Elk loses snowmaking water

[legalskier]

Judge rules against Elk in snow-making lake dispute:

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/ju...mountain-in-snowmaking-lake-dispute-1.1488968
http://www.saminfo.com/news/elk-mountain-loses-snowmaking-water

Is the Four Seasons cutting off its nose to spite its face?

?:???:?

 

[drjeff]

There's gotta be a few pieces of the puzzle and/or some SERIOUS back story missing in those reports....

Are the residents of the Four Season's community looking to have unrestricted access to Elk that they feel they shouldn't have to pay for?

How much water does Elk typically use per season and how does that relate to the capacity of their 4 acre snowmaking pond? Is there any other sources that refill Elk's pond than the 10 acre Lake in the Four Season's development?

On the surface it surely seems like the actions of the Four Season's development may very well cause the residents to have decreased access and/or snow to slide down the hill upon. And on the surface at least it would seem like one of the main reasons that people buy a base area residence is to have quick access to the ski area operations, and their actions (The Four Season's Community) would seem to be opposite of that.

 

[ScottySkis]

Maybe I won't buy a season pass their next year. Dr Jeff I don't how much capacity they have, but they make a lot of it and are very like MT Snow when it comes to grooming and snowmaking .

 

[4aprice]

Ouch. Cannot survive in PA without snowmaking. I'm sure they will work something out. Too much $ brought into that area by the mountain and nothing else up there to replace it with.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[Rambo]

I looked through some of my pics of Elk and I think this is the pond in question - you can see the earthern berm splitting the 2 portions in question. Seems like Elk thinks there won't be enough water from their side alone. Elk does guarantee their seasons pass holders 100 days of skiing and if they don't make 100, passholders get a pro-rated refund... but Elk makes tons and tons of snow and always gets in the 100 days, somehow even in the warmest of winters.

 

[Rambo]

I do think there are indeed a lot of back-stories and a lot more to all of this. I heard that the 2 owners... the man that owns the ski area and the one that owns the land that the Four Seasons Village is on have been feuding for over 40 years.

 

[legalskier]

Interesting interpretation by "Winter" over at paskiandride:
"it's basically two old rich guys swinging their expensive dicks at each other. Elk wants to build condos but needs right of way through village of four seasons property. VOFS wont grant it because they are trying to protect the property owners home values. Elk locks up the gate that is used by VOFS to access Elks slopes (so they dont have to ride the dumb cattle cars) and now VOFS is suing Elk because they are drawing snow making water from VOFS spring fed lake. For crying out loud."
http://www.paskiandride.com/forums/topic/16894-elk-mtn-law-suit/

 

[mbedle]

I think the main issue is Elk trying to resolve this without repairing the dike that separated the two ponds in the past (thats been broken since the late 60's). If they really need the water from the 4-acre pond, they now will put the money out to repair the dike. Also, they may have been planning on this outcome and hence the reason for the 3 new ponds on the west side of the resort.