Big Burke announcement

[MEtoVTSkier]

This was posted a ways back after the last passholders meeting...

Here are some notes my buddy sent me about the pass holder meeting that just took place:

There were about 20 people in attendance. Stenger was present.

Last year they could pump 400 gpm of water. This year 1,000. Next year 2,000.

$30-$40 million will be lost in state tax revenue due to the bad weather. (My note: If this is true, this is VERY bad new for a small state like Vermont.)

Hotel opening date will be determined this coming week. (My note: My friend said that it seemed like it's not going to open on January 15th.)

Three times as much will be spent on snowmaking upgrades this summer than was spent last summer.

Next year they anticipate being able to light up 70 snowmaking guns at one time. There are no committed-to plans beyond this. There is the goal of improving snowmaking, but it will depend on resort revenues.

There were no neighbor complaints about the plan for night skiing. They expect the permit to be approved. Night skiing will be on Dashney Mile and the J-Bar hill.

When they open, the poma lift will be restricted to BMA. It will not be available for public use.

The plan is to have two lanes down from Mid-Burke to Sherburne before they start making snow on the main hill again.

The Willoughby lift was inspected this year, but it will not be used because Ary believes that safety would be compromised if it is used.

The snowmaking pond will be dredged this summer.

The Mid-Burke lodge will be open for two or three more years. The contract with BMA requires dedicated space for BMA, so even if the lodge is replaced there will be a structure to accommodate BMA.

I don't see much aspiration to get a lot more firepower going... hopefully the plan gets improved a bit more this summer.

As far as the results go, well... here we are almost a month later, and yep they got their summit to mid route open, and 2 mid to base routes open, but still, trying to get the second route off the top going.

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

As an aside... I think this is a pretty neat idea... Maybe Killington could replace the "Stairway to Heaven" with an enclosed one someday.

 

[VTKilarney]

I also like the note from the December meeting that said that the hotel opening date would be announced on the following week.

And we are still waiting...

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

I also like the note from the December meeting that said that the hotel opening date would be announced on the following week.

And we are still waiting...

Yep, we are. I guess I gave up on planning to trying it out this winter, so kind of wasn't paying close attention to any further announcements of the opening. Pretty much now, I'd like to check out the new day lodge in the middle of the building, but probably won't plan a lengthy trip to Burke that would make the trail side accommodations convenient.

 

[burski]

I never saw those notes, the comment that the snowmaking system only has 400gpm capacity is an outright lie, unless they have gotten rid of pumps in the last several years. The capacity of the system has been over 2000gpm for about a decade, and if there is an operator that knows what they are doing, the transfer pumps from the river can be used to make snow on the lower mountain,, increasing actual capacity to 4,000 gpm in certain operating scenarios. So by telling everyone its only 400 gpm, they lie and when it comes back up to 2000 gpm, where it has historically been, they are hero's. These guys have to go..

 

[VTKilarney]

Something odd is happening with the hotel reservation system. Prior to February 6th, you can only book a room-only rate. From February 6th onward you can book a ski and stay package.

Either the person running their system is incompetent or this may be a clue as to when they plan to open.

 

[the original trailboss]

I never saw those notes, the comment that the snowmaking system only has 400gpm capacity is an outright lie, unless they have gotten rid of pumps in the last several years. The capacity of the system has been over 2000gpm for about a decade, and if there is an operator that knows what they are doing, the transfer pumps from the river can be used to make snow on the lower mountain,, increasing actual capacity to 4,000 gpm in certain operating scenarios. So by telling everyone its only 400 gpm, they lie and when it comes back up to 2000 gpm, where it has historically been, they are hero's. These guys have to go..

Wow - veeery interesting ! And, yes, they do have to go. This is a big joq !

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

I never saw those notes, the comment that the snowmaking system only has 400gpm capacity is an outright lie, unless they have gotten rid of pumps in the last several years. The capacity of the system has been over 2000gpm for about a decade, and if there is an operator that knows what they are doing, the transfer pumps from the river can be used to make snow on the lower mountain,, increasing actual capacity to 4,000 gpm in certain operating scenarios. So by telling everyone its only 400 gpm, they lie and when it comes back up to 2000 gpm, where it has historically been, they are hero's. These guys have to go..

So, back to the water is no problem, and it's really all about the missing rental air compressors?

 

[ss20]

Next year they anticipate being able to light up 70 snowmaking guns at one time. There are no committed-to plans beyond this. There is the goal of improving snowmaking, but it will depend on resort revenues.

Impressive...uke:


It's the "but it will depend on resort revenue" that really gets me. They aren't going to make a cent this year and they know it. There could be 3 feet of snow per week with bluebird 40 degree weekends and it wouldn't matter. Done. Fork is stuck into it. Ski area fiscal season is over... Fat lady warmed up during Christmas break, tomorrow she sings on the lousiest MLK weekend in years.

 

[from_the_NEK]

We still have February break. By that time the hotel will be done and most trails should be open and the pent up demand may be through the roof.

 

[thetrailboss]

We still have February break. By that time the hotel will be done and most trails should be open and the pent up demand may be through the roof.

I think that pent up demand is skiing elsewhere I'm afraid.....


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[MEtoVTSkier]

I think that pent up demand is skiing elsewhere I'm afraid.....

I was thinking that same exact line a couple hours ago when I read FTNEK's post... and looked at the webcam.

 

[VTKilarney]

You really can't blame people. This was entirely foreseeable in light of their lack of snowmaking.


.

 

[faQ]

Anybody see the FB video posted yesterday? I used to think the iPhone videos were really bad but these edits may be even worse. "We love it here at Burke, everybody is so nice and everybody loves to ski".


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[thetrailboss]

Anybody see the FB video posted yesterday? I used to think the iPhone videos were really bad but these edits may be even worse. "We love it here at Burke, everybody is so nice and everybody loves to ski".


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Did you see Q holding a gun to that person's head as they were saying it?


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[thetrailboss]

I watched said video. No doubt he made it because the music is terrible. He also showed a guy playing to an empty Bear Den. I preferred the old ones they made featuring local music and showing lots of happy folks instead of awkward looks and empty lounges set to Qtechno.

 

[VTKilarney]

That video was awful!


.

 

[Mariewatson777]

We had to cancel our reservation because the hotel isn't done yet.

 

[VTKilarney]

We had to cancel our reservation because the hotel isn't done yet.

You are not alone.

 

[faQ]

I watched said video. No doubt he made it because the music is terrible. He also showed a guy playing to an empty Bear Den. I preferred the old ones they made featuring local music and showing lots of happy folks instead of awkward looks and empty lounges set to Qtechno.

This is really getting embarrassing. Too bad little-q doesn't have access to say... a successful marketing team that could help out....


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