xlr8r
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- Feb 7, 2009
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I had to wake up at 4:45 anyway to drop my dad off at the airport, so I decided to take advantage of the early morning to drive up to Loon. Their snowmaking efforts of the last week were apparent as trails that were resurfaced skied great, yet trails that weren't had lots of boilerplate. First runs of the day were excellent on the fresh corduroy. Best trails were Rampasture, Picked Rock, and Seven Brothers. They did make snow a day or two ago on Sunset and Walking Boss as well. But left most of those two ungroomed still which made them a bit of a mess with ice between random large moguls, no way to ski them gracefully. I think they are letting South Peak go at this point as it was closed midweek, and was mostly granular on boiler plate, Boom Run was the only trail over there worth repeating. Therefore spent most of the day making GS carves on Rampasture and Picked Rock off the Kanc Quad with the occasional run on Seven Brothers to the Gondola. Place was reasonably crowded, only lifts with much of a line were the gondola and Seven Brothers. Considering the rough winter, Loon has come out in good shape. Only trail besides the glades not open is Triple Trouble. Their snowmaking efforts have payed off as lots of people still are showing up and paying full price. According to people I rode the lifts with, Saturday was much more crowded than Sunday
This winter really makes it interesting business wise to compare mountains that have cut corners in order to save operating costs because people aren't showing up. And other mountains that have spent a ton of money on snowmaking not only to retain their existing customers and keep passholders happy, but also gain customers from other mountains that are in rough shape. I rode up the lifts with several people that said this is the first time they had been to Loon in years because they have far more terrain open and continue to make snow unlike the mountains those people typically go to.
Good day, but it is tough skiing in New England again after a week in Steamboat.
This winter really makes it interesting business wise to compare mountains that have cut corners in order to save operating costs because people aren't showing up. And other mountains that have spent a ton of money on snowmaking not only to retain their existing customers and keep passholders happy, but also gain customers from other mountains that are in rough shape. I rode up the lifts with several people that said this is the first time they had been to Loon in years because they have far more terrain open and continue to make snow unlike the mountains those people typically go to.
Good day, but it is tough skiing in New England again after a week in Steamboat.
