AlpineZone Ski Area Challenge: Wachusett Mountain Ski Area

[Greg]

Tom Meyers from Wachusett Mountain Ski Area 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 Tom and keep it civil. Also, please refrain from asking specifics about skier visit numbers, financials, demographic information, etc. Wachusett needs to be discrete about certain information.

Ask away!

 

[hammer]

Are there any plans to expand the rental area and/or update the rental equipment for next season? Wachusett has a lot of good trails for the beginner/novice skier, but I found the rental area to be quite cramped and the rental equipment looked like it had seen better days.

 

[teachski]

I know that the Vickery Bowl is slated to come on line for next season, does this include the installation of a lift as originally planned?

I have been a chaperone of a school group for a few years now. On several ocassions we have arrived and the larger room (addition) is closed off for a function and there is no place for us to sit to boot up, etc. We come on a night when there is a large number of school groups in attendance (Thursday). The bag check is never open and the lockers are always full. Is there any possibility that on these nights the bag check could be open for these school groups (free of charge) so that there is at least some place to store bags?

Speaking of school groups, I know that my group has at least one chaperone in the lodge at all times, but there are other groups that do not. Their kids often throw food, go through others stuff, swear, horse play and are generally rude to others (one group in particular). Is there any way that the area could have a staff person or two (not a kid) present in the room to monitor this or that groups could be required to have at least one person in the lodge?

How about adding one "special" day mid-week during each vacation for Century Pass holders to use their pass? I am a teacher and never get to use my century pass during the day?

The Crowley Family, who operate the ski area as Wachusett Associates, also own Polar Soda Company. Why is soda so expensive at the ski area? (They serve Polar and they charge more for soda than most other areas charge.)

 

[ChileMass]

I have been a chaperone of a school group for a few years now. On several ocassions we have arrived and the larger room (addition) is closed off for a function and there is no place for us to sit to boot up, etc. We come on a night when there is a large number of school groups in attendance (Thursday). The bag check is never open and the lockers are always full. Is there any possibility that on these nights the bag check could be open for these school groups (free of charge) so that there is at least some place to store bags?

Speaking of school groups, I know that my group has at least one chaperone in the lodge at all times, but there are other groups that do not. Their kids often throw food, go through others stuff, swear, horse play and are generally rude to others (one group in particular). Is there any way that the area could have a staff person or two (not a kid) present in the room to monitor this or that groups could be required to have at least one person in the lodge?

To teachski's points above, is it somehow possible to police the mobs of kids that go to Wachusett on weeknights and weekends? The thing that keeps me away is the roving, rampaging mobs of teens that elbow their way thru the lodge, the liftlines and down the slopes. Suggestion - an ad campaign that promotes family skiing ("Don't just dump the kids, why not actually ski with them - ?"), or hang banners in the lodge that say (in BIG letters) that rude behavior will get you kicked out for the day/night? And teachski's idea for a Wawa staffer responsible for identifying kids that are acting up is right on. I hate to say it, but this babysitting/vice-principal service might bring back some adult tickets that otherwise go elsewhere.

Question - what is the status of the new trail cutting near the protected forest area on the mountain? Making any progress? It sure would be nice to have a few new trails to expand onto.

Comment - the Columbus Day ski swap rules. It's on my calendar every year, and I have bought about 8 pairs of skis there in recent years. The deals are not to be missed!

I really do wish Wachusett and its management only the best. It can't be easy being the closest ski hill in a major metro area, and it will certainly attract all kinds. However, there are locals that want to support the hill but refuse because of the hassle of fighting the crowds of kids. I can't get there during the day very often, so if there's no changes, I will wait till the weekend and drive the extra distance to NH or VT. Best of luck!

 

[Greg]

I've sent ten questions off to Tom. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Greg]

Tom's responses are in:

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

 

[RISkier]

I'm basically echoing the comments of TeachSki and Chilimass. Their questions really address my issues with Wachusett. For a mountain in the middle of MA, I'd give Wachusett high marks for terrain, snowmaking, and infrastructure. I've only been one time--on a Sunday, so I have only limited exposure, but the rudeness and unrulyness of the crowd far exceeded that which I've encountered at any other mountain. Kids were cutting lift lines, kids were swinging poles at one another in lift lines, borders were swearing at skiers, couldn't really find a spot in the lodge to sit and have a cup of coffee cause all the tables and chairs were stacked with cloths, shoes, coolers, etc., etc. It's understandable that the proximity of Wachusett to population centers will draw big crowds, and with big crowds come unpleasently long liftlines. And I know the vast majority of patrons at Wachusett that day are courteous. But I've certainly not encountered the level of unruliness, almost a subculture of rudeness, at any other ski area at any time -- no matter how crowded.

 

[teachski]

There are also lockers available in the Skier Services Building (Rental area).

1. People who do not rent do not know this. I didn't and I have skied Wachusett for close to 30 years.

2. Who wants to go all the way to rentals to stow their things in a locker when they have their own equipment. This is near to impossible to get near on school group nights unless you are renting.

Many groups have been having more and more trouble getting chaperons. This year we are extending the option for PARENTS to participate in the Student Program (previously, the program has only been open to students and faculty) so we hope we have a better presence of adults.

We've had nights when there have been only 2 or 3 chaperones with our group. It's our rule that one MUST stay in the lodge at all times...couldn't Wachusett impose that rule on other groups?

Also, faculty can participate in the student program? I have purchased my own century pass because I was told by the coordinator at our school that it was only for the students.

 

[mawk]

Wachusett Crowds Will Never Go Away

It is great to have Wachusett in Central Mass, It is also Terrible to have Wachusett in Central Mass. The population base is good for business, but the visitor experience can be down right terrifing. Tha mangement of the mountain looks at numbers more then guest experiences. I belive they just count cars, and buses in the parking lots, sell a ticket and then forget about the guest after that.

Skiers/Snowboarders or cans of soda, they are all the same, process as many as you can. There is always a new customer that has not heard of Wachusetts "dark side".

 

[Joshua B]

The answers seem to be defensive, without offering any concrete plans to improve things that were brought up or even acknowledge that there are real problems like overcrowding and overcharging.

 

[teachski]

The answers seem to be defensive, without offering any concrete plans to improve things that were brought up or even acknowledge that there are real problems like overcrowding and overcharging.

Absolutely, but unfortunately they know that there really isn't much else to choose from in the area so they feel that they can do what ever they want to. Both Ski Ward and Pine Ridge only have about a 200ft Vert. Pine Ridge only has surface lifts and is not open during the week.

For my school, Nashoba Valley is about 2 hours away (bus travel), heading to the west the closest is Blanford (equal distance to Wachusett, but smaller and not open mid-week). Bousquet, Jiminey, BEAST and Butternut are too far away.

 

[mawk]

Only Game in Town

I hate when people say that about Wachusett, Only one around so they can do what they want. You are spending your money and you should get what you want for it. Talk with one of the Crowley's or Manager on Duty about the experience you have good or bad.

Crotched is open now and a little more investment in travel may have greater returns in your enjoyment.