Big Burke announcement

[doublediamond]

He also said that the snowmaking infrastructure (pipes, pump houses, compressors, etc.) need an overhaul and he did more than hint, when he said that once the hotel was up, the next big project was to overhaul the snowmaking system.

Wouldn't it be wiser to invest in snowmaking first? Because now next year they'll have a hotel and still have no snowmaking and they'll lose their shirt because they can't fill the rooms.

Just like Greek Peak.

 

[VTKilarney]

Wouldn't it be wiser to invest in snowmaking first? Because now next year they'll have a hotel and still have no snowmaking and they'll lose their shirt because they can't fill the rooms.

Just like Greek Peak.

What makes it even more perplexing is that the hotel was delayed by a year, so they certainly had time to focus on snowmaking. It could have been a chicken and an egg thing. Perhaps they didn't want to invest the money until they knew that the hotel was being built. But now that snowmaking has been proven to be a train wreck, and people are angry, they still haven't said that they plan to remedy the problem over the summer.

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

Evidently they didn't get the same low-e guns that the rest of the VT resorts got in the program this summer and fall, because those guns use supposedly only 5-8 cubic feet per minute. That would have allowed a heck of a lot more guns to run simultaneously on that 4000 CFM compressor.

 

[VTKilarney]

I've done some poking around, and the bottom line is that a 4,000 cfm compressor for a 267 acre ski area is laughable. Ski Butternut has 110 acres and can blow 14,400 cfm. I can go on with many more examples...

 

[VTKilarney]

Q Burke said that Mid Burke pumps 2200 gpm while the upper mountain pumps around 800 gpm.

What does this mean, exactly? Does it mean that when they want to make snow on the upper mountain they are limited to 800 gpm, or does it mean something different? And if it is the former, what do they mean by "upper mountain"?

 

[thetrailboss]

What's really concerning about their most recent Facebook post is that they acknowledged the problem but offered absolutely no indication that they intend to remedy the problem.

In a follow up comment, Burke said that they can only average 30 snowmaking guns in use at one time. How does this compare to other similar sized areas? For that matter, how many guns line the Dippers alone?

So I've been out and about today with friends and family, but I just checked that thread on FB and it made me laugh my ass off. In particular, the post where they start with, "Truth". There is so much BS there it is not even funny. First, they FAIL to fess up to the fact that they have cut back on staffing and $$$ to BLOW snow. Second, they don't admit that they DOWNGRADED the system that they had by tearing down the compressor shed and not replacing it or the rental compressors in it. Instead, they say that the system is "30 years old." Bull. True that SOME parts of the system are that old, but Northern Star, Burke 2000, and Ginn made MAJOR upgrades and and replacement of the system.

The truth is that they now can only run 30 guns at a time. With rental power and adequate staffing they could run A LOT more than that.

The comment about building the Hotel as a priority is also ridiculous. WHO is going to come to Burke next year if this complete trainwreck continues? Let's say that this is a bad snow year. Folks are going to see that Burke has no terrain open. Are they going to want to stay a weekend in 2015-2016 at a place that can't deliver what they USED TO in years past and when you ask them about it they insult you? No, of course not!

For a supposed war veteran and Army Officer he sure does not know how to accept responsibility let alone lead and instead makes up complete bullshit excuses and pisses everyone off. He must have dug a lot of latrines while in the service.

 

[Tin]

So I've been out and about today with friends and family, but I just checked that thread on FB and it made me laugh my ass off. In particular, the post where they start with, "Truth". There is so much BS there it is not even funny. First, they FAIL to fess up to the fact that they have cut back on staffing and $$$ to BLOW snow. Second, they don't admit that they DOWNGRADED the system that they had by tearing down the compressor shed and not replacing it or the rental compressors in it. Instead, they say that the system is "30 years old." Bull. True that SOME parts of the system are that old, but Northern Star, Burke 2000, and Ginn made MAJOR upgrades and and replacement of the system.

The truth is that they now can only run 30 guns at a time. With rental power and adequate staffing they could run A LOT more than that.

Wasnt it just two days ago it was bragging about new compressors that were each as powerful as 3 rentals?

 

[thetrailboss]

Wasnt it just two days ago it was bragging about new compressors that were each as powerful as 3 rentals?

They have ONE compressor ("Marge") that has that capacity.


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[VTKilarney]

Burke has agreed to a pass holder meeting after it was suggested by multiple people.

 

[thetrailboss]

Burke has agreed to a pass holder meeting after it was suggested by multiple people.

Oh that will be fun...




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[deadheadskier]

You should request Q senior and Bill Stengers presence. I would think a round table with Ary is a waste of time.

 

[VTKilarney]

Oh that will be fun...

The people that seem to be the most upset are the people that own condos on the mountain. I can't really blame them. They are a captive audience and even if they want to get out one or two more years of this will have a significant downward impact on condo values.

I pity the fool that is thinking about a Bear Path condo right now. As someone on Facebook has already said, "If you think that anyone will pay $650,000 for a condo to ski one trail, you are delusional!"

 

[VTKilarney]

You should request Q senior and Bill Stengers presence. I would think a round table with Ary is a waste of time.

Q Sr. is almost a ghost. I'd be shocked if he attended. On the other hand, Stenger is not afraid of these situations. It would not surprise me one bit if he attended, if for no other reason than people are much more deferential to him than to Q Jr.

 

[thetrailboss]

You should request Q senior and Bill Stengers presence. I would think a round table with Ary is a waste of time.

They did that two years ago. Obviously that did a lot of good :roll:

I say what's the point if they're NOT going to implement the constructive criticism?


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[the original trailboss]

Burke has agreed to a pass holder meeting after it was suggested by multiple people.

I haven't heard anything about a meeting - keep us informed as I would like to attend !

 

[VTKilarney]

I haven't heard anything about a meeting - keep us informed as I would like to attend !

Here is what they have said on Facebook about a pass holder meeting:

Thank you all for your support and understanding. It's in the works and we will get a date ASAP!

They claim to have 10 trails open today. The big news is that the new trails that have opened are... Binney Lane and Dashney Mile!

This means that since the refreeze there has yet to be any snow refreshed on an open trail on the main mountain (other than perhaps right in front of MBX). How many other resorts can say that?

 

[SkiRaceParent]

I'm glad passholders are having a mini-uprising of sorts on Facebook. At least they're finally responding, and it sounds like they are being somewhat honest and willing to have the meeting. I imagine they wanted to feel content that the hotel was going to happen before making the sizable snowmaking investment. Now that it's happening, coupled with the heat people are putting on them, let's hope they can find a way to do it this upcoming summer. Afterall, they're not paying for the hotel, so they should hopefully have the funds available to do it ASAP, I would think (hope).

 

[VTKilarney]

One difficult spot for them is that they may be forced to readjust their season pass prices. Right now they are $809 for an adult. When you compare that to other mountains, and what the other mountains have to offer, there is just no way that the price can be justified.

 

[Smellytele]

Where o' where is mass skier?

 

[VTKilarney]

Where o' where is mass skier?

He's busy organizing the Q Burke Spirit Squad.