Meanwhile, in Hunter...

[inhalexhale]

Check out the hilarious video Rob & I made...we're starting a new 'video of the week' feature, so this is the first one. It is funny as hell if you know either of us. Enjoy, hope to see some of you this weekend!

Video of the Week


And in case anyone is wondering why we shut the snowguns off...

Hunterblog: Why, oh why, we shut off our guns


Enjoy! And yes, I FINALLY have a useful avatar....

 

[JimG.]

Thanks Jessica, and thanks for answering my e-mail in such detail. You do a great job!

Alot of my Hunter friends and acquaintances sent me e-mails or called me today demanding to know why Hunter shut down snowmaking. Like I'm in any position to change that.

People have gone completely over the edge with the weather. One of my friends sent a nasty e-mail to Hunter and I told him that nobody wants to respond to nastiness like that (the snowmakers aren't doing their job, I'm not going to buy passes anymore, I won't rent in Hunter anymore, I'm going to VT, etc.). So I imposed upon Jessica to tell me what's up which she did in great detail.

I forwarded that info to the complainers and my phone has been silent and my inbox empty since.

Thanks again Jessica.

 

[Greg]

Check out the hilarious video Rob & I made...we're starting a new 'video of the week' feature, so this is the first one. It is funny as hell if you know either of us. Enjoy, hope to see some of you this weekend!

Video of the Week


And in case anyone is wondering why we shut the snowguns off...

Hunterblog: Why, oh why, we shut off our guns


Enjoy! And yes, I FINALLY have a useful avatar....

Nice! I'm starting to dig your "shut up and just ski" attitude. Video commentary is little corney, but hey - you guys are providing more updates (via pics, blog, vids) than many other mountains. I say good job! :beer:

Upper Crossover? Sweet! 8)

 

[inhalexhale]

Guys, I seriously got in so much trouble for telling people to chill out today. That snowmaking post changed so many times because people actually called and complained about how rude and disrespectful I am. What a bummer. I guess I am way too blunt sometimes, but people don't understand that all of their mean, angry, frustrated e-mails go to the same place -- me -- it cuts huge chunks out of my day, and isn't a real morale booster. I just can't stand the whining sometimes...

I need to try to be nicer I guess. Everyone is on edge, and it's difficult being on the side that can't complain.

And Jim, honestly, you guys (Greg too, and dmc, whoever) feel free to call me anytime here. I will absolutely go out of my way for people who are respectful (or, nice, which is a huge bonus!) I do understand that I am essentially the Hunter Mountain info booth, so when you guys are curious, call. It'll be nice to talk to someone who's in a good mood.

Rob and I are totally cheesy and stupid in that video but we had a good time and that's what matters. And we know, STOP saying "Check it out..." That was a compilation at different clips. Next week will be better!

 

[Greg]

Guys, I seriously got in so much trouble for telling people to chill out today. That snowmaking post changed so many times because people actually called and complained about how rude and disrespectful I am. What a bummer. I guess I am way too blunt sometimes, but people don't understand that all of their mean, angry, frustrated e-mails go to the same place -- me -- it cuts huge chunks out of my day, and isn't a real morale booster. I just can't stand the whining sometimes...

Trust me cuz after running this forum for almost six years, I've learned one thing. You will never please everybody. You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't sometimes. Stick to your guns and just try to remain consistent and don't let the negativity get you down. Life's too short for that.

And we got your back.

 

[JimG.]

Guys, I seriously got in so much trouble for telling people to chill out today. That snowmaking post changed so many times because people actually called and complained about how rude and disrespectful I am. What a bummer. I guess I am way too blunt sometimes, but people don't understand that all of their mean, angry, frustrated e-mails go to the same place -- me -- it cuts huge chunks out of my day, and isn't a real morale booster. I just can't stand the whining sometimes...

I need to try to be nicer I guess. Everyone is on edge, and it's difficult being on the side that can't complain.

And Jim, honestly, you guys (Greg too, and dmc, whoever) feel free to call me anytime here. I will absolutely go out of my way for people who are respectful (or, nice, which is a huge bonus!) I do understand that I am essentially the Hunter Mountain info booth, so when you guys are curious, call. It'll be nice to talk to someone who's in a good mood.

Rob and I are totally cheesy and stupid in that video but we had a good time and that's what matters. And we know, STOP saying "Check it out..." That was a compilation at different clips. Next week will be better!

