Forget Snow: Alta is for $$$$$

[Cornhead]

Gore, my home mountain, was alway very chill. Then they started to charge for parking. We don't like it. But it is what it is. Capitalism.

Did you actually use Gore and capitalism in the same sentence? Too funny. I'm sorry, same paragraph, still laughable.
The old High Peaks double?

 

[Harvey]

Good point. Gore a bit more like 'Merica. A combination of capitalism and socialism.

Not having to actually PAY for their own Capex, and subsidized ticket prices. And no slopeside allowed.

Where did you get that pic, it's awesome.

 

[djd66]

If you run a business and your costs go up (labor + inflation on pretty much everything) do you think that the business should just suck up the increased costs or try to make it up by increasing revenue some way some how? (ie raising pass prices, charging for parking,..)

Inflation is a fact right now,... I am not surprised that Alta is looking for ways to enhance their revenue.

Personally, I own a business and we are raising our prices. If we didn't raise prices, we would not be in business for much longer.

 

[Kingslug20]

Alta is changing, no doubt. But look at it this way. They have a world class product in a changing world. Everything is going up in price and they..as a business have to change with the times. I started going there 22 years ago. Hit it after a 48 inch storm in 48 hours. I was able to get up there and ski all day..no prob..try that now. There were no gigantic housing areas being built all over the place. Utah is changing as a whole. Unfortunately when you are a place everyone wants to go to..move to..its going to get crowded. My plan of moving there changed because of this. I would rather visit now and live in a less crowded place..like Vermont.
Want to see change? Go to Moab...it was a mob scene and traffic was nuts. Bet that wasn't that way 20 years ago.

 

[Harvey]

My family did Alta-Bird this year and we still have yet to receive our promised "codes" to get our free reservations.

I missed this part originally. What did they promise?

Sorry I know I said I would be quiet. I am very interested in this topic.

 

[Harvey]

What’s happening with parking at Alta, I get. Mt Snow charging $15 for parking in lot C on a Tuesday is a pure money grab. There’s no problem being addressed.

I think the "problem" being addressed is the big cut in the cost of the EPIC pass. Yield is down at a time when costs are rising dramatically. Although I wouldn't be surprised if this was the plan before all this inflation.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Pretty sure Alta’s parking plans are about canyon crowding and not inflation. These plans were in the works as crowding mitigation before inflation hit hard

And gores front lot has been a pay lot for a long time. But the second lot that is adjacent to it has always been free. Not a big deal.

 

[Kingslug20]

Parking at Gore is easy..get there early. Its not a long walk at all. Skating around the mountain..thats a different story..but its a good workout.
And yes..the crowding issue at Alta/Bird is huge..and pretty dangerouse if your stuck in that line with a ton of snow hanging above you..no matter how much avi control they do..it still comes down and wipes out cars and buses.

 

[Harvey]

And gores front lot has been a pay lot for a long time.

Since 2008. It's not the whole Lot A either, maybe half or a little more.

 

[Cornhead]

Good point. Gore a bit more like 'Merica. A combination of capitalism and socialism.

Not having to actually PAY for their own Capex, and subsidized ticket prices. And no slopeside allowed.

Where did you get that pic, it's awesome.

I snapped it from the Darkside I wonder if Rodman has skied it.

I do miss the good old days pre megapass, ferreting out deals was part of the fun of it all. Now you can't even ski with your buddy because he's got one megapass, and you've got the other. It's depressing.

 

[thetrailboss]

I think the "problem" being addressed is the big cut in the cost of the EPIC pass. Yield is down at a time when costs are rising dramatically. Although I wouldn't be surprised if this was the plan before all this inflation.

Bingo. That’s exactly what I think is happening.

 

[Harvey]

You mentioned that passholders get free parking. I think I read that too, somewhere. So it looks like you are all set? Are you bummed on a macro level even though it doesn't affect you?

