jimme

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

Hi all, Hey are there any mtn.biking trails up at pokeyokiekemo?

 

[thetrailboss]

The GF and I visited Sunapee this past March on some gift certificates and we enjoyed it very much. We have considered visiting Okemo, but I will admit that as recent poor college grads, we are deterred by the rates (though not as much as Stratton's ridiculous rates). Are you planning any good promos for 2004-5 that would attract skiers like us?

 

[Greg]

Are there any plans for a Gondola, or other lift that could take skiers/riders to the upper mountain without having to take either of the South Ridge chairs?

Great question. The need to start your day on these beginner quads always bugged me...

Some more:

Are there any terrain expansion plans for the 2004/2005 ski season? Are there any infrastructure improvements/upgrades in the works, e.g. lifts, facilities, etc.?

Now that Jackson Gore's first season is behind us, please share examples of the most common positive as well as negative feedback you've received in regards to the expansion.

The Muellers purchased Crested Butte in Southwest Colorado this season. Do they have any interest in purchasing additional Northeast ski areas to add to the Okemo/Sunapee family?

 

[Greg]

I've sent ten questions off to Lori.

 

[Greg]

Lori's responses are in!

http://skiing.alpinezone.com/articles/challenge/response.htm?resort=okemo