Big Burke announcement

[Smellytele]

Good morning


Winter Sunrise by Tim_NEK, on Flickr


A little while later on the way to work, the warm air running over the cold air made for some interesting clouds:


Sky Waves by Tim_NEK, on Flickr


Light rain showers this afternoon/evening and then more warmth and non-frozen precip this weekend. Uggghhh. :???:

What I have seen it will be light rain showers this afternoon/evening but of the frozen type this weekend but only 30-40% chance of anything

 

[VTKilarney]

What I have seen it will be light rain showers this afternoon/evening but of the frozen type this weekend but only 30-40% chance of anything

I really hope that conditions hold up today. Burke skied quite nice on Monday - at least on the snowmaking trails. But we are in desperate need of natural snow. So much of the mountain's potential can't be used right now - at least if you care about your skis. It's really getting frustrating as we head into February.

I'm actually quite worried for Burke this year. They have to be taking a financial bath. Monday was an absolutely gorgeous day and even by Burke standards the mountain was dead. I just don't think that people are willing to call in sick when so few trails are viable.

 

[oldtimer]

Not just Burke- this is true across the East. Sugarloaf is way down in Jan, Smuggs no one there on weekdays. This season is not salvagable from a financial standpoint.

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

You know, and not just at Burke either, the slow but steady increase in the prices of passes and day tickets, are probably having some effect on how many skiers, who are on the fence about going, actually ARE going.

If they don't see/hear about snow, and great conditions... and then they see the cost for FEW trails open, purely on manmade...

 

[VTKilarney]

That's a very good point. Ski areas really don't adjust their prices based on conditions. Sure, there are some early season rates, but once the regular season kicks in they don't adjust their prices for conditions. This seems short sighted, especially when you realize that they are losing food and beverage revenue.

There were TONS of empty chairs going up the mountain yesterday. I can see why. It simply wasn't worth the day rate for what they had to offer.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Not just Burke- this is true across the East. Sugarloaf is way down in Jan, Smuggs no one there on weekdays. This season is not salvagable from a financial standpoint.

smuggs was pretty empty this past saturday and sunday too. saturday only 5 minute waits on madonna1 and sterling. sunday was ski on to sterling and barely any wait at madonna.

 

[yeggous]

smuggs was pretty empty this past saturday and sunday too. saturday only 5 minute waits on madonna1 and sterling. sunday was ski on to sterling and barely any wait at madonna.

I think we need to work on our understanding of the word empty. 5 minute lift lines are long, especially by Burke standards.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

I think we need to work on our understanding of the word empty. 5 minute lift lines are long, especially by Burke standards.

5 minute lift lines are super short for a smuggler's notch saturday. all lifts are ancient and slow double chairs.

 

[steamboat1]

I think we need to work on our understanding of the word empty. 5 minute lift lines are long, especially by Burke standards.

Killington standards too M-F.

Intolerable in fact. Haven't waited more than a chair/gondi or two all season.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

comparing killington weekdays to smuggler's weekends isn't a fair comparison. killington weekends are one of the worst possible places and times for lines

 

[Smellytele]

comparing killington weekdays to smuggler's weekends isn't a fair comparison. killington weekends are one of the worst possible places and times for lines

He wouldn't know he only skis on weekdays yada yada yada.

 

[wtcobb]

Another perspective on first-time skiing from Liftopia's blog - very similar back story, but a much more enticing perspective than the Q-blog.

http://blog.liftopia.com/blog/9-things-i-learned-while-learning-to-ski/

 

[VTKilarney]

I just saw some of the best evidence that the hotel is indeed close to opening. While taking a quick look at the webcam, I saw a truck leaving the hotel that looked like this.



As you can see, this truck belongs to Reinhart Foodservice, LLC. Reinhart is a food service provider for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, etc.

 

[MEtoVTSkier]

Yeah, I had seen something yesterday about reservations for Valentines evening?

 

[VTKilarney]

Yeah, I had seen something yesterday about reservations for Valentines evening?

Good catch.

The pricing for their Valentine's event is interesting:
Dinner & Comedy for two - $110.00 (+TAX)

Dinner & Comedy, Single Adult - $65.00 (+TAX)

 

[River19]

Good catch.

The pricing for their Valentine's event is interesting:
Dinner & Comedy for two - $110.00 (+TAX)

Dinner & Comedy, Single Adult - $65.00 (+TAX)

I don't know about you guys, but I don't put the success of my V-Day evening in the hands of a never been open restaurant and staff......that sounds......"risky".....

 

[from_the_NEK]

I don't know about you guys, but I don't put the success of my V-Day evening in the hands of a never been open restaurant and staff......that sounds......"risky".....

That is why they have a price for "singles" .

 

[VTKilarney]

What should Burke's snowmaking strategy be from this point on?

The good news is that they are intending to make more snow. I wouldn't have blamed them if they threw in the towel. It's late in the year for snowmaking, and from a financial standpoint this year is a disaster.

Their plan is to open more terrain. Specifically, Foxes Folly, The Shoot, and Ledges. I am all for opening more terrain. On the other hand, it's pretty obvious that they have made the bare minimum snow needed to get their existing trails open. I'm wondering just how vulnerable the Dippers and Willoughby are.

What would you do? Would you shore up some existing trails, or would you expand terrain? I guess I would expand terrain but leave time to freshen up the Dippers and Willoughby if needed.

 

[deadheadskier]

Whatever it takes to have the most terrain open possible and best conditions they can have for Presidents week.

Throwing in towel while other areas have not = lost season pass holders for next year

 

[VTKilarney]

Whatever it takes to have the most terrain open possible and best conditions they can have for Presidents week.

Throwing in towel while other areas have not = lost season pass holders for next year

Then they should definitely expand terrain. The Dippers and Willoughby will hold up through President's Day weekend. And you are correct that this is MUCH more important than how long they hold up in March.