Black Mountain, NH OPEN AGAIN more alive than ever

[thetrailboss]

When you take away all discounts to locals, make a ton of noise and just cater to drunk out of state Indy pass holders, the town is not going to appreciate you. I called this last year when they stopped all local discounts, black even stopped giving vouchers to the volunteers at the Essc school kids ski program, which all the other local ski areas do. They need to start working with community inside of fighting the community.

I hear you, but you do realize that Vail, Alterra, and most of the industry have also all but stopped such discounts and vouchers, right? That is part of the business model--the only thing that they focus on is the season pass product.

 

[Mainer]

Vail still gives the local discounts, only one in MWV that doesn’t is black

 

[thetrailboss]

Vail still gives the local discounts, only one in MWV that doesn’t is black

Local discounts where? What kind of discount?

 

[urungus]

Local discounts where? What kind of discount?

Valley Sampler Ski Pass | Chamber Resources

www.visitmwv.com

For $369 you will receive 5 experiences at each participating ski area or Nordic center. The following restrictions will apply: skiing is limited to midweek days (non-vacation weeks) and Sundays (except MLK Sunday). (Non-vacation weeks) starting opening dates through area closing dates. Blackout dates are Dec 24-Jan 1, Jan. 19 (MLK Sunday), Feb 15-23rd and all Saturdays. Great Glen Trails will provide a full-day pass for 2 for summer biking trail usage (so don’t throw away your pass). Limited to one Ski Area or Nordic Center per day. Pass holder may bring a guest(s), one punch will be eliminated per person.

 

[thetrailboss]

Valley Sampler Ski Pass | Chamber Resources

www.visitmwv.com

Oh, that's right. Back to that program again.

 

[AdironRider]

I don't think it was some sort of MTV spring break scenario, but it was just blatantly disrespectful neighbor behavior that pushed the Town over the edge. Like yeah, you want the mountain to succeed, but not in a fuck you I gotta get mine type way.

It just seems very clear to me Erik doesn't know what the fuck he is doing. Broadcasting you are a wild party destination while under a State Liqour Commission investigation and suing the Town because you don't believe there were complaints, when 82 people put their name into the public record literally complaining, is mind-blowingly stupid behavior. I honestly can't think of a more ridiculous management decision in my life when it comes to ski areas.

I'm also convinced this is going to end in spectacularly bad fashion. That article also has Erik bragging about 38k skier visits. Dartmouth Skiway does more than that. That isn't coming close to paying the bills he is racking up. I've also heard from multiple GMs they are losing trust in the Indy operation....

 

[thetrailboss]

They only did 38,000 daily skier days? Wow, no wonder why they were nearly NELSAPed.

 

[urungus]

What would be a healthy number of skier visits to support a ski area of Blacks size ?

 

[deadheadskier]

A.

I'd like to hear more about these 82 people who complained. There are not 82 properties bordering or nearly bordering the mountain. Those that do border the mountain probably aren't complaining either because they're likely happy to see it doing better than it had in years. The mountain folds and their property values drop. So who complained and what about?

B.

I don't necessarily disagree with the strategy of marketing Black as having great Apres. Let's face it, those that love the skiing product they offer are well in the minority as evidenced by their still low skier visit totals. So, to increase business, there needs to be something else to attract people off 16.

C.

Still a bad idea to be very vocal about the party scene with the ongoing legal situation. Find resolution and then rebuild that reputation.


My guess is both Eric and the Chief are somewhat in the wrong here, but neither wants to flinch. Eric could probably be a better neighbor. The chief could probably get off his power trip a bit.

 

[Newpylong]

They only did 38,000 daily skier days? Wow, no wonder why they were nearly NELSAPed.

That is actually higher than I thought it would be and quite a bit more than it has been in the recent past. That's the kind of numbers they were getting in the 90s, but at that time energy, labor and insurance were much cheaper. So yes, the visitations (and ancillary revenue) need to come up to be sustainable. When most people think the mountain is still closed, I am sure it will take time.

All of the buried beer can thin snowmaking pipe from the 80s from the pumphouse over to the triple has been torn up and the new 10" feedline is being welded. That will go up Slalom (which currently does not have snowmaking) to the T13 valve house, and the old feed (Standard) will become a downline. 7 new 3" lines are going to be laid in the open trench since it's already dug. The pipe in the pumphouse has been replaced, and a third booster is coming. All of the pumps will have PLC. The system should be a lot more reliable and efficient this year, especially if those 100 used towers show up and can be rebuilt and deployed in time. Lugging around portable gear stinks and is very consuming.

 

[AdironRider]

A.

I'd like to hear more about these 82 people who complained. There are not 82 properties bordering or nearly bordering the mountain. Those that do border the mountain probably aren't complaining either because they're likely happy to see it doing better than it had in years. The mountain folds and their property values drop. So who complained and what about?

B.

I don't necessarily disagree with the strategy of marketing Black as having great Apres. Let's face it, those that love the skiing product they offer are well in the minority as evidenced by their still low skier visit totals. So, to increase business, there needs to be something else to attract people off 16.

C.

Still a bad idea to be very vocal about the party scene with the ongoing legal situation. Find resolution and then rebuild that reputation.


My guess is both Eric and the Chief are somewhat in the wrong here, but neither wants to flinch. Eric could probably be a better neighbor. The chief could probably get off his power trip a bit.

I don't see why they have to border the ski area in order to take issue with how the mountain is being run. I also don't think property values would drop, really at all, outside of maybe slopeside condos. Even then, the access of Jackson is still spectacular to all the Whites have to offer, and values would remain high IMO.

The rest we agree on, but our opinion has zero sway when it comes to the Town of Jackson wanting to pull their liquor license or regulate Black out of existence, nor should it really. I think this is what Erik seems to be missing here. A bunch of Indy passholders from down south do not matter at all when it comes to local town politics, and honestly in northern New England actually works against Black when trying to advocate for themselves. Crusty old New Englanders aren't exactly well known for liking outsiders.

 

[deadheadskier]

I don't see why they have to border the ski area in order to take issue with how the mountain is being run. I also don't think property values would drop, really at all, outside of maybe slopeside condos. Even then, the access of Jackson is still spectacular to all the Whites have to offer, and values would remain high IMO.

The rest we agree on, but our opinion has zero sway when it comes to the Town of Jackson wanting to pull their liquor license or regulate Black out of existence, nor should it really. I think this is what Erik seems to be missing here. A bunch of Indy passholders from down south do not matter at all when it comes to local town politics, and honestly in northern New England actually works against Black when trying to advocate for themselves. Crusty old New Englanders aren't exactly well known for liking outsiders.

I have to imagine a very high percentage of Jackson residents are transplants. Either WFH high wealth people or retirees. I don't see the "locals" there like I do a resident of Berlin as an example. I get what you are saying about small town politics, but Jackson is basically the Stowe of the MWV in my eyes. It's Disneyland these days with fewer and fewer people having relationships with neighbors.

You may be right in regards to property values. I just know that if I owned property there, I wouldn't want to see the local ski hill close down, especially given Blacks history.

As for people complaining. It's very strange for people to complain to the police if they aren't being impacted negatively by noise or traffic. That's why I want to learn more about it. If I don't like how a business is being run in town, I just don't go there or recommend it. I'm looking at you Jimmy and Gepetto's pizza. I don't call the cops or town officials to tattle on Jimmy for being a dick to staff and customers. That's just weird.

Maybe I should call the cops on Wildcat.

 

[Bosco DaSkia]

I’d like to hear more about these “multiple GM’s“ there are supposedly souring on Indy.

First I’ve heard of any talk like that. Seems to be more renewals than drops.