Article on Burke's Act 250 application

[Masskier]

http://caledonianrecord.com/ftp/E-Edition/Oct. 28-news.pdf

 

[deadheadskier]

Pretty ambitious plan, but I think to draw significant vacation home investors, a mountain needs to offer at least 300 plus acres of terrain. I'm curious if the 155 new acres of terrain will all fall within the mountain's current borders.

 

[Mapnut]

Just to summarize what concerns skiers, in case you don't have time to read the article,
they propose to ultimately increase lift capacity from 4200/hour to 9700/hour, an increase of 131% (not 231% as the article states), and increase skiable area from 250 acres to 405 acres. That's an increase in skier density of course, but 9700 capacity for 405 acres still isn't bad.

 

[ta&idaho]

Don't know anything about Burke, but this sentence -- in another article -- excited me:

Vermont Emergency Management and the National Weather Service of Burlington remind Vermonters it is not too early to prepare for winter.

Page A2.

 

[Glenn]

Just to summarize what concerns skiers, in case you don't have time to read the article,
they propose to ultimately increase lift capacity from 4200/hour to 9700/hour, an increase of 131% (not 231% as the article states), and increase skiable area from 250 acres to 405 acres. That's an increase in skier density of course, but 9700 capacity for 405 acres still isn't bad.

Thanks for the cliffs!

That's a pretty signifcant expansion. I'm convinced act 250 is just a code for "25.0 Years to Approval". Mt. Snow is going through the same process with expanding their snowmaking pond.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Loved this sentence:

"By increasing lift capacity more than overall resort capacity, Burke will continue to be uncrowded and safe while maintaining some of the lowest ski area trail densities in the Northeast."

Talk about twisted logic.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Also, plans are here if anyone wants to take a gander.

 

[Mapnut]

Also, plans are here if anyone wants to take a gander.

Again, to save you time, look at Exhibit 1E(a), Appendix, Sheet 8 for the ski area expansion in purple. Sorry to report most of the new trails are in the East Basin.

 

[riverc0il]

Just to summarize what concerns skiers, in case you don't have time to read the article,
they propose to ultimately increase lift capacity from 4200/hour to 9700/hour, an increase of 131% (not 231% as the article states), and increase skiable area from 250 acres to 405 acres. That's an increase in skier density of course, but 9700 capacity for 405 acres still isn't bad.

Just putting in a HSQ and moving the Willoughby Quad would increase the lift capacity by that much I would guess. That is max capacity and given Burke's track record, I doubt Burke will ever see lifts operating at capacity, even with a build up, for more than just peak lunch periods on weekends at best. Upping acreage by 150 acres essentially means they can increase the lift capacity without making the place feel any busier. And given you can ski top to bottom without seeing hardly another skier or rider on the weekend as it is, sounds good to me.

 

[Masskier]

Pretty ambitious plan, but I think to draw significant vacation home investors, a mountain needs to offer at least 300 plus acres of terrain. I'm curious if the 155 new acres of terrain will all fall within the mountain's current borders.

Most of the new ski terrain will be in the East bowl and Cutter area.

 

[Masskier]

Just to summarize what concerns skiers, in case you don't have time to read the article,
they propose to ultimately increase lift capacity from 4200/hour to 9700/hour, an increase of 131% (not 231% as the article states), and increase skiable area from 250 acres to 405 acres. That's an increase in skier density of course, but 9700 capacity for 405 acres still isn't bad.

I also think when you consider a total bed base of approx 1200 units ( 170 existing and 1023 new) and with 405 acres of ski terrain you have a density of only 1/4 to 1/3 of many other ski resorts.

 

[psyflyer]

Pretty ambitious plan, but I think to draw significant vacation home investors, a mountain needs to offer at least 300 plus acres of terrain. I'm curious if the 155 new acres of terrain will all fall within the mountain's current borders.

There is tons of room left on the mountain, no need to fish elsewhere. This is great news, thanks OP!

 

[Masskier]

Just putting in a HSQ and moving the Willoughby Quad would increase the lift capacity by that much I would guess. That is max capacity and given Burke's track record, I doubt Burke will ever see lifts operating at capacity, even with a build up, for more than just peak lunch periods on weekends at best. Upping acreage by 150 acres essentially means they can increase the lift capacity without making the place feel any busier. And given you can ski top to bottom without seeing hardly another skier or rider on the weekend as it is, sounds good to me.

They will be adding 3 new HSQ, One to the summit, East bowl and Cutter area. Agree with the increase of 150 new trail acres that it will not feel any busier than it is now. And that is one of the things I like most about Burke, that it is never crowded.

 

[psyflyer]

They will be adding 3 new HSQ, One to the summit, East bowl and Cutter area. Agree with the increase of 150 new trail acres that it will not feel any busier than it is now. And that is one of the things I like most about Burke, that it is never crowded.

Thanks for your post. I agree with you that the best thing about Burke is that its the best kept secret around these parts. If only some of those folks travelling all the way to Jay Peak from Boston/NYC knew about how special Burke is I think this place might get filled up real fast.

Quick question, do you know when they are going to start with construction?

 

[AdironRider]

What does Burke average for snowfall every year. 405 acres is pretty big if that doesnt include glades and other such terrain. Lame if its one of those boundary to boundary numbers like Sugarloaf uses.

 

[riverc0il]

I think Burke claims something like 200 inches. It misses a lot of the surprise "off the radar" stuff that the rest of the northern VT areas get along the Green Mountain spine. I don't know if they include boundary to boundary in their current number, but there are a ton of off map tree shots on the mountain and with expansion into East Bowl, I can see further development of trees in that area.

 

[deadheadskier]

There is tons of room left on the mountain, no need to fish elsewhere. This is great news, thanks OP!

I'm sure there will be good with the bad. That's a lot of terrain. To put it in perspective, 150 acres of new trail development would be almost the equivalent of putting Cannon Mountain's trail system within the boundaries of Burke. I'd imagine numerous 'stashes' would become uprooted and turned into cruising boulevards.

 

[psyflyer]

What does Burke average for snowfall every year. 405 acres is pretty big if that doesnt include glades and other such terrain. Lame if its one of those boundary to boundary numbers like Sugarloaf uses.

The mountain averages 250 inches a year. Since I have been here Burke has gotten more snow than most resorts in south VT, and is one of the snowiest places in VT. Last year IIRC we got around 220 and the year before around 260.

 

[riverc0il]

The mountain averages 250 inches a year. Since I have been here Burke has gotten more snow than most resorts in south VT, and is one of the snowiest places in VT. Last year IIRC we got around 220 and the year before around 260.

Oh, come on. That is just complete exaggeration. Burke gets a good amount of snow but no where near what the spine of the Green's gets from Killington up to Jay. I lived in StJ for two winters and was at Burke a lot. Its good, but it ain't that good.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

What does Burke average for snowfall every year. 405 acres is pretty big if that doesnt include glades and other such terrain. Lame if its one of those boundary to boundary numbers like Sugarloaf uses.

What are you talking about? Sugarloaf uses both numbers like most mountains and clearly states that it has around 650 acres of trails and named glades as well