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Big Burke announcement
- Thread starter the original trailboss
- Start date
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
This thread is definitely a wee-bit too negative, but count me in with those who have never heard of a ski resort closing from 6" of snow at the base. What?
from_the_NEK
Active member
My guess would be they have to clear ice from the lifts. I'm headed to the mtn in 40 minutes for opening.
from_the_NEK
Active member
Oh and 3003!
MEtoVTSkier
Active member
Except the snow report is usually very lacking, and their FB page wasn't updated until 1 minute ago at 9:26am... when they should have been open and ready to operate at 8:00am. Martin Luther King day is considered a weekend/Holiday day INDUSTRY WIDE!
Heavy 8" = Powder? LOL!
Edit: Oh, evidently Qurke doesn't consider MLK weekend or any other holiday period a reason to open earlier in the day...
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MEtoVTSkier
Active member
Also they posted their number to call yesterday to check on lift status, then conveniently couldn't be bothered to answer the phone...
While I'm not an experienced skier, I know snow and I've never encountered "heavy powder".......this must be something that comes when you have packed powder over powder....lol
Negativity........while there is plenty in this thread.....here is what I take from it; where there is smoke there is usually fire. Passholders demanded a meeting that hasn't happened yet, snow making had been sub par at best, people are writing into the local paper with problems, the PR department apparently works for some other mountain as they seem to highlight the lack of action and the shoe-string budget comes through in the quality of their work.......etc.
There is plenty to be concerned about. Is it the end of the world? Are innocent babies dying? No.....there is a chance things will eventually work out, but all these things are easily avoidable.
Negativity........while there is plenty in this thread.....here is what I take from it; where there is smoke there is usually fire. Passholders demanded a meeting that hasn't happened yet, snow making had been sub par at best, people are writing into the local paper with problems, the PR department apparently works for some other mountain as they seem to highlight the lack of action and the shoe-string budget comes through in the quality of their work.......etc.
There is plenty to be concerned about. Is it the end of the world? Are innocent babies dying? No.....there is a chance things will eventually work out, but all these things are easily avoidable.
MEtoVTSkier
Active member
Really? Guest Services was too busy to ANSWER THEIR PHONE??!!
Peter Delaney Still no answers on 802 626 7300. How can we find out when lift is open?
Like · Reply · 23 hrs
Burke Mountain Resort Lift is open for business! Busy day here - so for the delay...
Like ·
Kevin Shpritzer Just called that number a couple of times, but there were no answers. Any updates?
Like · Reply · 23 hrs
Burke Mountain Resort Lift is open, sorry for the delay. Guest Services has been super busy today.
Like ·
MEtoVTSkier
Active member
Exactly!
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
As ski resorts have increasingly come to understand that it's tough to BS conditions reports in the social-media age, this "delaying" of negative postings has become a favored tactic.
For example, lets say the average time of a daily Facebook/Twitter report release for a hypothetical ski area is 7:46am. What I've been seeing is on days with "bad news" of conditions, wind holds, etc... the daily report will come out at around 8:52 - in other words, at a time when the vast majority of your customers will have already made the "GO-NO/GO" decision and are en route to your place of business.
This is a huge pet-peeve of mine as well.
ANY snow is called "powder", even when it's tough-slogging cement like today's snowfall. That, and when resorts will call 1" of new snow "powder" - both drive me nuts.
Some of the Pocono resorts are the worst for this, Camelback will get 1/2 of snow and eBlast a post to "come get the POWDER!!!!!!" or other such nonsense.
Have you read any of the thread?
Icing can be an issue; but delay due to snow is bizarre you must admit.
Re: Lift Hours. Burke DID open at 8:00am for weekends and holidays one season. It apparently did not work for them. They've pretty much always been a 9-4 operation.
xwhaler
Active member
Have read all of it---lot of good interesting discussion and I value the knowledge/insight many locals have provided. Just feel that the overall tone is quite negative and every little thing is scrutinized.
I know the day I was up there in Late December was amazing---the operation ran well and the conditions were very good.
But everyone is passionate and I get that---just wish some of the good things Burke does could be celebrated.
Realize Ary has made some mistakes but everyone seems to have written him off entirely---nothing he can do will be good at this point?
p.s. I doubt I'm the only one who thinks this way----guessing there is a group of folks who would rather not get into the back and forth with the 4-6 hardcore posters of this thread.
Well, I think the correct phrase is that Ary has written off his own customers. When you see it that way I think you can understand why people feel the way that they do.
And regarding today, I know that if any other place delayed operations on a "powder" day folks would be pissed. It's happened at Sugarbush.
Must have been a short staffing issue? I haven't seen anywhere else delay opening today. Yesterday in Central NH the roads were the worst I've seen in a long time due to the freezing rain. If it was anything like that up in Burke, I'm sure some of their staff (groomers, lift operations etc.) may have struggled to make it to work on time. Most ski areas anticipate these problems and overcome them though.
