Loon South Peak Expansion

[thebigo]

This is more like it, also claim to be making snow on cruiser and one of the timbertown trails.

 

[machski]

This is more like it, also claim to be making snow on cruiser and one of the timbertown trails.

Actually 2 in Timbertown since Escape Route is now part of that complex. Wonder if they are trying to debut that lift and pod this weekend or next? Only Cruiser proper on South would make for a bit of an S-show and still only one way off North Peak is very rough.

 

[Dickc]

New Update on Loon. Tells why the RFID at North Peak

Loon Dec 15 update

 

[machski]

New Update on Loon. Tells why the RFID at North Peak

Loon Dec 15 update

Well, no kidding on Undercut. It previously got wind scoured and blown out as a true glade. You can easily see the run from 93 now it has been cut out so much. No way that thing holds snow now, and f they don't add snowmaking moving forward, it is wasted.
You need data to decide if you'll expand North Peak? Seriously?? It's the one section of Lion that actually tends to hold natural snow and is an fairly isolated pod separating the newbies from more advanced skiers. I don't think I'd need data to tell me if possible, expand in that area.

 

[bigbob]

Well, no kidding on Undercut. It previously got wind scoured and blown out as a true glade. You can easily see the run from 93 now it has been cut out so much. No way that thing holds snow now, and f they don't add snowmaking moving forward, it is wasted.
You need data to decide if you'll expand North Peak? Seriously?? It's the one section of Lion that actually tends to hold natural snow and is an fairly isolated pod separating the newbies from more advanced skiers. I don't think I'd need data to tell me if possible, expand in that area.

I guess the pretty lady I spoke with was correct on data mining.

 

[t-to-b]

Well, no kidding on Undercut. It previously got wind scoured and blown out as a true glade. You can easily see the run from 93 now it has been cut out so much. No way that thing holds snow now, and f they don't add snowmaking moving forward, it is wasted.
You need data to decide if you'll expand North Peak? Seriously?? It's the one section of Lion that actually tends to hold natural snow and is an fairly isolated pod separating the newbies from more advanced skiers. I don't think I'd need data to tell me if possible, expand in that area.

I think its more trying to figure out what should be upgraded 1st. Gondola, South Peak Lift or North Peak.

 

[deadheadskier]

I'd upgrade South and make Undercut a snowmaking trail. Between all the real estate development, room for parking and new beginner area, that's the area of the hill that could absorb more people. North seems like a HSQ is all it can handle unless another TTB trail or two is cut on the Sunset / Haulback side. Probably could be a pretty steep trail or two squeezed in there, but I imagine some tree skiing gets sacrificed.

Driving by yesterday it looked like Undercut was already cut to be a trail and not a glade.

 

[Zand]

Kind of a shame about Undercut. It was the best glade at Loon, but I get it that it was never open (I only ever saw it open once) and nothing on South holds snow very well. I would expect that they'll be installing snowmaking to make cutting it worth it.

Truth be told, if there's enough snow to actually make Undercut skiable, I was always driving about 15 minutes past Loon to that other place anyway.

 

[machski]

I think its more trying to figure out what should be upgraded 1st. Gondola, South Peak Lift or North Peak.

I would assume now that they moved Timbertown up into the 2030 Flightpath, South Lincoln Express is likely to be the next big upgrade. Especially as I assume they will keep developing that base of Timbertown now that it is open as this is destined to be the learning pod at the resort makes sense development of proper base facilities there will drive utilization of Lincoln Express as well

 

[bigbob]

I would think with the lines at the gondola that would be the next lift to upgrade to a D line 8 pack bubble. It is one of the older lifts that is used all the time. North peak quad is not that old and the Lincon Express is also only about 15 years old.

 

[deadheadskier]

True, but they put all new gondola cabins in like what? 3 years ago yes?

I don't think they will do anything with the Gondola for a long time and when it is replaced, it likely will be another gondola for the added benefits during summer.

 

[bigbob]

True, but they put all new gondola cabins in like what? 3 years ago yes?

I don't think they will do anything with the Gondola for a long time and when it is replaced, it likely will be another gondola for the added benefits during summer.

I know the cabins where replaced recently. They should of put the money toward upgrading the lift capcity. I prefer a bubble chair over a gondola any day of the week.. Why take your skis off.
South Peak needs a lodge besides the tempoary tent that was installed like 15 years ago. This should be done befotre upgrading the Govoners Lodge in my opion.

 

[deadheadskier]

I know the cabins where replaced recently. They should of put the money toward upgrading the lift capcity. I prefer a bubble chair over a gondola any day of the week.. Why take your skis off.
South Peak needs a lodge besides the tempoary tent that was installed like 15 years ago. This should be done befotre upgrading the Govoners Lodge in my opion.

We are in agreement. I'd vastly prefer a chair, but I get the feeling they'll always stick with a gondola there.

I also agree that South lodge should be a priority over Governor's

 

[machski]

We are in agreement. I'd vastly prefer a chair, but I get the feeling they'll always stick with a gondola there.