Jessica, I sometimes get in trouble for the same type of bluntness with customers. Folks who order something, we verify that it's the item they want, who then call back a week later screaming that we screwed up and shipped the wrong item when we just shipped what they ordered and verified. I'm not too good with "the customer is always right" line because they are often wrong.

When I coached at Hunter, I recall an early season day a few years back where the mountain had been closed for a week due to heavy rain and warmth. All that was open was the Belt, and it was still too warm to really make good snow, so the snow was like elephant snot. Very gooey and sticky. I was in guest services when a young couple came in complaining bitterly about the conditions, that it was dangerous, blah blah blah. I started laughing and the guy turned on me. Got up in my face telling me I had nerve to laugh at such a serious issue. So I laughed even harder, told him he was a complete idiot for coming up and buying a lift ticket when he surely must have known conditions were marginal, then told him he had no case and that he should just shut up and ski or go home.

That did not go over well with management. Can't blame them. I really hope you're not in too much trouble because we need folks like you who are open and honest.

 

[dmc]

And Jim, honestly, you guys (Greg too, and dmc, whoever) feel free to call me anytime here.

If you guys stop making snow - I'm generally of the opinion that there has to be a good reason... HM snowmakers are pretty good...

 

[JimG.]

If you guys stop making snow - I'm generally of the opinion that there has to be a good reason... HM snowmakers are pretty good...

We know that...but alot of folks just want to bitch at someone. D, I was getting phone calls and e-mails from people today about it...these people were really going nuts!

Karl sent a total flamer of an e-mail because he was pissed they stopped making snow. I told him to chill out and that nobody was going to answer a nasty e-mail like that, but he sent it anyway.

Rob answered it in a professional and yet very direct way. I think he shut Karl up which I've never seen happen before.

Hunter should be proud to have Jessica and Rob doing that for them.

 

[dmc]

We know that...but alot of folks just want to bitch at someone. D, I was getting phone calls and e-mails from people today about it...these people were really going nuts!

I think the deal is - I've been resided to the fact that this ski season pretty much sucks since December and you've only been that wway for a few days...

But - who knows... We may be in the Catskill woods yet!

 

[MarkC]

The good news is things are rapidly improving. Most of the gapers and the haters are doing the gaping and hating from their miscible jobs mostly downstate and away from the snow. Once they get up to the mountain and see that conditions have drastically improved in a short period of time things will shift to the positive side very quickly. Jessica, you are doing an outstanding job at informing the customer of real conditions. You add a personal touch to the hunter's communications and marketing. Don’t let a few assholes get you down. I love the shut up and ski/ / ride attitude but I do not represent the typical hunter skier / rider. Take a look out the window this weekend and get a laugh at the guy yellin hey joey i'm doin it. That is the same ahole that has been negative all week.

 

[rjc1976]

One of my friends sent a nasty e-mail to Hunter and I told him that nobody wants to respond to nastiness like that (the snowmakers aren't doing their job, I'm not going to buy passes anymore, I won't rent in Hunter anymore, I'm going to VT, etc.).

Wow, what a horrible attitude your friend had. To anyone who thinks that way, I say go somewhere else. It's one less person on the mountain in my way and one less negative person bringing down the atmosphere. Hunter doesn't need people living up to its reputation as being a ski area for obnoxious people.

BTW, to the Hunter folks...great job with the snowmaking! I'm looking forward to seeing trail expansion soon

 

[inhalexhale]

Jim,

Your friend's email was the only one I have sent thus far to Rob. I told him there was no way I could answer any more of these e-mails without being frank and telling him to shut up. No disrespect to anyone at all -- and I'm trying to say this nicely -- Hunter has given their skiers and riders, particularly passholders, incredible conditions over the years. We have incredibly spoiled skiers and riders with very high expectations...and in a time like this, unfortunately our past high performances have bitten use in the...hrm...derieres.

I will never be able to be someone who answers every pissy e-mail with a smile. But I'll tell you, as a 22 year old, I will never give hell to a customer service representative again. I told Rob when I interviewed that I am not giving up my personality for this job...and more and more, I'm coming to believe that these people will beat you down if you let them. Thus far the blog hasn't been too out of control, and management is ok because thank God people come into the office every so often to tell Rob how awesome it is...but if you get lucky you'll see times when I totally stick it right back to angry people and then have to delete what I said.