 

[ss20]

For me, Alta/Utah as a whole were still the best option from a financial standpoint. I was willing to sacrifice crowding (on what is still a minority of days) for cheaper cost of living and having 9 ski resorts within 90 minutes of my house (and pretty much every major ski region in the US within a 12 hour drive). Most major resort towns I was priced out of. Jackson, Colorado, the PNE, even Bozeman is getting crazy. I briefly looked at the Nevada side of Tahoe (Reno) which would've been reasonable. Taos would've been cool but the short season and lack of area mountains were negatives. Eventually I want to transition into a smaller, more rural mountain (Discovery or Bridger in MT, some places in Idaho, interior of Washington state). But it's not time for that. I want to experience "the big mountains" first, while I still can. I don't want to become the Utah Apologist...but for all the negatives it still appears to be the best option. Housing...I found a 2 bedroom apartment 25 minutes from Alta for $975 a month, it took me 2 weeks of searching and I think only 4 or 5 applications I sent in. Transportation...I can walk to the bus so weekends I plan on "enduring" the crapshow by sitting in the bus on my laptop or with a book. As I've said before...I'm not there yet...but ask me again in 90 days what my opinion is. I feel like I have a good understanding of what I'm getting into and if I don't like it, it's a one year lease and it snows in other places.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

plan on the book not the laptop lol. those buses get asses to elbows. no room to spread out with a computer and i'd be worried about it getting wet and broken.

 

[jimk]

For me, Alta/Utah as a whole were still the best option from a financial standpoint. I was willing to sacrifice crowding (on what is still a minority of days) for cheaper cost of living and having 9 ski resorts within 90 minutes of my house (and pretty much every major ski region in the US within a 12 hour drive). Most major resort towns I was priced out of. Jackson, Colorado, the PNE, even Bozeman is getting crazy. I briefly looked at the Nevada side of Tahoe (Reno) which would've been reasonable. Taos would've been cool but the short season and lack of area mountains were negatives. Eventually I want to transition into a smaller, more rural mountain (Discovery or Bridger in MT, some places in Idaho, interior of Washington state). But it's not time for that. I want to experience "the big mountains" first, while I still can. I don't want to become the Utah Apologist...but for all the negatives it still appears to be the best option. Housing...I found a 2 bedroom apartment 25 minutes from Alta for $975 a month, it took me 2 weeks of searching and I think only 4 or 5 applications I sent in. Transportation...I can walk to the bus so weekends I plan on "enduring" the crapshow by sitting in the bus on my laptop or with a book. As I've said before...I'm not there yet...but ask me again in 90 days what my opinion is. I feel like I have a good understanding of what I'm getting into and if I don't like it, it's a one year lease and it snows in other places.

I think with that kind of attitude you are going to do great.
Quickie advice from older dude who has been skiing Utah quite a bit the last 5 or 6 years:
Stay humble, those mtns will wear you out quickly until your conditioning adjusts and you learn to manage the scope of the terrain/snow/weather.
Stay calm on powder days, there will be a frenzy. I am amazed how many skilled locals come out of the woodwork and can blow me away on the hill. Take each run on a powder day as a special treat and try not to get caught up rushing through it. There will be more powder days.
Savor the quiet, regular ski days. As you ski yourself into shape there are a lot of fun little side-country hikes and runs that can come into play.
The bus system generally works great and if you are not worrying about being the first on the hill and skiing from bell to bell it's rather nice to leave the driving to others.
There will be a handful of days this season when you go skiing when the forecasters predict only 3" of snow. No crowds show up and then the little storm overproduces to 10" by 2 PM. Those are good days, very good days!
Pace yourself. It's a long season and some of the funnest days are in late spring when the crowds go away and the sun is warm and the beer is cold.
I'm sure you will enjoy and benefit from the camaraderie of the instructor community.

 

[LonghornSkier]

I think Utah is a great place to live as a professional who still wants to ski a lot.

That said, I'm pretty disenchanted with it from the perspective of a vacation destination.

I was out there for two weeks last year, and the whole Wasatch front from Provo to Ogden feels like suburban Dallas with mountains in the background. Even Park City is suburban in character these days.

I'm pretty firmly in the camp of non-Bozeman Idaho/Montana being the best place to "get away from it all" in the lower 48 these days.

 

[Kingslug20]

What turned us off is the housing prices...in truth I would like to at least give it a go..but thats not in the cards.
The advice from Jim above..is spot on.

 

[jaytrem]

What frills does it have now that it didn’t before?

If I'm not mistaken Mt Snow considers their new paid parking policy to to be a "frill". I guess Alta could claim the same thing.

 

[jaytrem]

I'm pretty firmly in the camp of non-Bozeman Idaho/Montana being the best place to "get away from it all" in the lower 48 these days.

Yup, but Spokane to CDA is booming. That may eventually take a few off the "get away from it all" list.

 

[Smellytele]

If I'm not mistaken Mt Snow considers their new paid parking policy to to be a "frill". I guess Alta could claim the same thing.

That is pretty much the opposite of a frill.