I also agree that South lodge should be a priority over Governor's

From a purely snow season aspect, agree on South Peak Getting it's lodge before Governor's. But Governor's is going first two fold. 1, they lost the pavilion tent when the Kanc 8 went in and 2. Governor's will anchor their Mountain Biking summer operations. South will get a lodge, possibly at the same time as Governor's if they want to invest that $$, it will be going at base of Timbertown. Pretty sure the tent lodge will stay for some time at base of Lincoln.

Lincoln may be young, but it will be under capacity if the TT pod development drives more traffic to start over there. Boyne has shown it isn't afraid to reuse even older Dopp Detach equipment. As to the Gondola, those new cabins were not cheap, I heard around $80K each. They may be able to sell it (heard the new combined Snowriver resort in UP of Michigan is looking for a connector lift and they are thinking a new gondi would be too much so in market for a used system) to offset some cost. I have a feeling it will be replaced by a D-Line Chondi, either 6/8 or 8/10. They will want to keep cabin service for the summer and doing a D-Line chair and swapping to cabins for summer doesn't make sense to me.

 

[bigbob]

From a purely snow season aspect, agree on South Peak Getting it's lodge before Governor's. But Governor's is going first two fold. 1, they lost the pavilion tent when the Kanc 8 went in and 2. Governor's will anchor their Mountain Biking summer operations. South will get a lodge, possibly at the same time as Governor's if they want to invest that $$, it will be going at base of Timbertown. Pretty sure the tent lodge will stay for some time at base of Lincoln.

Lincoln may be young, but it will be under capacity if the TT pod development drives more traffic to start over there. Boyne has shown it isn't afraid to reuse even older Dopp Detach equipment. As to the Gondola, those new cabins were not cheap, I heard around $80K each. They may be able to sell it (heard the new combined Snowriver resort in UP of Michigan is looking for a connector lift and they are thinking a new gondi would be too much so in market for a used system) to offset some cost. I have a feeling it will be replaced by a D-Line Chondi, either 6/8 or 8/10. They will want to keep cabin service for the summer and doing a D-Line chair and swapping to cabins for summer doesn't make sense to me.

When the new lodge is built at Timber Town, most people will start at the fixed grip they just installed. Why go to the tent, if they keep it? Does a detachable quad have more hourly capcity that the current gondola? If so run it for awhile and see what the public does. Sometimes what people do may suprise even the best planners. The parking lot there does have alot of unused capacity without running shuttles. The gondola it replaced went to MN.

 

[deadheadskier]

When the new lodge is built at Timber Town, most people will start at the fixed grip they just installed. Why go to the tent, if they keep it? Does a detachable quad have more hourly capcity that the current gondola? If so run it for awhile and see what the public does. Sometimes what people do may suprise even the best planners. The parking lot there does have alot of unused capacity without running shuttles. The gondola it replaced went to MN.

Current Gondola has very low capacity. The number I found was only 1000 people per hour, so basically the same as a double chair. Upgrading it even to just a HSQ will double the number of skiers on very limited terrain.

As for the South Peak tent, if they can staff it; it may make some sense to keep it. Most experienced skiers that start their day at Timber Town aren't going to want to head back there until the end of their day. However, many South Peak skiers might be interested in having lunch at the base of the South Peak HSQ. Also to consider, the parking lot adjacent to it would probably be the best lot on the mountain to offer paid, premium parking should they pursue that revenue stream like many places are trying for. So, having that tent to boot up at would help sell the parking. Gunstock gets $1k per season for their premium parking. Wouldn't surprise me if Loon could get something similar and they have many more spots in that lot than Gunstock has in their premium parking lot.

 

[4aprice]

Current Gondola has very low capacity. The number I found was only 1000 people per hour, so basically the same as a double chair. Upgrading it even to just a HSQ will double the number of skiers on very limited terrain.

This is exactly why this Loon fan does not want it to change. Don't like the line don't use the lift. I'd rather have the crowd down at the base then up on the trails. There are alternate ways up there

 

[bigbob]

This is exactly why this Loon fan does not want it to change. Don't like the line don't use the lift. I'd rather have the crowd down at the base then up on the trails. There are alternate ways up there

I prefer the new quad next to it, but it doesn't always run midweek. Sometimes you don't have a choice for an alternate lift.

 

[bigbob]

Current Gondola has very low capacity. The number I found was only 1000 people per hour, so basically the same as a double chair. Upgrading it even to just a HSQ will double the number of skiers on very limited terrain.

As for the South Peak tent, if they can staff it; it may make some sense to keep it. Most experienced skiers that start their day at Timber Town aren't going to want to head back there until the end of their day. However, many South Peak skiers might be interested in having lunch at the base of the South Peak HSQ. Also to consider, the parking lot adjacent to it would probably be the best lot on the mountain to offer paid, premium parking should they pursue that revenue stream like many places are trying for. So, having that tent to boot up at would help sell the parking. Gunstock gets $1k per season for their premium parking. Wouldn't surprise me if Loon could get something similar and they have many more spots in that lot than Gunstock has in their premium parking lot.

Seating is now limited in the tent since it was leased out with a stage and high top tables. Don't give loon any ideas on premium parking, thats my go to lot midweek. That tent won't last forever, it is now 15 years old.

 

[machski]

More importantly, anyone know how the resort rode out this storm? More concerned with roads and bridges than the skiing stuff.