Feel free!

[JimG.]

to argue with me on this one gents...just felt like being everyone's worst nightmare of a New Yawkah today. Just trying to stir the skiing pot a bit after all the political BS.

Although I really do believe it's true:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/9058-best-snow-making-why.html?posted=1#post96118

 

[SkiDog]

to argue with me on this one gents...just felt like being everyone's worst nightmare of a New Yawkah today. Just trying to stir the skiing pot a bit after all the political BS.

Although I really do believe it's true:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/9058-best-snow-making-why.html?posted=1#post96118

Would you consider yourself biased in this discussion, as Hunter is your main mtn? I like Hunter, and feel they do a great job of snowmaking.

M

 

[JimG.]

Would you consider yourself biased in this discussion, as Hunter is your main mtn? I like Hunter, and feel they do a great job of snowmaking.

M

Biased? Partly.

But I firmly believe that history and facts back me up.

 

[ctenidae]

Mother Nature is the best snowmaker, no question.

Too bad she's unreliable. Unfortunately, we can't fire her (she's union), and it'd be tough to replace her.

 

[JimG.]

Mother Nature is the best snowmaker, no question.

Too bad she's unreliable. Unfortunately, we can't fire her (she's union), and it'd be tough to replace her.

I prefer natural snow too. But in the East a ski area will not survive without snowmaking.

I know there are folks who think that it would be better if there were nothing but natural snow and hiking in the East.

I love to earn turns and I love a pow day, but I'm so sorry, there is no way skiing in the East would be better without snowmaking. And I think that folks who think it would be better are fooling themselves and would be amoong the first to whine about how much less they ski each season.

That ought to elicit some responses.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

to argue with me on this one gents...just felt like being everyone's worst nightmare of a New Yawkah today. Just trying to stir the skiing pot a bit after all the political BS.

Although I really do believe it's true:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/9058-best-snow-making-why.html?posted=1#post96118

Of course it's true. Hunter set the standard back in the day and has stayed ahead ever since. Although lots of areas have closed the gap quite a bit.

Also, quality of coverage is all about the strength and reach of the system relative to the skiing acres, so for areas with less acres to cover it's not as costly as it is for bigger ones.

It costs lot of $ to make snow.

 

[JimG.]

It costs lot of $ to make snow.

Ungodly amounts of $...the biggest expense on the ledger.

That's why seasons like 05-06 with all of the warm weather are despised...make snow, watch it melt, repeat. Very costly.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Ungodly amounts of $...the biggest expense on the ledger.

That's why seasons like 05-06 with all of the warm weather are despised...make snow, watch it melt, repeat. Very costly.

Nobody recovers as quickly as Hunter, although I'd have to give big props to Jiminy Peak in that catagory too.

 

[andyzee]

I'm not the biggest Hunter fan, but one thing I can't argue is the fact that they do one hell of a job making snow.

 

[skibum1321]

I prefer natural snow too. But in the East a ski area will not survive without snowmaking.

I know there are folks who think that it would be better if there were nothing but natural snow and hiking in the East.

I love to earn turns and I love a pow day, but I'm so sorry, there is no way skiing in the East would be better without snowmaking. And I think that folks who think it would be better are fooling themselves and would be amoong the first to whine about how much less they ski each season.

That ought to elicit some responses.

What about Mad River? I know they have some snowmaking, but not on anything that people would go there to ski.

Personally, I am about the happy medium at resorts like the Bush, Smuggs, Stowe and Jay. They blow snow on enough trails to keep themselves going with some decent terrain early and late. They also leave the natural trails, which are the only trails that I ski mid-season.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I'm not the biggest Hunter fan, but one thing I can't argue is the fact that they do one hell of a job making snow.

IMO Hunter is one of those places that has big pluses and big minuses, folks either love it or hate it. I’m a Hunter lover myself.

 

[JimG.]

What about Mad River? I know they have some snowmaking, but not on anything that people would go there to ski.

Personally, I am about the happy medium at resorts like the Bush, Smuggs, Stowe and Jay. They blow snow on enough trails to keep themselves going with some decent terrain early and late. They also leave the natural trails, which are the only trails that I ski mid-season.

MRG is unique; I like it for the same reason.

But it's far from representative of Eastern ski areas in general.

 

[skibum1321]

MRG is unique; I like it for the same reason.

But it's far from representative of Eastern ski areas in general.

I realize that it's unique but you said that a ski area would not survive without snowmaking. They seem to be quite content where they are and have been surviving for some time now.

 

[JimG.]

I realize that it's unique but you said that a ski area would not survive without snowmaking. They seem to be quite content where they are and have been surviving for some time now.

Point taken...there is one that does survive.

But are you willing to admit that in general, my statement is accurate?

 

[bvibert]

I realize that it's unique but you said that a ski area would not survive without snowmaking. They seem to be quite content where they are and have been surviving for some time now.

Technically Jim is still correct. MRG does have some snow making, just not very much.

 

[ctenidae]

But are you willing to admit that in general, my statement is accurate?

There is an exception to every rule. Including this one.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I realize that it's unique but you said that a ski area would not survive without snowmaking. They seem to be quite content where they are and have been surviving for some time now.

MRG gets twice the natural snowfall as Hunter, 250" annual for MRG - 125" for Hunter.

 

[NYDrew]

What about mad river? They were struggleing all season. Snowmaking is essential to eastern skiing. Most people who can truly tell the difference between natural pack and man made snow are experts (of course powder is a whole nother story). These are the same experts who venture to non snow making areas when they are in the mood.

Eliminating snowmaking on the east cost would just destroy the industry.

 

[riverc0il]

I prefer natural snow too. But in the East a ski area will not survive without snowmaking.

I know there are folks who think that it would be better if there were nothing but natural snow and hiking in the East.

I love to earn turns and I love a pow day, but I'm so sorry, there is no way skiing in the East would be better without snowmaking. And I think that folks who think it would be better are fooling themselves and would be amoong the first to whine about how much less they ski each season.

That ought to elicit some responses.

ha! here is a response for ya! perhaps not what you would think i would respond with either.

i completely agree with you that snowmaking is an absolute requirement in the east and by no means want it eliminated. there is room for a place like mad river glen, but most ski areas could not stay open for long without snow making.

though i will disagree very much with your point regarding people "fooling themselves" and would be whiners if they ski less each season. i am out skiing both before and after the first and last lifts open and close. so for people who don't let lifts dictate their season, there is nothing to whine about, we will be skiing regardless of snow making.

though here is the hitch: early and late season snow making due to man made snow is certainly appreciated. i skied jay early season and mansfield late season this year due to man made snow. so turn earners must also conceed that man made snow makes finding places to earn turns early/late season easier. that said, early/late season turn earning is still more than possible without snow making... the options are just a lot less.

any ways, who really is advocating for the elimination of snow making? i love trails o' naturale but appreciate what snow making offers. i only ask the good mountains leave some trails o' naturale, not entire mountains. that said, i do love my time at MRG and i wouldn't trade a second of snow making for a longer/earlier season of lift serviced there. so with that said, i again counter the whining aspect of your arguement. essentially, i agree with your sentiment but come to it from a different perspective.

:beer:

 

[JimG.]

any ways, who really is advocating for the elimination of snow making? i love trails o' naturale but appreciate what snow making offers. i only ask the good mountains leave some trails o' naturale, not entire mountains. that said, i do love my time at MRG and i wouldn't trade a second of snow making for a longer/earlier season of lift serviced there. so with that said, i again counter the whining aspect of your arguement. essentially, i agree with your sentiment but come to it from a different perspective.

:beer:

Just stirring up the pot a bit.