haystack

[Newpylong]

Well if you want to keep some NELSAP love, that lower trail pod isn't being resurected in "Haystack model 3.0" There is however a newly cut flattish ski home trail from the upper mountain base area over to the Hermitage Inn nearby. This year atleast they're using a snowcat with a people carrying pod on it to transport folks to/from the Hermitage. Next year from what I understand that trail will have snowmaking for ski back purposes, and the cat to transport property owning Club members up to the lifts, including the Chondola that is supposed to go in this summer

According to this, the Lower Area stays... and all main mountain lifts outside of Witches go.

http://www.haystackclub.com/files/Haystack master plan map revised.jpg

 

[drjeff]

According to this, the Lower Area stays... and all main mountain lifts outside of Witches go.

http://www.haystackclub.com/files/Haystack master plan map revised.jpg

Those will apparently be the last units to be built (read as if the demand for the 1st 100+ units isn't there, you won't see it happen) and as such the proposed lift from the base near the entry way to Haystack upto the "main mountain" apparently won't be going in until the lower units are ready for ground breaking.

Given the price tag, likely North of 500k, for those units, and that in the Mount Snow area proper over the last 3 or 4 seasons that there haven't been more than about 25-30 new properties sold, I wouldn't hold my breath for being able to ski down by Handle Road anytime soon It might take a decade or so for that too happen, especially if and when Mount Snow starts their base areas master plan development

 

[emmaurice2]

According to the Hermitage Inn website you can still ski Haystack if you book a ski and stay package there. Expensive (for me, anyway) but not terrible. I would do it, if for no other reason than nostalgia.

 

[Newpylong]

Thanks for the info Jeff... it would be good to eventually see the lower area open again as well.

 

[arik]

I am glad to see so much discussion and information on this thread.

I would love to ski Haystack again as Witches is awesome.

I doesn't make much sense for me to stay there as I am just 25 minutes away.

Perhaps the Hermitage could develop a ski and dine package, 2 lift tickets and a tasting menu for dinner... (just hopin)

 

[amf]

You can always come over the ridge from Mt Snow and do a few laps on the upper mtn... assuming conditions are favorable.

 

[arik]

Haystack re-opened Witches

hey how did I miss this?!

http://http://dvalnews.com/view/full_story_obits/17709471/article-Haystack-opens-Witches?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

 

[thetrailboss]

Interesting article. Looks like they still have long term plans:

As for future projects, Rubin said they are considering constructing a transfer lift from the Hermitage Inn, which is currently serving as the mountain’s base lodge, to the top of Outcast trail. They also hope to rebuild a large section of snowmaking line and start building a new base lodge later this year. Rubin said the new lodge would be a two-year project.

In the two- to three-year time window, they plan to replace Barnstormer with a new “chondola” lift. That lift, a hybrid chairlift and gondola, will run to the summit of Haystack. If all goes according to plan, Barnstormer will be relocated to the lower portion of the mountain, where there is currently no operating chairlift.

Read more: Deerfield Valley News - Haystack opens Witches

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[drjeff]

Interesting article. Looks like they still have long term plans:


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More importantly they have a BIG pool of working capital to use the next few years that should allow them to both continue operating and also build many of the things that they're talking about that will allow them (they hope) to attract a significant number of members and new property owners

 

[powhunter]

Love the Hermitage Inn..Does anyone know if they still raise and serve their own game?

Steveo

 

[drjeff]

Love the Hermitage Inn..Does anyone know if they still raise and serve their own game?

Steveo

Not sure if they still raise their own, but I do know that their menu is full of local meat and produce wherever possible. Dinner in their Pub is both a good time and a good meal for sure!

 

[tree_skier]

My son drove through the parking lot last weekend and told me it was full of fan guns

 

[thetrailboss]

Interesting development. I hope that they do well this year.

 

[drjeff]

My son drove through the parking lot last weekend and told me it was full of fan guns

I'm heading up tonight, i'll see if I can swing by and snap a picture, or 10 , after my wife finishes Mount Snow's "tri for hope" triathlon tomorrow morning

Gotta love fangun porn, even when they're just sitting idle in a parking lot!

 

[arik]

has anyone skied Haystack this year

if yes please post some kind of report

please please please

 

[drjeff]

has anyone skied Haystack this year

if yes please post some kind of report

please please please

Indirect report courtesy of the guys that run the shop up in the Valley where I buy most of my gear, and who have done a few private demo days this season at Haystack for club members. This was when they were just running The Witches, Hayfever and The Tage, before Barnstormer reopened.

The report was that the snow surface was very good, and lasted very long into the day! The snow depths were adequate, although not as deep as at Mount Snow - this was the week after MLK day weekend. Business was light on the hill that day. And the snowcat operators needed to pay more attention in the base area as they inadvertantly machine groomed a pair of Blizzard Bonafides that were next to the truck they brought all the demo skis over in

The last time I talked to them a few weeks ago about Haystack, the Tage transfer quad had just opened

 

[Abominable]

Has anyone ever taken them up on their sales pitch / free tour offer?

 

[drjeff]

Has anyone ever taken them up on their sales pitch / free tour offer?

I personally haven't, but do know of about a dozen folks that have. My wife and I plan on taking a tour sooner or later, once we can find a weekend day where our kids ski schedules would free us up for enough time to drive a few miles down the road

Per one of their 2 or 3 rotating sales ads that they run weekly in the local paper up there, they apparently crossed through the 100 member mark back in November. And most of the higher end($500k plus) townhome developments in the general Mount Snow/Haystack area have broken ground on at least one, if not more buildings in the last few months. I take that as a positive sign for potential Haystack Club members

 

[arik]

Thank you,

I think I would feel awkward visiting for a tour as a prospective member

I hope it does well and hope that in future there might be some days or ways for the to public to ski there

Hermitage is a nice place, nice bar, nice restaurant, love "club mud!"