If it was a lift icing issue, that should be announced on Facebook and the snow report. But saying the opening was delayed because of 6" of snow is really bizarre.
If it was a lift icing issue, that should be announced on Facebook and the snow report. But saying the opening was delayed because of 6" of snow is really bizarre.
from_the_NEK
Active member
Well I'm back at the house to grab my skins (I knew I should have brought them in the first place :dunce
. The heavy snow had some branches leaning on the lift line. Three patrollers with a chainsaw made it to the first tower before the lift shut off again. Word is there are "power problems" and it is unknown how long until they figure out what is wrong. The crowd watched the patrollers get evacuated from the chair and then everyone left or headed to the lower mtn.
. The heavy snow had some branches leaning on the lift line. Three patrollers with a chainsaw made it to the first tower before the lift shut off again. Word is there are "power problems" and it is unknown how long until they figure out what is wrong. The crowd watched the patrollers get evacuated from the chair and then everyone left or headed to the lower mtn.Well I'm back at the house to grab my skins (I knew I should have brought them in the first place :dunce
There are some power outages in the area due to the weather from what I can tell.
And obviously branches in close proximity to the line is a very valid safety concern to address I believe, right?
"Heavy Powder"? lol
VTKilarney
Well-known member
Mid-Burke began running at noon.
Here is a comment on their Facebook page that is pretty sad to read:
Hey Burke, season pass holder for many years, and I'm disappointed in the customer service this weekend. I understand lifts close for weather and power reasons, so I have zero complaint about that. However, the communication is severely lacking. We've been in the mid lodge for about two hours (it's 11:25 now), and not a single Burke employee has explained the lift situation to the dozens of customers waiting here. Everyone is guessing and continually checking this FB page for updates, but none are to be found. Aside for the lack of information and customer service, there was no food or drink service available up here for a couple of hours as well.
And another:
If this were happening at any other mountain it would be considered unacceptable. Burke you are lucky to have such forgiving customers. This customer is not so forgiving. You've held my ski day hostage with minimal communication. Shame on you. Something has to change here.
One last one:
Customer service & information regarding the lift not working at mid-Burke is severely disappointing today. Where is customer relations keeping your patrons happy? Not important to you guys?
Q Burke responded as follows:
Hey Everyone, we appreciate the feedback and concerns relating to the morning. Mid Burke Cafeteria is closed Monday through Friday and only serving on weekends. 9am-4pm. Guest Services and Staff were updated as quickly as possible from our lift operators who were working as quickly as they could to de-ice. Customer service is always top priority. With the influx of calls and eagerness of our patrons to get out there, they were doing the best they could with the information available.
Here is a comment on their Facebook page that is pretty sad to read:
Hey Burke, season pass holder for many years, and I'm disappointed in the customer service this weekend. I understand lifts close for weather and power reasons, so I have zero complaint about that. However, the communication is severely lacking. We've been in the mid lodge for about two hours (it's 11:25 now), and not a single Burke employee has explained the lift situation to the dozens of customers waiting here. Everyone is guessing and continually checking this FB page for updates, but none are to be found. Aside for the lack of information and customer service, there was no food or drink service available up here for a couple of hours as well.
And another:
If this were happening at any other mountain it would be considered unacceptable. Burke you are lucky to have such forgiving customers. This customer is not so forgiving. You've held my ski day hostage with minimal communication. Shame on you. Something has to change here.
One last one:
Customer service & information regarding the lift not working at mid-Burke is severely disappointing today. Where is customer relations keeping your patrons happy? Not important to you guys?
Q Burke responded as follows:
Hey Everyone, we appreciate the feedback and concerns relating to the morning. Mid Burke Cafeteria is closed Monday through Friday and only serving on weekends. 9am-4pm. Guest Services and Staff were updated as quickly as possible from our lift operators who were working as quickly as they could to de-ice. Customer service is always top priority. With the influx of calls and eagerness of our patrons to get out there, they were doing the best they could with the information available.
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VTKilarney
Well-known member
Their Facebook page described the snow as "creamy".
If this was indeed an icing issue, could the delay have been avoided by having staff come in earlier? Burke has just two lifts that they really need to have running, one of which is necessary to access the main mountain.
What's really scary is that, even just from a customer service perspective, Ary shows absolutely no signs of learning from his mistakes.
If this was indeed an icing issue, could the delay have been avoided by having staff come in earlier? Burke has just two lifts that they really need to have running, one of which is necessary to access the main mountain.
What's really scary is that, even just from a customer service perspective, Ary shows absolutely no signs of learning from his mistakes.
It's time for Ary to declare victory and go home.
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