Oh well. Whatever, PP, P and MGS -- woooo hoooo! I'm getting back out there tomorrow. And whatever problems people have with the snowmaking, today was the first day in my 16 or so years of skiing at Hunter that I have seen Hellgate's surface evenly distributed, with NO TRACE of ice. It was incredible.

In other news, I am a big fan of this icon: :uzi:

 

[dmc]

I told Rob when I interviewed that I am not giving up my personality for this job...and more and more, I'm coming to believe that these people will beat you down if you let them.

Nice... I hope you last...
I've known a bunch of people that have done your same job since the 1980s...
But after seeing a couple of your co-workers still hanging in there.. I have faith...

Don't let them get you down...
Come to Slopes Saturday night... We'll dedicate a song to you!

 

[JimG.]

Jim,

Your friend's email was the only one I have sent thus far to Rob. I told him there was no way I could answer any more of these e-mails without being frank and telling him to shut up. No disrespect to anyone at all -- and I'm trying to say this nicely -- Hunter has given their skiers and riders, particularly passholders, incredible conditions over the years. We have incredibly spoiled skiers and riders with very high expectations...and in a time like this, unfortunately our past high performances have bitten use in the...hrm...derieres.

I will never be able to be someone who answers every pissy e-mail with a smile. But I'll tell you, as a 22 year old, I will never give hell to a customer service representative again. I told Rob when I interviewed that I am not giving up my personality for this job...and more and more, I'm coming to believe that these people will beat you down if you let them. Thus far the blog hasn't been too out of control, and management is ok because thank God people come into the office every so often to tell Rob how awesome it is...but if you get lucky you'll see times when I totally stick it right back to angry people and then have to delete what I said.

Oh well. Whatever, PP, P and MGS -- woooo hoooo! I'm getting back out there tomorrow. And whatever problems people have with the snowmaking, today was the first day in my 16 or so years of skiing at Hunter that I have seen Hellgate's surface evenly distributed, with NO TRACE of ice. It was incredible.

In other news, I am a big fan of this icon: :uzi:

Don't think too poorly of Karl...he's a Hunter regular and can be mellow. He went off the deep end with that e-mail.

I do need to shake Rob's hand next time I see him...I haven't heard a word from Karl since Rob responded to him.

 

[dmc]

Don't think too poorly of Karl...he's a Hunter regular and can be mellow. He went off the deep end with that e-mail.

Maybe he's not "Chair Lift" medicated?

I'll advocate for Captain Karl... He's a good dude...

 

[inhalexhale]

Is that where the infamous dmc resides? Slopes? I don't go there much...too many people rubbing up against too many other people. I'm going to Albany on Saturday night to see The Curse of the Golden Flower but I'll be out and about every so often. Stop by and actually MEET me sometime so I know who you are -- I've met all the other high rollers of AZ!

And Rob is an amazing guy. Seriously one of the best people I've ever known. There are some awesome people at Hunter Mountain...I hope they stick around. As for me...I'm always dreaming of somewhere further north...but I'm good for now, while it stays cold. I will have to find some entertainment in the summer while suffocating in the warmth. Anything above about 45 freaks me out to no end.

I also wouldn't have any idea who this Karl character is -- didn't even look at the name. Saw the huge mass of exclamation points, question marks and capslocked works and hit "Fwd"....no worries!

 

[dmc]

Is that where the infamous dmc resides? Slopes? I don't go there much...too many people rubbing up against too many other people. I'm going to Albany on Saturday night to see The Curse of the Golden Flower but I'll be out and about every so often. Stop by and actually MEET me sometime so I know who you are -- I've met all the other high rollers of AZ!

I only hit Slopes when my band plays there...
Otherwise - Since Tequilas closed...- I'm a happy hour at the mountain kinda guy.. John serves up my beers... I socialize... Eat some pizza... Some sushi...

I'll stop by sometime...

 

[millerm277]

I'm really liking all the updates, great job....

Hoping to come up sometime next week.

 

[trtaylor]

Well, I was there and it was obvious to me why the snow guns shut down.

There are mainly two reasons we skied Hunter this year; 1. The efforts of Jessica should not go unrewarded, and 2. just had to see what Jim G. and DMC are all excited about.

 

[inhalexhale]

Well thank you! More of you should stop by and say hi. I know that is a little off-beat I guess, but it's so nice to see people face-to-face. So stop by